Long Meg & Her Daughters
Cumbria
Also known as Maughanby Circle
Click on
Images to see a larger version
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The largest stone circle in the north of
England. The third largest stone circle in England. It primarily consists of 59 stones (of
which 27 remain upright) set in an oval shape measuring 100m by 93m There may
originally have been as many as 70 or more stones. Long Meg herself is a 3.6m high
monolith of red sandstone 18m to the southwest of the circle made by her
Daughters. Long Meg is marked with examples of megalithic art including a cup
and ring mark, a spiral and rings of concentric circles.
Records from the early 17th century suggest
that there were as many as 77 megaliths then.
Long Meg is composed of local red sandstone,
whereas her daughters are boulders of rhyolite, a form of granite, some of them
weighing as much as thirty tonnes. Two of the biggest stones stand opposite each
other to the east and west, and two huge stones mark a southwest entrance.
See Here For Picture Details
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See here for Picture Details |
The setting midwinter sun is aligned with the
column stone of Long Meg. Aubrey Burl has argued that Meg is from an
earlier period than the stone circle and is possibly an unrelated Neolithic
menhir (single tall stone).
Tradition states that Long Meg and Her
Daughters were a coven of witches who were holding their sabbat, some time in
the thirteenth century. Michael Scot, a wizard from Scotland, found them so
engaged and cast a spell over the assembled company, turning them all into
stones.
Another legend states that if you walk around
the circles and count the number of stones correctly, then put your ear to Long
Meg, you will hear her whisper.
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The name itself it said to come from a local
witch, Meg of Meldon, who was alive in the early 17th century. Another theory
suggests that the stone was named after another 17th century legend about Long
Meg of Westminster, a giantess who was traditionally buried under a large blue
gravestone at Westminster Abbey. The stone actually marks the burial place of
monks who died during the Black Death. Another snippet of folklore tells how the
standing stone will bleed if it is damaged.
On the trees within the circle small gifts and
offerings can be found.
Another circle
Little Meg is 640 metres away. Look at
the Multimap link below to the east just under half a
mile.
Click on
Images to see a larger version
See also
Our
section on stone circles
The discussion on the purpose of stone circles
Planning Grid
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Location: |
Long Meg and Daughters, near
Little Salkeld and Penrith,
Cumbria |
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Grid Reference |
NY570372
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Map Link: |
Multimap
Google Maps aerial photograph |
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Getting there: |
6.5 kilometres north-east of Penrith off the A686. Come off the A686 at
Langwathby, go through little Salkeld, about 0.5 km or quarter of a mile
beyond Little Salkeld a track off to the left leads directly to the site. |
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Access: |
Follow above directly to site. |
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Parking: |
There is
room to park alongside the track. |
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Facilities: |
None |
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Things To Do,
See and Photograph: |
Circle, countryside |
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What to take: |
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Nature highlights: |
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Best Times to
Visit: |
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Address: |
Near
Little Salkeld and Penrith
Cumbria |
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Postcode: |
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Telephone: |
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E-mail: |
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Website: |
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Opening times: |
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Charges: |
none |
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Photo Restrictions: |
none |
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Other Restrictions: |
none |
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Special Needs Access: |
Don't think it's a problem |
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Special Needs Facilities: |
none |
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Children Facilities: |
none |
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Dogs Allowed: |
keep on a lead |
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Other useful
websites: |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Meg_and_Her_Daughters
http://www.english-lakes.com/long_meg.html
http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/majorsites/aa/long_meg.html |
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CIN Page Ref: |
long_meg_and_daughters |
Date Updated:02/08 |
Please let us know any other information that we
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wise to double check the current information, websites like magazines may be
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