Pictures of Long Meg & her Daughters

in the town of Little Salkeld, in the county of Cumbria

Long Meg & her Daughters Picture Tour Hotels near Long Meg & her Daughters Long Meg & her Daughters Facts Long Meg & her Daughters Forum Submit pictures Nearby Towns Nearby Attractions Long Meg & her Daughters Map Add attraction to favourites

About Long Meg & her Daughters

The 12 foot high mass of sandstone known as Long Meg can be found close to a circle of smaller "daughter" stones in a spectacular hillside setting near Penrith in Cumbria. Following on from hauntingly beautiful Avebury and Stanton Drew, this is the 3rd largest stone Circle in England, and though smaller is no less impressive than the other sites.

Many experts feel the stones may have been sited at different times, the style and traces of feint carvings on Long Meg are suggestive of the Bronze Age, whilst the other carvings facing away from the circle may possibly date between 2500-2000 BCE.

The circle comprises of 59 large stones, the largest weighing in at 29 tons, with all the stones appearing to be of local porphyritic material. Speculation exists as to why Long Meg stands outside the circle, one theory is that originally she was used to sight the midwinter sun.

There are many legends associated with Long Meg and her Daughters. For hundreds, maybe thousands of years, local folk have believed the stones were a coven of witches celebrating some sacred rite or Sabbath, when a saint found them and cast them into stone! Another popular belief is that should the circle ever be removed or destroyed, those responsible would suffer for their actions. A fascinating legend surrounds Long Meg herself. It is said that were she ever to become damaged, she would bleed. A myth, often associated with stone circles, states that the stones are uncountable. It is supposed a spell is cast over the site and should the stones be counted twice in a row, the spell will be broken.

The magical territory on which the stones stand, surrounded by trees backed by beautiful Lakeland scenery, only serves to heighten the sense of awe and mystery as to who placed the stones and why? For centuries the site has captured the imagination of artists and poet's, most particularly William Wordsworth - the poet of the lakes - who immortalised Long Meg and her Daughters with the following words -

A weight of awe, not easy to be borne,
Fell suddenly upon my spirit - cast
From the dread bosom of the unknown past
When first I saw that family forlorn

Thus it was in Wordsworth's day, and thus the enigmatic sight of Long Meg and her Daughters remains a source of fascination, mystique and mystery to this day.

This atmospheric site is a "must see" for any visitor to Cumbria. It can be found close to Penrith which lies a short distance from junction 40 of the M6 motorway.

Please upload your photos of Long Meg & her Daughters or see below for towns & villages near Long Meg & her Daughters and a list of other nearby attractions to visit.

Planning a visit? We have thousands of Hotels, Bed & Breakfast and Holiday Cottages to choose from at highly competetive rates when booked through the Pictures of England website. Click here for accommodation near Long Meg & her Daughters

Add attraction to favourites

Submit a history of Long Meg & her Daughters

Recommended towns & villages near Long Meg & her Daughters

	Alston (10.9 miles, 17.5 km, direction NE) At a height of over 1,000 feet in the far reaches of the Pennines, this is one of England's highest market towns. Alston is a lively bustling place of steeply rising narrow..... Information | Pictures (28) | Hotels | Holiday Cottages
	Maulds Meaburn (13.4 miles, 21.6 km, direction S) Hunter Davies (famous author, journalist and broadcaster) described the village as "... one of the most beautiful villages in the country"... Information | Pictures (1) | Hotels | Holiday Cottages
	Ullswater (13.4 miles, 21.6 km, direction SW) Ullswater is considered by many to be the lake districts most beautiful lake. It is 7.5 miles of pure beauty, and as you approach it from any direction you will see why. Ullswater..... Information | Pictures (308) | Hotels | Holiday Cottages
	Nenthead (13.7 miles, 22.0 km, direction E) Nestling beside the sparkling River Nent, Nenthead lies on Alston Moor, in a lonely remote North Pennine Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, between the pleasant market town of Alston and the Killhope lead mining museum... Information | Pictures (14) | Hotels | Holiday Cottages
	Brampton (15.2 miles, 24.4 km, direction N) One of the loveliest features of Brampton is its octagonal Moot Hall, built by the Earl of Lancaster in 1817... Information | Pictures (5) | Hotels | Holiday Cottages

Recommended attractions near Long Meg & her Daughters

	Brougham Castle (5.7 miles, 9.2 km, direction SW) Coming Soon. Can you tell us about Brougham Castle? broughamcastle@picturesofengland.com.. Information | Pictures (12) | Hotels
	Penrith Castle (6.1 miles, 9.8 km, direction SW) .. Information | Pictures (13) | Hotels
	Whinfell Forest (6.3 miles, 10.2 km, direction S) .. Information | Pictures (4) | Hotels
	Lowther Castle (8.8 miles, 14.1 km, direction S) .. Information | Pictures (17) | Hotels
	Dalemain House & Gardens (8.8 miles, 14.2 km, direction SW) .. Information | Pictures (19) | Hotels

Hotels near Long Meg & her Daughters

Hotels near Long Meg & her Daughters  Cottages near Long Meg & her Daughters  Bed & Breakfast near Long Meg & her Daughters

	Garth Cottage penrith, Cumbria, England (1.1 miles, 1.8 km, direction W) Garth is a spacious detached house nestled into a grassy bank with a quiet outdoor sitting area, shaded by wild cherry trees. This cottage offers family living within the open-plan lounge, featuring a... More info and book online..  Price from £505.00
	Langriggs Cottage Penrith, Cumbria, England (1.1 miles, 1.8 km, direction W) This charming ground floor cottage for 4 people where the living area features the original sandstone wall. The comfortable living area with dining facilities for four, leads to a kitchenette. Th... More info and book online..  Price from £385.00
	Windale Cottage Penrith, Cumbria, England (1.1 miles, 1.8 km, direction W) A peaceful cottage, Windale offers deceptively spacious accommodation, its open plan lounge/diner and kitchen area upstairs and occupy the space once used as a shepherd's cottage. There is ample ... More info and book online..  Price from £285.00
	High Croft Cottage Penrith, Cumbria, England (1.1 miles, 1.8 km, direction W) Approached by five sandstone steps this cottage offers light and airy accommodation on one level for 4 people. The cottage faces across the Eden to the North Pennine fells, it has a comfortable l... More info and book online..  Price from £405.00
	Mickledale Cottage Penrith, Cumbria, England (1.2 miles, 1.9 km, direction W) An attractive pine staircase leads from the open plan living area to the two bedrooms one large double and a single. The recently renovated bathroom has a Power Shower (now no bath). An ideal and popu... More info and book online..  Price from £260.00