Walk Leader
Ade Gidney
Capacity
8
This is a two location walk with a short drive between. (Anyone arriving in Keswick by public transport we will provide car share to the stone circle).
The 1st location and meeting place is St Johns Church Keswick, consecrated in 1838, a geometrical style of pink Castle Head stone and a slate roof with one spire. It was extended over the next 50 yrs to its present size. It has a beautiful chancel window.
Surrounded by the church yard which I'm told by the vicar will probably have the rhododendrons in flower in June. The church is free to visit and the suggested parking location is free. Please park carefully so everyone can get parked. The vicar has no object to the use of tripods.
After visiting the church we will make our way to the stone circle. I suggest we stop for a cup of tea at the Climbing wall cafe just past the stone circle.
Castlerigg stone circle is part of a megalithic tradition in Britain dating from 2 -3000BC. Made of glacial erratic boulders of volcanic rock from the local area. Set in a flattened circle approx 30metres across with the heaviest stone weighing around 16 tons. It is said to be one of the earliest stone circles from the early Bronze age around 3200BC.
It is suggested it was a meeting place to trade or exchange stone axes (linked to the nearby Langdale axe industry). It is believed there were rituals or ceremonies before the trading of the axes took place. The location was written about by William Stukeley in 1725 and is believed to be the earliest written account of it which resulted in it coming to the attention of a wider public. Now visited by thousands of tourists every year.
Walk Location
Castlerigg Stone Circle and St Johns Church, Keswick
Walk Directions
Meet at the gates to St Johns Church. Keswick There is free parking outside the church on Church Lane through the wooden gates. (What three words: ///bearable.employ.cutlets) off St Johns Street. Alternatively if arriving earlier in the day you could park in one of the many carparks and have a walk around Keswick. or the Launch end of the lake.
We will spend time in the church and grounds before making our way to the 'Day 3 climbing wall'cafe just past the stone circle What three words; ///spooned.overhear.juggle Anyone without transport we will arrange a car share.
After a cuppa we will visit the stone circle where people can spend as much time as they like photographing the stones and surrounding fells. It is likely to be busy with tourists so patience or use of long exposure if you want to remove people from your images.
I plan to finish the day between 4-5pm. People are free to stay as long as they like or move onto other locations.
Accessibility
Both St Johns church and the stone circle are accessible to those with limited mobility as they are very close to the suggested parking locations.
The stone circle is usually short grass on firm ground with very little incline from the roadside.
Feedback Meeting Type
Zoom
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