IronMan

A great end to a day spent visiting a lot of sites in the area. The lashing rain and howling wind didn’t put us off at all but made photography a very rushed affair. A lovely site with fantastic views, the small Irish Five-Stone ring (Circle 275) on the track leading up offers a great view of the Druid’s Circle and is lovely itself. Another on the summer visit list I think.

Whilst trying to circumnavigate the adjoining field, in order to avoid 20 angry looking bulls (not such an iron man today), I came across a large outcrop of rocks and boulders spoilt only by a small television mast on the top. These stones seemed just as charged as the Doublers, one imparticular had a very sexual appearance.

The Doublers themselves were everything I’d hoped for, so I spent a while sat by the largest rock eating some lunch and resting after the walk from Ilkley via White Wells. Meanwhile the bulls moved on to the side of the outcrop I’d been admiring earlier where the farmer was waiting to feed them allowing me to return to the path without any fear!

I returned to the Badger Stone on 16/3/2. This time it was in the late afternoon, so the sun was in a different position from the last time I was here (early morning). The aspects of the stone that had excited me so much last time were now more difficult to make out despite the strong sunshine. Markings I could hardly make out the previous time were however brought into sharper focus.

If you intend to visit the Badger Stone it is worth many repeat visits – only then will you be sure to see it in all of it’s glory. I intend to visit here at night with a decent set of flash lights in order to attempt illuminate it from all angles.

Very strange place. The fall of boulders is covered in huge natural cup marks. One huge stone stands upended, covered in pits and tracks, like a giant nature hewn version of the Badger Stone.

Only a five/ten minute walk from the three circles of Brat’s Hill, these two are in a worse condition than those. DON’T let that put you off. On reaching these circles I turned to face the Brat’s Hill circles and nearly fell over with the impact of this view – in fact a full 360° of perfect views. I felt dizzy with the sheer ancientness of it all. The next port of call would be the settlement at Boat Howe. I’ll be back here in summer, on a very clear day, with perfect blue skies. I can’t wait.

On the approach to the Brat’s Hill complex the first circle you will probably see is one of the White Moss circles. We did just that, only to turn round and notice we’d completely missed the Brat’s Hill circle itself. Of the two, the one nearest the path is in the best condition, and in terms of setting, you couldn’t ask for more.

The low circle of Brat’s Hill is complimented by the two circles of White Moss which lie only a minute away. The circle is dominated by five internal burial cairns, inserted at a later date.

Boat Howe is the summit of a low fell surrounded by true giants. The Scafells loom ominously above – the highest ground in England. We felt a tremendous sense of loss as we took in the beauty of the setting, looking back on the five stone circles which lay nearby. The view from the top is great, in good weather this place would be such a great place to live! The ten minute walk from the summit down to Burnmoor tarn led us to a small lodge house. It’s grey walls gave off a gloomy atmosphere from afar. On approach we were confronted with Christian propaganda in the form of a plaque on the wall. It’s strange to think what separates these two settlements. Below the house, in it’s garden, were the remains of two dead sheep, there bleached bones lying prostrate on the lawn. I don’t know what this building was (is?) used for but it certainly gave me the creeps.