The Castlerigg circle sits upon the top of a small hill overlooking the town of Keswick in the Lake District. The monument  is one of the oldest stone circles and is thought to have been constructed about 5200 years ago.  This is a fine stone circle in a magnificent setting as the site commands spectacular views of the surrounding high fells.



The circle is has an entrance at the north which is defined by two portal stones.  According to Stukeley there were two outer portal stones present when he visited the site in 1725. There is no trace of these now although 38 of an original 42 stones do survive. The defined entrance may have been designed to replicate the entrance to a henge and is characteristic of the early Cumbrian circles.



A stone axe has been found within the circle. This probably originated at the nearby Langdale axe factory and may implicate the circle as having had a role in this trade. Whatever its original purpose today this is a very atmospheric circle. The effects of the sun and shadows upon the stones and the surrounding fells can create spectacular and varied lighting conditions. 





The circle has an enigmatic feature in that there is a rectangular stone setting on the eastern side of the circle. The purpose of this setting is unknown although an 1827 survey noted that the feature was shared by the Brat's Hill circle to the south west. The internal setting at Brat's Hill has since disappeared. Thankfully the Castlerigg circle is in an excellent state of preservation.



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