Image credit: Chris Bickerton
Images
Image credit: Chris Bickerton
Image credit: Chris Bickerton
?????
Image credit: Chris Bickerton
Image credit: Chris Bickerton
The best bits.
Image credit: Chris Bickerton
Image credit: Chris Bickerton
From the road side
Image credit: Chris Bickerton
Looking across Stickle Tarn following the course of its outflow, Stickle Ghyll, approx south-east toward Great Langdale.... the reverse of the famous view from the rock art inscribed outcrop (approximately indicated). The viewpoint is Pavey Ark.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The Copt Howe boulders are in foreground highlight, the correlation between these and the Langdale Pikes unmistakable and wonderful – Harrison Stickle is centre skyline, Loft Crag to the left beyond Dungeon Ghyll.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Real photograph postcard of the Langdale Pikes with the Copt Howe boulders in the foreground.
Photographer, printer and date unknown
Image credit: Unknown
Any ideas?
In the field adjacent to the Copt Howe rock art
June 2009
Whether these are natural or man-made is up for debate but they seem so symmetrical and are in such close proximity to the rock art on the large boulder in the adjacent field, that I would like to think there is more to them......
13/03/09.
The two Copt Howe boulders, with the Great Langdale valley beyond, and the Langdale Pikes, with their stone axe factories, beyond.
Image credit: The Eternal
13/03/09. The ignored boulder on the right, with the one with the best rock art on the left. Behind are the Langdale Pikes, with the stone axe factory of Pike of Stickle on the left edge of them.
Image credit: The Eternal
13/03/09.
The Langdale boulders. The ignored boulder, looking west. The small cup marks are visible, below and along the black stain, in a sort of vertical line, used by climbers as finger holds, whilst practicing moves at low level.
Image credit: The Eternal
(After Beckensall, 2001)
Image credit: IH
3-9-2008
www.briankerrphotography.co.uk
Image credit: Brian Kerr 2008
3-9-2008
www.briankerrphotography.co.uk
Image credit: Brian Kerr 2008
3-9-2008
a very wet day
www.briankerrphotography.co.uk
Image credit: Brian Kerr
A sign affixed to the wooden fence directly in front of the main panel
Image credit: © Brian Kerr 2007
Hand tinted postcard of Copt Howe and the Pikes posted 1959
Image credit: Sanderson & Dixon Ambleside
Cup mark details. Rock slab, about 10/12 feet in height, on the right hand side of the road, just before Copt Howe when approaching from Ambleside. Cup marks – natural or man-made?
Image credit: The Eternal
Cup mark details. Rock slab, about 10/12 feet in height, on the right hand side of the road, just before Copt Howe when approaching from Ambleside. Cup marks – natural or man-made?
Image credit: The Eternal
Cup mark details. Rock slab, about 10/12 feet in height, on the right hand side of the road, just before Copt Howe when approaching from Ambleside.
Image credit: The Eternal
Cup mark detail. Rock slab, about 10/12 feet in height, on the right hand side of the road, just before Copt Howe when approaching from Ambleside.
Image credit: The Eternal
Rock slab, about 10/12 feet in height, on the right hand side of the road, just before Copt Howe when approaching from Ambleside. Cup marks – natural or man-made? I think some are definitely natural, but perhaps some are man-made copies, imitations of the natural. Similar to the cup marks on the Copt Howe rocks. Some have evidence of polishing, due to climbers.
Image credit: The Eternal
Rock slab, about 10/12 feet in height, on the right hand side of the road, just before Copt Howe when approaching from Ambleside. Cup marks – natural or man-made? I think some are definitely natural, but perhaps some are man-made copies, imitations of the natural. Similar to the cup marks on the Copt Howe rocks. Some have evidence of polishing, due to climbers.
Image credit: The Eternal
Copt Howe in glorious Great Langdale, and its relation to the Pike of Stickle axe factory.
Image credit: The Eternal
Second big rock from the gate. Close detail 4.
