IronMan

Black Combe. People just seem to like saying the name of this hill. It’s domination of the coastal landscape round here is incredible.
It can be seen from very far away – on a clear day, along the coast of Lancashire it’s distinctive shape heralds the start of the Lakeland high ground. From atop the surrounding mountain landscape also, Black Combe is easily made out, part of the last high ground before the Irish Sea. Coniston Old Man has a particularly good view out to Black Combe, and from here you can appreciate how the surrounding landscape fits together.

Black Combe is a very special place.

A huge site, that gives you some idea (scale wise) of what might have been at Avebury. I visited alone, had a good couple of hours to myself, then watched the sunset from the smaller circle.

Pagan Hill nearby gives it’s name to one of the country lanes. What an address!

A Class-A site if ever there was one! Enjoy getting dirty !) as you climb into the hole. A real warmth can be felt inside. Standing on the top, looking down the top of the mound is wonderful, but difficult to convey with just a photograph. LOVE this site.

20/01/02 – Wonderful day. The elements were in full force – muddy, rainy, windy, cold. We slipped and slided our way round the circle, as far as we were permitted, then warmed up in the Red Lion. Strange things happened with my camera today...

Visited Wayland’s Smithy on my 30th birthday, and must say I didn’t feel quite so old! And what a birthday party with such esteemed company. Mrs Ironman & I enjoyed a bit of birthday cake there and managed to get a whole hour of undisturbed peace. The highlight of an otherwise hectic day spent travelling from Bristol to London and back again!

On this freezing cold January afternoon the hills above the circle were alive with people walking their dogs, out with the kids etc. Quite a few of them walked to the circle in the time we were there, and I got the feeling, as in Julian’s notes in TMA, that local people Love this site. Great view of the hills to the east and over Morecambe bay.

Scant remains, in complete ruin (the result of excavations, from what I can gather), of what must have once been a very impressive site (well according to the artist’s impression!). Still keeps a good amount of atmosphere however.

Cheetham Close stone circle is almost non-existant. One stone stands roughly 0.5m upright, the rest are fallen and barely visible above the tufts of moorland grass. Around the site are the remains of a couple more cairns.

The ruinous condition of this circle are the result of a local farmer, the tenant of Turton Tower, taking sledgehammers to the stones in 1871, the circle was said to be in a good condition until that point.

This should be one of the most beautifully located circles and still manages to retain some dignity in the face of such a monstrous neighbour. You get the feeling this place is just totally UnLoved.

On this particular day (02.01.01ce) we drove round to the Sellafield Visitor Centre car park to check the map, then drove round the other side of the Power Station, where the circle is located. Two clean-cut squaddy types in Land Rovers followed us right the way round then continued past us to the Sellafield entrance next to the circle. Next a security guy drove past as we walked down the footpath. On our return a copper drove past us as we got back in the car. Sure enough he was waiting further down the road and proceeded to follow us for a further 3 miles, presumably ‘til we were safely away from Sellafield. I presume there’s heightened security at the moment, but two clowns struggling to fold up an OS map on a deserted car park, and then trudging through fields to a stone circle, seems like quite an unlikely threat!