Pictures of England

Search:

Historic Towns & Picturesque Villages

Buttermere

Buttermere

in the county of Cumbria

Pictures of Long Meg & her Daughters

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

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.

Share the beauty of England..

Recommended towns & villages near Long Meg & her Daughters

St Augustine's Church, Alston, Cumbria

Alston (32 Pictures)

a Historic Market Town in the county of Cumbria

(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.....

Gates leading to Meaburn Hall, Maulds Meaburn, Cumbria

Maulds Meaburn (1 Pictures)

in the county of Cumbria

(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"...

Ullswater, winter afternoon.

Ullswater (364 Pictures)

in the county of Cumbria

(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.....

Mining Remains, Nenthead, Cumbria

Nenthead (14 Pictures)

a Picturesque Village in the county of Cumbria

(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...

St Mary church, Walton, Brampton Cumbria

Brampton (26 Pictures)

in the county of Cumbria

(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...

All towns in Cumbria
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Recommended attractions near Long Meg & her Daughters

Brougham Castle, Penrith, Cumbria

Brougham Castle (12 Pictures)

(5.7 miles, 9.2 km, direction SW)

Coming Soon. Can you tell us about Brougham Castle? broughamcastle@picturesofengland.com..

Penrith Castle in Penrith, Lake District at daybreak

Penrith Castle (13 Pictures)

(6.1 miles, 9.8 km, direction SW)

..

Lowther Castle with Norman Lowther from Manassas, VA - a direct descendant of Sir Richard Lowther.

Lowther Castle (17 Pictures)

(8.8 miles, 14.1 km, direction S)

..

Dalemain House & Gardens, Penrith, Cumbria

Dalemain House & Gardens (19 Pictures)

(8.8 miles, 14.2 km, direction SW)

..

Just before the snow arrived... -  - taken at Talkin Tarn country park

Talkin Tarn Country Park (26 Pictures)

(13.3 miles, 21.4 km, direction N)

This lovely country park occupies a magical landscape close to the historic market town of Brampton. The icy waters forming the.....


All attractions in Cumbria
Complete A to Z of attractions in England