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Stone Circle
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Visited: May 3, 2014
Loudon Wood Stone Circle is high on my list of favourites, probably because it is so secluded in woodland. But for many would-be visitors, it is a seclusion too far as they become hopelessly lost in the network of paths through the trees. But if you know your way, it lies just two kilometres from the White Cow Wood car-park, and can be walked easily in about 30 minutes.
The problem lies in the disgraceful lack of accurate signage: the only indication of a stone circle is at the car-park, where a direction sign sends the visitor off along the path heading east. After this, there are no more direction signs at all, and many visitors give up the search in bewilderment.
The red line on this Google Map shows how to get there.
From the White Cow Wood car-park, follow the road south for just short of a kilometre until you arrive beside a cottage at the edge of the woodland. Now turn left and follow the broad forestry road into Loudon Wood for 400 metres, when you will find a good track heading to the left. Follow this for 260 metres until you come to a path branching off to the right. This is easily spotted if you keep checking the green, vegetated verge on the right of the track: a prominent brown patch crosses it where walkers have eroded the vegetation. Follow this path through the trees for 300 metres in an almost dead straight line, again keeping an eye open for an eroded verge on the right. There, you should be able to see the path angling through the trees, and in 50 metres you are in the clearing that is home to the stone circle.
On the morning of my visit there was scarce a cloud in the sky, and the circle looked magnificent. I have uploaded two composite panoramic images, each showing all seven remaining stones of Loudon Wood Stone Circle.
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Posted by LesHamilton
3rd May 2014ce
Edited 11th March 2023ce
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