A lovely pair of sites, which I have been meaning to visit for at least 10 years, but it was always too far from the M6 on jaunts to the lakes & Scotland.
It is a fair old round trip from the motorway, but it IS well worth it – in fact I’m surprised more people haven’t been. The circles are easy to find, well signposted and there is now a small layby for 2 cars, with an info board and sheets to carry round.
The circles are very different: The Loupin Stanes is a compact circle on a small flat platform and feels very cosy. The Girdle Stanes is a massive circle with many stones, and isn’t really diminished by losing such a large area to the river. If anything it just emphasises how old the place is.
Well worth visiting, though the walk between is boggy and a little longer than hinted at-don’t wear your flipflops- make the effort to visit this site and you’ll be well rewarded.