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Castlerigg Stone Circle Walking Route from Keswick

By Dave Roberts   

on March 4, 2018    5/5 (2)

Posted as a walk in – England, Europe, Lake District National Park, Lake District's Northern Fells, Low Level and Easier Walks in the Lake District

Castlerigg Stone Circle Walking Route from Keswick

Further Details

Route Summary:

Walk to the spectacular Castlerigg Stone Circle from the centre of Keswick.

Route Start Location: Keswick Moot Hall

Distance
 Ascent
 Time
6.78 km 153 m 2 hours

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Activivity Type: Easy Walk

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

All facilities in Keswick

 Hazards

Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need.

Parking :

In Keswick

Public Transport:

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Recommended Maps

Guidebooks

Weather Forecast:

Met Office Lake District Mountain Weather for Keswick

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?

Castlerigg Stone Circle Walking Route from Keswick Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

Download file for GPS

Castlerigg Stone Circle Walking Route from Keswick

The Castlerigg Stone Circle is a spectacularly positioned Neolithic stone circle just outside the town of Keswick. It consists of 40 standing stones up to 3m in height, though the figure is often disputed and traditions dictates that you’ll get a different answer each time you count.  Built 4-5000 years ago on a high plateau, this is one of the earliest neolithic stone circles in Britain and certainly one of the best positioned. It was one of the first scheduled ancient monuments as one of the 68 sites included in the Ancient Monuments Protection Act 1882. The stone circle was taken into state care the following year and in 1913, Canon Rawnsley organised a public subscription to buy the land the circle stands in and donated the site to the National Trust, of which he was one of the founders.

The views from Castlerigg Stone Circle are are expansive, with the mountains of Skiddaw and Blencathra providing a spectacular backdrop. Like other similar structures, their purpose is disputed, though it’s current purpose is to draw tourists as it’s the most visited stone circle in the Lake District.

This walk starts from Moot Hall in Keswick town centre, initially following the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path before setting off up a minor road to the stone circle. It’s then down through farmland back to the start.

Alternatively, you can park at the Castlerigg stone circles and walk to them from your car. However, parking here is limited and it is a very popular tourist spot, so walking in is a safer bet.

More information can be found on the Visit Keswick website with a downloadable pdf route map.

Dave Roberts founded Walk Eryri in 2004, with the aim of providing routes that are off the beaten track. Walk Eryri is now part of Mud and Routes which continues to provide more off beat routes and walks in Snowdonia and beyond. Dave has been exploring the hills of Eryri for over thirty years, and is a qualified Mountain Leader. Dave also established Walk up Snowdon, Walk up Scafell Pike and Walk up Ben Nevis just to mention a few.
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