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Castlerigg stone circle

Average reviews rating is 4

(Based on 5 reviews)

Ranked 1 of 3 facilties in ranked in Cumbria

Wow factor

rating is 4

Accessibility

rating is 4.5

Photo potential

rating is 4

Review

Castlerigg stone circle

Directions: Castlerigg stone circle lies close to the town of Keswick in the northern Lake District. From Keswick take the A591 east towards Penrith. On the edge of Keswick take the minor road to the right and you’ll find a few parking spots on the road next to the stones on the right. Castlerigg stone circle lies close to the town of Keswick in the northern Lake District. From Keswick take the A591 east towards Penrith. On the edge of Keswick take the minor road to the right and you’ll find a few parking spots on the road next to the stones on the right.
Accessibility: There are a few roadside parking spots that can fill up quickly during the holiday season, but if you can find a place, Castlerigg is only a few yards from the road.
Costs: None
Best time to visit: Sunrise is the perfect time to shoot Castlerigg, with the sun rising over the distant fells.
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Venue information

The easily accessible Castlerigg is one of the most popular ancient sites in the Lake District. But make the effort to get there for sunrise, and apart from the inevitable herd of sheep, you’re likely to have the place to yourself. Dawn is also the best time to capture the other-worldly atmosphere of this ancient site, when you can almost imagine yourself back when this place was built. Shooting the whole circle can be difficult as there are few suitable viewpoints, but you can try isolating individual stones against the rising sun.

Venue verdict: Castlerigg is popular with good reason, it’s an amazing place when you get a good sunrise to complete the scene.

Ratings (out of five): 5

Users' Overall Rating rating is 4(5 reviews)

  • Alone?

    John ball

    User's Overall Rating rating is 4.5

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    Wow factorrating is 4
    Accessibilityrating is 5
    Photo potentialrating is 5

    Yes it is wonderful but i have never managed to be alone there at dawn in the 8 times i have visited! The last time was a cold and windy Monday morning on the 22nd March just gone at 5.30am,and the last thing i was expecting was 3 other Togs being there! I turned straight back and went to the lakeside and got a couple of nice brooding shots of Causey Pike and Derwentwater.Here's to the next time fingers crossed.

    (Written by: cachyman)

    31 March 2010 19:26

  • Castlerigg

    hen71

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    User's Overall Rating rating is 4

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    Wow factorrating is 4
    Accessibilityrating is 4
    Photo potentialrating is 4

    It certainly is a beautiful spot and access is not restricted by any fence or admission fee. If you go mid week and out of holiday peak seasons you will be alone at dawn. My solution to getting a more complete view of the circle was to take a step ladder (see my uploaded photo), but you may feel like a bit of a plonker!

    (Written by: hen71)

    31 March 2010 11:45

  • Castlerigg

    Dave T

    walsall, UK

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    User's Overall Rating rating is 4

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    Wow factorrating is 4
    Accessibilityrating is 5
    Photo potentialrating is 4

    Fantastic place, however you do have to be hopefull that other tourists don't turn up lol. Very evocative and lovely views - but please do remember that this was/is an important place to other people so please treat with care and respect as you would any other ancient monument or religeous area.

    (Written by: Draig37)

    28 March 2010 18:15

  • Castlerigg Stone Circle

    NeilNorton

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    User's Overall Rating rating is 4

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    Wow factorrating is 4
    Accessibilityrating is 5
    Photo potentialrating is 3

    I echo the other comments. I arrived for a sunset and the location is superb. There are interesting views towards Blencathra, down to St John's in the Vale and along the main Clough Head to Helvellyn ridge. Getting a shot without people in was almost impossible in August which explains why many pro shots at Keswick market are of mid winter. Worth a visit but choose your time to avoid camera rage!

    (Written by: NeilNorton)

    02 March 2010 20:57

  • Castlerigg Stone Circle

    Flick

    UK

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    User's Overall Rating rating is 4

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    Wow factorrating is 4
    Accessibilityrating is 5
    Photo potentialrating is 4

    This picturesque area in the heart of the Lake District has the potential to be an excellent place for photographers. However, its popularity is a cause for concern. Finding the place was simple enough and there was enough spare land to grab a parking space, but once inside the circle, it was evident that this was a magnet for the general tourist too. For well over an hour we sat, just waiting for the area to clear, as more tourists arrived as others left. After the wait, we took some shots from various angles, as the peaks and hills make for super backdrops. As the main review says, this is an area that is made for sunrises and sunsets, but even with a wideangle lens, getting the full circle in, doesn't give a decent composition, so worthwhile taking your pick of the many different shaped rocks. I could see this being a fantastic place to spend the Summer Solstice, it has that Stonehenge feel to it, but its well worth a visit if you can time it right.

    (Written by: Flick)

    07 December 2007 18:54

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