Duloe Stone Circle consists of eight stones placed in an oval-shaped ring with alternating heights; large, small, large... It has the smallest circumference of all the stone circles in Cornwall (under 12m), but the largest stones (up to 2.6m). No other stone circle within Cornwall has a ring of stones so rich in quartz, with veins of translucent white running down the eight lichen-covered stones. This…
Half buried in the Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes in Rimac Nature Reserve in Lincolnshire is a Comet Tank. It is unclear how the tank came to its final resting place in the national nature reserve – but one theory suggests the RAF could have been using it for target practice. Regardless of its story, this tank has become a tourist attraction for locals and visitors alike. The surroundings…
Overlooking a picturesque river crossing, still marked by a series of ancient stepping stones, Ogmore is part of a trio of fortresses built to guard Glamorgan against attacks from the Welsh-held west. It started as a castle of earth and wood in the early 12th century but was quickly fortified in stone, before being further strengthened with a curtain wall in the early 13th century. Unusually,…
Gorsedd Stones are groups of standing stones constructed for the National Eisteddfod of Wales. They form an integral part of the Druidic Gorsedd ceremonies of the Eisteddfod. The stones can be found as commemorative structures throughout Wales and are the hallmark of the National Eisteddfod having visited a community. Each stone structure is arranged in a circular formation typically consisting of twelve stone pillars, sometimes from the…
The ruins of Candleston stand on the Merthyr Mawr Sand Dunes, on the edge of the Merthyr Mawr Warren. A small fortified manor, Candleston was built in the first half of the 14th century on the initiative of the Cantilupe family. The Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales reported that Candleston's "elevated position was just sufficient to save it from the encroaching sand dunes on…
It is variously referred to as a folly, a prospect tower, a belvedere, a hunting lodge and even a mediaeval watch-tower, but in spite of its popularity very little seems to be known about it. Regardless of it's history, it made for a great little find on our woodland walk. To get here you can park at Hosey Common car park (51°15'32.3"N 0°04'49.0"E) or another car…
This was just a quick stop, but quite rewarding. Shortly after my arrival the car park started filling up rather quickly with groups of people all heading in the same direction, so of course I decided to see what all the fuss was about. It turns out they were all birdwatchers eager for a sighting of a rather rare bird - the woodchat shrike. One of…
Don't expect a village of ruins, the only building left standing is the church. The rest of the village can be found with a row of stones marking the walls of the various other buildings. We parked nearby (54°04'38.8"N 0°41'28.7"W) and only realized later that there is a car park much closer (54°04'07.3"N 0°40'36.6"W).
After a wander around Horsey Gap, we stopped at the nearby Somerton Church ruins; a tiny site just off a back road (literally), but beautifully overgrown and well worth the stop if you're in the area. To visit, there is a tiny amount of parking (maybe 2 or 3 cars) just by the ruins (52°43'06.2"N 1°40'21.2"E)
On my way up to Scotland, I stopped for dinner with Long Meg and her daughters. ;) Reputed to be one of the finest stone circles in the north of England (William Wordsworth even wrote about it), the stone circle has a diameter of about 350 feet – the second biggest in the country. Long Meg is the tallest of the 69 stones, about 12 feet…
The tale goes that nine ladies and a fiddler were turned to stone for dancing on the Sabbath. The nine ladies are a rather cute stone circle in a pretty clearing surrounded by mossy grass, heather and trees. Well worth a visit. I've been twice now! Also nearby is Earl Grey Tower. This was a shooting tower erected by William Pole Thornhill of Stanton Hall to…
A small but pretty walk hidden away just off a residential area. The path has steps and uneven areas so not really suitable for pushchairs or those with walking difficulties. Also on site are the ruins of an old industrial mill, creating an interesting mix of nature and structures. There is a tiny layby near the falls but visitors are encouraged to park in the car…