by Explore the ‘hermit cave’ of the Peak District
Cratcliffe and Robin Hood’s Stride are a cluster of sandstone crags and boulders nestled against a hill in Derbyshire not far from Bakewell. It is a beautiful place with a magical feel. Carved into the base of the cliff is a small chapel – “the hermit’s cave” – and in the next field, the stone circle of Dún na Naoi Cloch is over two meters high and 3,000 years old. There are only four stones left. There are an abundance of small dwellings carved into the rocks that you can explore at Rowtor Rocks, a jumble of nearby boulders. No wonder the local pub is called The Druid Inn…
Frances
An eerie morning on the Lŷn peninsula
There are many prehistoric sites on the Llŷn peninsula in north Wales, but Tre’r Ceiri Hill is particularly spectacular, with its sea views and impressively intact hut foundations and walls. Break a sweat as you strive to reach the exact 485m peak and then it’s just a leap of imagination to imagine yourself scanning the landscape for signs of activity, the smell of juniper wood fires, and the sounds of flowing streams. British language. behind you. You’ll probably have the site to yourself, and it’s especially nice to sit on a foggy morning.
Andrew Speak
Tips from Guardian Travel readers
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Anglesey magical, mysterious
From long ago, Bryn Celli Ddu, near Llanddaniel Fab, was just a hill in the landscape. Do not be deceived. Follow the meandering path to a place where mystery leads away. That grassy mound is a 5,000-year-old Neolithic tomb that is free to visit: the best in Anglesey. Squeeze yourself into the room and then stand, or stomach, in awe of the precision of ancient engineering. Although sunlight sets in at the summer solstice, you can shiver at any other time. Is that the cooling air or because a guardian spirit stands by? Make an offering, perhaps a pebble, and a mug to say thank you for this wonderful moment in memory.
Van Spencer Andrew
the indomitable hill fort of Dorset
Drive along a beech-tree-shaded avenue in Blandford Forum, Dorset, take a sharp turn up a rather rickety path, and you’ll be greeted by the sight of the Badbury Rings. This indomitable fortress from the iron age has three circles of high hills protecting a lock in the middle, and once you’ve chosen a route and scrambled up you’ll have a wonderful walk, with views of tumbling fields for miles and hours of peek. at nearby Kingston Lacy. The steep slopes between the hills are speckled with wildflowers, and every season delights here. Once you’ve made a circuit and gotten a feel for the place, you might enter the center of the ring, a woodland with dappled clearings ripe for some sort of wizarding activity (or, better yet, a picnic). I spent many happy childhood days surfing around the place, and you really feel like you’ve stepped back in time – it’s a walk, a breath of fresh air compared to roped-off sites like Stonehenge. Parking costs £3 a day and is well worth it.
Nis
Wonder 4,500 years old North Yorkshire
A few miles away, lorries unknowingly thunder up the A1. But even people who have lived all their lives near the jaw-dropping Thornborough Henges have no knowledge of the 4,500-year-old wonder. Take a peek through the country lanes north of Ripon and prepare to be amazed. Three huge circles of land (one nearly obliterated in ancient woodland) are aligned with Orion’s belt, each a Neolithic miracle of willpower. Even better, go at night and see the stars that inspired them. PS No entry price. Still himself.
Hugh Jones
Consider mysterious underground chambers in Cornwall
The Iron Age village of Carn Euny in Cornwall is a labyrinth of ruined huts, consisting of rooms and streets. Children can run amok on the bank, while adults wonder what it would have been like to live here 2,000 years ago. But that’s not all; in the center of the village is a beautifully preserved fogou, one of the mysterious underground chambers located across the Cornish countryside. This one has a unique round beehive room though. Take some time to sit quietly there – many visitors report a very special energy. Somewhere near St. Buryan, free entrance.
Suzy Currell
Mesmerized by the pagan rituals of County Fermanagh
Caldragh cemetery is located just off the main road on Boa Island, on Lower Lough Erne in County Fermanagh. A metal swing gate keeps livestock safe from this Christian cemetery. Among the gravestones are two ornate carved stone statues of an even earlier era. Caldragh’s “Janus” figures are mysterious two-sided relics of pagan rituals or worship. The taller Dreenan figure belongs to this site, but his companion, Lustymore Man, was moved at some point from nearby Lustymore Island. A groove between the two faces of the Dreenan collects coins and other souvenirs from modern visitors to this important ancient place.
Stephen
Spine-tingling Cotswolds stones
The Devil’s Quotas. Even the name is just outta Midsomer Murders. On the edge of the Cotswolds, is a Neolithic henge and stone circle near Stanton Harcourt, restored by the Oxford Archaeological Society. The secret that keeps the big stones quiet is anyone’s guess, but at sunrise the atmosphere is spine-tingling – at any time you could be alone; many locals don’t even know. Continue to the impressive remains of a Roman Villa, overlooking the Evenlode at North Leigh, 15 minutes drive. After a chat with the antiquarian, enjoy coffee and cake at the wonderful Cherry Tree cafe in nearby Eynsham.
max
Winning tip: enter the Dartmoor stone circle
Dartmoor has (literally) tons of ancient monuments and stones, but my favorite is the stone circle around a burial chamber at Hingston Hill. It is better to approach from the end of a row standing 350-meters of stones, the circle of 26 stones is smaller than some, but magical. A bonus is the continued walk up over Down Tor, which offers glorious views of Burrator reservoir and beyond – and an opportunity to reflect on the rituals and creativity of the ancient people who made this wild and beautiful place their home.
Amy Lightfoot
