A little bit of Avebury for today's #StandingStoneSunday. This visit in May 2011 at the end of a walk from Wroughton airfield that took in Barbary Castle hillfort, Fyfield Down (The Polisher) and Devil's Den. I like Avebury best as the end point of a walk over the Downs, with time to appreciate the landscape.
Three stones of the southern inner circle on the left, two massive stones of the great circle on the right.
A 10 mile, 6000 year bimble along the Cotswolds escarpment between Stroud and Dursley today. Three Neolithic long barrows, including the wondrous Hetty Pegler's Tump, a Bronze Age cairn and an Iron Age hillfort, with 4 hills (Tumps) thrown in for added exertion and heat.
Off to Wiltshire and a Neolithic chambered tomb for today's #StandingStoneSunday
Devil's Den below Fyfield Down is a reconstructed chamber, originally it would have been covered by an earthen mound. It's a lovely walk here from Avebury or The Ridgeway, taking in the stone river of the Mother's Jam.
Last stone standing in Pen-y-Beacon (Hay Bluff) stone circle for today's #StandingStoneSunday.
Rather forlorn next to a parking area now (although it does sometimes have its own ice-cream van), the circle stands at the foot of Pen-y-Beacon/Hay Bluff in the Black Mountains. It has great views all the way to Y Mynydd Ddu on a clear day.
This visit April 2010 on a walk from Talgarth to Hay-on-Wye along the northern summit of the Black Mountains.
13 bluebell and wild garlic-filled miles along the Cotswolds escarpment this morning, taking in Painswick Beacon hillfort, Cooper's Hill cross dyke and Crickley Hill hillfort, with views of Leckhampton hillfort for a finale.
A terrific stone circle in Dartmoor's inner space for today's #StandingStoneSunday - White Moor (sometimes called Little Hound Tor) stone circle, a spacious ring with a 6 foot outlier.
In #folklore the stones are a huntsman and his hounds, turned to stone for hunting on the Sabbath (makes a change from the usual 'dancing on the Sabbath' tales).
Visited on a scorching hot and thankfully dry underfoot St George's Day, April 2011.
"Through the door of the birds where the breeze breaks..."
Following in the footsteps of Will Stanton and Bran Davies, high up above the Dysynni valley on Craig yr Aderyn (Birds' Rock), looking towards Cader Idris and the mountain fastnesses of Y Brenin Llwyd. A place that I have known since I was at primary school, but have never been to before except in my imagination.
After 5 months of no walks, finally got back up a (small) mountain in glorious weather today. Foel Goch in the Arenig range is a very modest 2,004 feet, but stands isolated from other ranges giving it an amazing panorama from Yr Wyddfa, Glyderau, Carneddau, Clwydian Hills, Y Berwyn, the Hirnant Hills, Aranau, Cader Idris and Arenig Fawr and Fach.
Quite emotional to be back in the hills, it's such a boost to my mental health. Bonus Bronze Age standing stone and cairn too.
Mitchell's Fold in Shropshire. Standing on a upland plateau at the foot of Corndon Hill, on a clear day there are tremendous views of Cader Idris, Aran Fawddwy and Y Berwyn.
The circle has plentiful #folklore, especially the legend of a magic white cow that gave a pailful of milk to all who wanted one, until a witch milked it into a sieve. The cow left in disgust (there are variations of the ending)
Close to Mitchell's Fold, near the Welsh border, this is Hoarstones. It sits in an often boggy area, off the higher ground of Stapeley Hill and the Stiperstones ridge. The circle is little-frequented and many of the stones are fallen. It has a fine view towards Corndon Hill, a prominent summit with many Bronze Age cairns.
An enjoyable long read about solitary walking and thinking, with side nods to children's literature, Kate Bush, Can, Dickens and Hardy. Much here that I can relate to as an often solo walker.
(It's also effectively a promo piece for the writer's new book, but don't let that put you off.)
@thesweetcheat Thanks for the link! As a solo walker (now without dog), I was surprised how much he does while walking (listening to music, reading). I quickly lose myself in observing moss cushions and beetles, lichens and animals. (And that's why I never feel alone.) That makes me too slow for other people.😉
This is Carreg y Big close to the Welsh border in Shropshire. The Bronze Age stone stands just across a field from the (much later) Offa's Dyke earthwork. Although the stone is in England, just, the Welsh name appears to mean 'peaked stone' or 'pointed stone'. Very happy to be corrected on that!
Visited April 2011 while walking Offa's Dyke Path. Portrait, needs a click.