Castlerigg stone circle
Archaeological Site Neolithic stone circle on a scenic Lake District plateau
Set on a plateau above Keswick, Castlerigg stone circle dates to the Neolithic and presents a wide mountain backdrop. Visitors arrive for archaeology, photography and accessible walks into the Lake District fells.
Castlerigg stone circle is a late Neolithic or early Bronze Age monument near Keswick in the English Lake District. The circle consists of a ring of standing stones set on a small hill and is one of the earlier stone circles in the region.
The site is visited for the stone circle itself and the panoramic views it affords of nearby fells including Helvellyn and Skiddaw, which frame the monument on clear days. The stones form an open setting rather than a built enclosure and attract photographers and visitors studying prehistoric archaeology.
Archaeological assessments date the monument to roughly the third to second millennium BC; its purpose is not recorded in contemporary documents and is understood through archaeological study. The monument has remained visible on the landscape for millennia and is accessible via nearby lanes and footpaths.
Castlerigg sits on a low ridge a short distance east of the town of Keswick in Cumbria, within the Lake District National Park and surrounded by upland pasture and fells.
- Neolithic stone circle: Composed of a roughly circular arrangement of standing stones dating to the late Neolithic or early Bronze Age and set against views of surrounding fells.
How to Get to Castlerigg stone circle #
Castlerigg Stone Circle lies just outside Keswick in the Lake District. By car take the A591 into Keswick and follow the minor road signs to Castlerigg (there is a small layby/parking area near the circle); from Keswick town centre it is roughly 1-1.5 km (about a 20-minute walk) to the site.
Local buses on the A591 corridor serve Keswick from surrounding towns; from Keswick centre the walk to the circle is short and well signposted.
Tips for Visiting Castlerigg stone circle #
- Arrive at Castlerigg early morning or at sunset for the best light and to avoid the bulk of day visitors and coach parties that arrive later in the day.
- There is a small roadside car park adjacent to the circle which fills quickly-plan to get there before mid-morning or use nearby parking in Keswick and travel a short distance.
- The site is open to the public at all hours and is best experienced on foot with time to move among the stones; expect exposed, windy conditions on the felltop.
Best Time to Visit Castlerigg stone circle #
Visit between late spring and early autumn (May-September) for the most reliable weather and daylight to explore the stone circle and nearby fells.
Weather & Climate near Castlerigg stone circle #
Castlerigg stone circle's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with cool summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 0°C to 18°C. Abundant rainfall (1414 mm/year), wettest in December.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 5°C and lows of 0°C. Significant rainfall (154 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of 0°C. Significant rainfall (112 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 1°C. Significant rainfall (120 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 3°C. Regular rainfall (83 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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May
May is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 5°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 8°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 10°C. Regular rainfall (91 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 10°C. Significant rainfall (109 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 8°C. Significant rainfall (121 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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October
October is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 5°C. Significant rainfall (154 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 2°C. Significant rainfall (149 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of 1°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (157 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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