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Peak District |
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Our first visit to the Peak District in November 2000 was not too successful mainly due to the weather, mud, barbed wire and lack of access to some sites. We decided to try and visit the circles in the southeast near the town of Birchover and include the spectacular Arbor Low which made the day, and the foggy drive back worthwhile. Stone
Circle From Buxton take the
A515 signed Ashbourne and take the left turn a couple of miles after the
turn to Monyash. This is signed to Arbor Low. Turn right after a short
distance (the sign had fallen over here) then the next right again to the
farm. Park here and leave the money (50p per adult) in the honesty box.
Walk through the farm and then left over the stile.
This is a very
impressive site , too wide to take a photograph in one so the pictures
have been joined. This circle is known as the “Stonehenge of the
North” and is set in a very pleasant location with views for miles over
the moors. The circle is surrounded by a bank and ditch with two
entrances, one in the NW and the other in the SSE.
When we visited there
was a very strong wind blowing and it is easy to see that these stones
could have blown over in a storm if the base holes were not deep. Some
still lean a little. They are weathered limestone which were brought to
the site from a nearby source. In the centre are the remains of the large
slabs which once formed a burial chamber where a skeleton was excavated.
Edge of the circle and the barrow
Leaning
stone
Central burial chamber An earth bank stretches in a line from the circle westwards towards the Gib Hill mound nearby. The photograph isn’t too clear as the sun wasn’t shining to provide shadow on the bank.
Earth bank |
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18.11.00 |
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