Bigstones

Nearest Town: Penrith, Cumbria

OS Grid Reference: NY 572 373

Directions: Leave the M6 at Junction 40, and take the A686 past Penrith towards Langwathby. Here, take the left turn for Little Salkeld and once you reach the village the site is signposted, sometimes as the ‘Druids Circle’. Safe parking, as there is a small tarmac track running through the lower half of the circle.

Site Notes: This site has probably the most well known of any outlier in the UK, the tall red sandstone Long Meg. Addressing a circle of some 60+ ‘daughters’ (The stones are rumoured to be uncountable-have a try) she stands over 15 feet tall, and has numerous prehistoric spiral carvings. The circle itself has a true feeling of size, being over 100 feet across, with some very big stones, over several tons. There is a definite ‘entrance’ (or perhaps exit?) opposite Long Meg, and you get a real impression of the scale of the rites that must have taken place here.