Castlerigg – The Lake District’s Mysterious Stone Circle

Disclosure: Advertising and affiliate services, including Amazon Associates, help the cost of running my blog. Clicking ads or making purchases through affiliate links may, at no additional cost to you, earn me a small commission. I appreciate your support.

I bet you’ve heard of Stonehenge, right? The prehistoric stone circle is one of the most famous UNESCO world heritage sites on the planet. The giant stones are an architectural masterpiece and every year people flock to see it. But it’s not the only stone circle in Britain. In fact, there’s one near the town of Keswick in England’s Lake District National Park. The mesmerizingly mysterious Castlerigg Stone Circle.

What is Castlerigg Stone Circle?

Just like Stonehenge, Castlerigg is a stone circle most likely built for religious or ceremonial reasons. There are about 40 stones in the formation, and although the stones are in no way as large as those of Stonehenge, the scenery around more than makes up for it.

While Stonehenge has the unfortunate predicament of now being next to a major highway, Castlerigg is more hidden. A smaller road from Keswick leads to what looks like nothing more than a simple field. But within the field is a mysterious Neolithic stone circle with panoramic views of the spectacular Lake District National Park.

How old is the stone circle

It’s estimated that Castlerigg stone circle was created around 3200 BC. That means these stones have been here for 5000 years. If that’s not already an incredible reason to visit, I don’t know what is.

In comparison it’s estimated Stonehenge was built closer to 2000 BC – although some of the stones may have been at the site prior to being raised . Which means that Castlerigg is actually older. It’s actually thought to be one of the earliest built stone circles in Europe.

What does it cost to visit Castlerigg?

Nothing. That’s right, zero. It’s completely free. Unlike Stonehenge which costs around £20 per person to visit, you can visit Castlerigg stone circle without a charge. Castlerigg has the unique position of being jointly maintained and managed by National Trust, and English Heritage – two of the UKs major conservation charities.

There is limited parking on the road outside of the field, although I’ve never had too much of an issue finding a space. Visiting in the middle of the summer, on weekends or around sunset might be a little busier. Good news is that most people don’t spend too long here.

Parking Tip: Remember not to block field entrances since there are working farms around here too. It is possible to walk from the center of Keswick and will take you about 30-40 minutes.

The best time to visit the Lake District’s stone circle

Due to the outstanding beauty of the area around Castlerigg stone circle, a nice day will bring plenty of people. But I’ll be honest, I love it when there are a few stormy looking clouds in the sky. It adds a bit of atmosphere to an already mystic location.

Castlerigg is open year round. It never gets any less impressive no matter whether it’s bright and sunny or pouring with rain. If it’s been a nice afternoon though, you might be in luck with a nice sunset. This is the optimal time for a truly unimaginable experience at Castlerigg.

It should also be noted than being a place of interest for Pagan or spiritual reasons, the solstice is an important time in the year for this place. That means that it will likely be much busier around the Summer solstice (June 21) and the Winter solstice (December 21).

What can you see around Castlerigg

You won’t necessarily need to spend long at Castlerigg. There is no museum, only a small information board, and it is typically not staffed by anyone. That said, in the summer you might see volunteers here to give history of the site or mini tours but this is not guaranteed.

Explore the stones at your leisure. Get as close as you like although remember this is a) a historic site; and b) a sacred site. Although tempting, please avoid climbing on the stones.

Take a step back to appreciate Castlerigg stone circle as a whole. You can get some really good shots of the site with views of the nearby mountains. Helvellyn, the Lake District’s third largest peak is also England’s third tallest mountain. It can be seen in the background of the great valleys below.

Top photo tip: Patience is the key to wait out many people who will just come over for a 5 minute look at the stones. However, you can use the stones to your advantage – angle yourself just right in front of stones to cover people in your shot.

Castlerigg Stone Circle – A unique place

Growing up around the Lake District, I’ve been to Castlerigg stone circle a lot. Sometimes we’ll be driving home through the Lake District and the sun is looking just right that we make a quick stop at Castlerigg to take a couple of snaps.

It’s different every time you go. Stormy, sunny, winter, summer, windy or raining. But I never get tired of visiting. Castlerigg is a unique place.

This is one place that I always recommend to people visiting the Lake District and looking for ideas. It’s free, it’s cool and mysterious, and you can get some killer photos. And for people who’ve visited with me, it fast becomes their favorite part of their trip to the Lake District. It’s not hard to see why.

If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Is Castlerigg stone circle somewhere you’d like to visit? If you’ve already been, how do you think it compares to Stonehenge?