Image credit: The Eternal
Second big rock from the gate. Close detail 3.
Image credit: The Eternal
Second big rock from the gate. Close detail 2.
Image credit: The Eternal
Second big rock from the gate. Close detail 1.
Image credit: The Eternal
Second big rock from the gate – general detail.
Image credit: The Eternal
Second big rock from the gate – main decorative wall.
Image credit: The Eternal
First big rock from the gate.
Image credit: The Eternal
First big rock from the gate. So obviously pecked, like all the rock art at Copt Howe. Recent chalk on the rock shows that bouldering is still taking place, but this rock wouldn’t be obviously carved to anyone uninterested in prehistory.
Image credit: The Eternal
Image credit: IH
Image credit: IH
‘Natural’ cup? I have serious doubts, despite Mssrs Hzssledine and Haszeldine claiming this to be the case.
>Edit< I'm a lot more open to the idea they are natural now I come to think about it all again...
Image credit: IH
Image credit: IH
Roadside boulder cup with chalk.
Image credit: IH
The boulders viewed from the road.
Image credit: IH
Roadside boulder again. Handy foothold, convenient handhold, or nationally signifcant evidence of prehistoric activity? All three I suspect.
Image credit: IH
The upper boulder, closest to the road. Despite having cup-marks, not part of the voluntary climbing ban, and hence covered in chalk.
Image credit: IH
The lovely situation of Copt Howe, with the Langdale Pikes in the background.
Image credit: Mark Jobling
27-6-04
other side of the wall...
Image credit: Pebblethief
A shot from more or less the same angle as one of ironmans but with less moss/lichen due to the dry summer.
The lofty Pikes
The single motif on the eastern boulder
Interesting stone on private land within 1km of Copt Howe.
Looks like it had apractical use? Ideas welcome!
Narrow chipped groove runs down to the bowl, which appears to have a chipped overflow.
More recent marks across the stone should be ignored.
Has anyone seen anything similar?
Image credit: James Archer
08/03. Close up of the pecked area.
08/03. The eastern face.
Plan of the main carvings at Copt Howe (after Beckensall)
22/03/03
*Notice in the foreground a climber on the rock face adjacent to the rock art.
Image credit: broen
An interpretation of the carvings.
This is pure conjecture but looking at the rock art here as a map does seem to work. Scale is bad but not completely out. If the idea of more rings meaning greater height is true then where I have indicated Bowfell would probably mean just The Band (track leading up to Bowfell) which does appear to be a summit from the valley floor. Pike o’Stickle appears to be the highest, in reality it isn’t, but this doesn’t neccesarily mean much. Again from the valley floor Pike O’Stickle appears not only high but the summit is completely visible, a special feature of any mountain. Two more points about the importance of Pike O’ Stickle:
1. it is like an extruded dome, almost conical. It appears the same through 360°, which is a very special feature. It can be seen from The far North and South, always appearing the same.
2. It is the site of the Langdale Axe Factory – and probably the destination of anyone visiting the boulder at Copt Howe.
The clump of boulders surrounding the carved rock. Some of these have suspicious cup marks, worth investigating.
A view of the side of the boulder. It has a strange rhomboid character, which may have been the reason for it’s choice.
The huge carved boulder at Copt Howe
Articles
From an article by David Prudames, published on www.24hourmuseum.org.uk on 21st September 2004:
Experts have voiced their concerns about the future of prehistoric rock carvings on a boulder being used by climbers in the north of England.
Copt Howe, a large rock near the village of Chapel Stile in the Lake District, boasts a series of cup and ring markings believed to have been created between 4,000 and 6,000 years ago.
The site is used by climbers for bouldering, a hard-going, gymnastically-challenging form of climbing without the use of ropes on boulders and short out-crops.
We got there about four in the afternoon on the day of the Autumnal equinox, it was a Sunday. There was already half a dozen cars parked in the vicinity but there was room for one more at the end, I squeezed it in effortlessly, as I’m a professional driver.
Despite the number of cars parked on the side of the road there was only a young couple there, so we gave them some time to themselves and consumed out butties and pop. Yum.
They were gone soon enough so Eric set about exploring the boulders, not that one I told him, that ones off limits, then I sat in front of the rock art after perusing the information board and tried hard to see everything that was on the picture.
The triangle or love heart of pecked bumps was impossible to see until right up next to it, the longer I sat there staring the more I could see. Over the now very rickety and slightly dangerous stile I found more. Concentric circles surrounding a natural ? depression, two cartouche type shapes and two weird cup marks with bumps in the middle, that’s not the technical term but I lack the vocabulary.
I wonder why it is all done with the big axe factory mountain out of view. I also wonder why it’s only on one boulder, perhaps it lends credence to the map theory. But I still don’t buy it, why would you need a map, surely anyone here would know where they are going, and if they don’t then they’ve got no business being here. Not anyone could go up there and knock out their own axes could they ?
But one thing is for sure and completely undeniable, this is a sublime position for anything, rock art a stone circle a single standing stone, heck I’d come here if there was nowt at all. The grass is greener, the sky bluer, the clouds fluffier and the mountains, well, they are the best in England, rockier, higher and more inviting than anywhere else.
Come now before they get too eroded for surely one day they will be no more than big grassy hills.
Been past these rocks all my life, but the rock art stuff was only discovered fairly recently. It’s all pecked stuff, and harder to see close up. Low, slanting sunlight shows it up best, when shadows are cast. Unfortunately, I’ve never had a camera with me then.
The photos I’ve posted were taken at 9:00am on 10th June 2005, when the sun was too high to provide decent shadow. Alright, it’s my fault for having a bit too much vino collapso the night before, preventing me from getting up early enough.
As for the cup marks, I’m certain they’re natural – gas bubbles when the rock formed. My reason for saying this? The rocks all over the fellsides around here exhibit the same characteristics. On the same day I found the same “cup marks” on the fellside directly above Copt Howe on many rocks, on the Blea Tarn road, on Silver How, Blea Rigg, Pavey Ark, Harrison Stickle, and back near the Old Dungeon Ghyll. Also, I know these features are common on Pike o’ Blisco.
Caught a glimpse of the boulders on the way to the Old Dungeon Ghyll. I made small ‘eek’ing noises in anticipation.
Then stopped off on the way back, having realised that there is just enough space for a vehicle or two, directly opposite the boulders, but it’s standard Lake District ‘narrow roads with fast cars’, so beware.
The boulders themselves are very nice. The view up to Pike o’Stickle stunning in morning sunlight. It was quite slippy underfoot, and there hadn’t been rain for a couple of days, so if it’s wet, again, beware. There are other cupmarks in the vicinity, but apparently the jury is still out regarding whether they are natural ‘vesicles’ or artificial carvings. Being me, I suspect the latter, I didn’t notice ‘vesicles’ elsewhere, only in the vicinity of Chapel Stile.
The carvings were quite visible, though being on volcanic stone, they are fainter than is usually the case with motifs on sandstone. But at the same time, they are not so eroded, so the peckmarks are discernable.
What was depressing though, was that there are still people climbing over the carved face.
The issue of climbing caused a minor stir, which the British Mountineering Council claimed was needless, as guidebooks would be altered, and a voluntary, self imposed ban would be enforced by climbers.
Whilst this may well be the case with most climbers, the Fell and Rock Climbing Club of the Lake district for exmple, flag up the existance of the carvings, and point out that English Heritage ask that climbers refrain from climbing in the areas containing the markings.
But the message isn’t getting through to all, or so it would seem. ‘Route 9’, the bouldering route over the face with the main carvings, is still being used, and the evidence of this is there for all to see in the form of chalk residue, used to assist climbers in attempting this ‘problem’ (as it is known in climbing circles).
Furthermore, close examination of the surface of the boulders shows that the cupmarks have been eroded over the years, but only on the lower lip, where one would place one’s feet if one were climbing up that face of the boulder. Now this may have taken ages to happen, but the cumulative effect is there, and it won’t get any the less with the increase in bouldering as a sport. Particularly as the Langdale Boulders are regarded as some of the best bouldering problems in the UK.
It’s unfortunate that this coincides with some of the best prehistoric rock art in the UK, surely there must be some way that both can co-exist without damage to this unique site.
I hope so. This is special rock art. Axe factory rock art. There’s not much of that about is there?
We hit this site this morning. The weather was beautiful, the Pikes had a bit of light cloud around them but apart from that the sky was empty. and the views up and down the valley were breathtaking.
We had the site to ourselves, so the lads went off to explore the fields and I got down on my hunkers and got to grips with the carvings. I’ve found this is the only way to suss out what’s really there. It’s like braille for the seeing – if you know what I mean. The motif on the block to the east, which is mentioned in Stan Beckensalls “Prehistoric Rock Art in Cumbria” showed up quite well in the morning sunshine.
I’m afraid I couldn’t relate the carvings to the map theory, I can be a bit slow at times so maybe I need someone to talk me through it – any offers?.
As we left the site we discovered a large barn owl which was sat motionless on a branch just staring at us at the same time a buzzard flew over us and lazily made it’s way down the valley towards the Pikes.
All in all a crackin’ site, lovely rock art
I reckon this must be the most perfectly sited work of rock art in England....the view along the valley to the Langdale Pikes is outrageous.
After I thought I saw a map on The Badger Stone on Ilkley Moor I was well primed to see Ironmans map laid out on the boulder at Copt Howe.....it stands up to it well enough.....although the people I went up there with worked out another map using the heavily pecked area as the scree slopes on the Pike o’ Sickle.....it has to be said the rest of the map was rather sketchy compared to Ironmans.
A wonderful place............
I would suggest a different parking spot to Ironman. When I got to the site there were already a few cars parked opposite the gate and talking to a climber later he said that space could often be packed during busy times. About 300-400 metres further northwest along the road there is room for several cars next to a track and footpath that lead south to Great Langdale Beck, from here it’s an easy walk back up the road to the gate. Once I’d actually got to the huge boulder I was a little disappointed that the carvings weren’t more clear, it was about 5.30pm so the sun was behind the flat east facing side with the carvings and there was no shadow to add definition to the marks. With a plan of the site it is possible to trace the position of the rings, grooves and cups and the layout slowly unfolds before your eyes, Ironman’s map theory seems particularly appealing – this valley would have made an easy route for the movement of axes. While chatting to the climber he said he was aware of the carvings but didn’t know much about them, when I showed him the plan he proved remarkably adept at finding the various parts of the carvings – better than I was.
For anybody planning a visit, morning up until midday might be the best time to see the carvings, but the site is in a beautiful location and would be worth a visit at any time of the day.
The carved boulder at Copt Howe lies just outside Chapel Stile, on the road from Ambleside to Dungeon Ghyll. Approach slowly when leaving the village, a clearing with boulders and ferns lies to the right hand side of the road – continue down until the road runs between two walls. You will see a small lay-by, room for one car only, on the opposite side of the road is a gate. Look over the gate and if you’re at the right place you’ll see a drystone wall intersecting two huge boulders. The far boulder is carved.
This is a beautiful site. The carvings are into hard rock and are very gentle. I had been to Rombald’s Moor on the previous day, with its weather worn deep recesses, Copt Howe’s carving are much gentler and therefore much more elusive. In places the lines disappear and merge with the natural features. The suggestion that these carvings could in fact be a map holds ground here (see my annotated image).
A couple of climbers were bouldering on the adjacent large boulder and chatted with me about the shitty weather. This is a very peaceful contemplative place, and is well worth the visit if en route to the far end of Langdale valley, site of the axe factory.
According to the SMR, there are two boulders here with rock art on them:
The monument includes what are known in rock climbing circles as The Langdale
Boulders, two prehistoric rock art sites in Great Langdale 250m south of Harry
Place. It consists of two very large boulders of Andesitic tuff a few metres
apart upon which a series of prehistoric rock carvings have been made. The
boulders were in their present position when carved upon. The western of the
two boulders, Boulder A, contains the most extensive carvings of the two
rocks. These are found on the vertical east face of the rock and include a
central unmarked `boss’ and multiple concentric circles, one having up to
eleven rings. A linear feature in the shape of a chevron appears to be linked
to the unmarked `boss’ by triple grooves which appear to have been carved
upwards. Many other unusual motifs are present on the rock face. Other
features include numerous `cup’ marks – ie small circular hollows in the
rock. Whilst some of these `cup’ marks are undoubtably man made and are
surrounded by rings, others appear to have been formed by the natural erosion
of mineral deposits within the rock. However, many of these natural `cups‘
have been utilised to form part of the overall pattern and design of the rock
carving. The linear and `boss’ carvings on Boulder A have comparisons with
carvings elsewhere, notably one found at The Glassonby cairn circle in eastern
Cumbria, and Temple Wood in Argyll.
The eastern boulder, Boulder B, has been partially quarried and appears to
have only one carving of two uncompleted rings, together with many natural
`cups’ on the vertical southern face.
A map of the Mickleden end of the Langdale Valley showing the axe factory, which can be compared with Chris Collyer’s diagram of the carvings.
Sites within 20km of Copt Howe
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Elterwater Common
forum 1description 1 -
Great Langdale
photo 17forum 1description 3 -
Castle Howe, Little Langdale
photo 2description 1 -
Grasmere
photo 9description 3 -
Harrison Stickle
photo 4 -
Thorn Crag
photo 2description 1 -
Loft Crag
photo 4description 1 -
Wrynose Pass Stone
photo 4forum 1description 1 -
Langdale Axe Factory
photo 46forum 5description 8link 2 -
Mickleden Beck
photo 7description 2 -
Dunmail Raise
photo 6description 6link 1 -
Glaramara Stone Axe Factories
photo 1 -
Glaramara (Northern) Stone Axe Factory
photo 3description 1 -
The Kirkstone
photo 9description 4 -
Banniside
photo 13description 1 -
Hird Wood Circle
photo 13description 3 -
Lead Pike
photo 1forum 2description 1link 1 -
Dovedale Henge
photo 21description 2 -
Cairn to SW of Hardknott Castle
photo 2forum 1 -
Troutbeck Park
photo 6description 1 -
Bleaberry Haws Ringcairn
photo 6 -
Bleaberry Haws Cairn
photo 10description 1 -
Castle Crag, Borrowdale
photo 23description 3 -
Bleaberry Haws Summit Cairn
photo 3description 1 -
Torver High Common Dyke
photo 1 -
Bleaberry Haws
photo 10description 2link 1 -
Beckstones
photo 19description 1link 1 -
Maiden Castle (Wastwater)
photo 3description 2 -
Castle Crag, Shoulthwaite
photo 3description 1 -
High Hugill Settlement
description 3 -
Boat Howe
photo 11description 3 -
Low Longrigg
photo 16description 2link 1 -
Brat’s Hill
photo 27description 3link 1 -
White Moss
photo 49description 3 -
Mill Rigg Settlement
description 1 -
High Raise
photo 4description 1 -
Low Raise
photo 2description 1 -
Castle Crags, Mardale
photo 3description 1 -
Rusland
photo 7forum 1description 1 -
White Borran
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Seatallan
photo 4description 1 -
Buttermere
photo 4description 1 -
Castlerigg
photo 240forum 26description 52link 8 -
The Coombs, Martindale
photo 4description 1 -
Threlkeld Knotts
photo 3link 1 -
Selside Pike
photo 5description 1 -
Giant’s Grave
photo 16description 3 -
Swarth Fell
photo 16forum 2description 5