IronMan

On first arriving at the Badger Stone I must admit I was a bit disapointed. I just didn’t get it. I was tired after excitedly stomping straight across the open moorland from the mound above the waterfall near the White Well’s car park, so I decided to lie down and rest on the bench for a while.

A few minutes later I felt the sun streaming across my face, and so jumped up to take a look at the stone. I couldn’t help but laugh, every last feature was illuminated before me, my disapointment turned to overwhelming joy as I poured over this wonder. The sun stayed with me for 3/4 hour in which time I found myself narrowing in more and more to the surface of the rock. From the initially confusing bigger picture, I soon realised that to appreciate the stone you must get in close, and forget EVERYTHING you know about ‘art’ appreciation. Ideas streamed through my mind about what the stone represented, I thought about ideas I’d read that this was a kind of map – then I started to see the stone as a storytelling device – representing long forgotten places, people, henges, burial sites, hills, events etc. – in short a means of recording both temporal and spacial ‘things’ in an organic record. Of course any ideas about the purpose will inevitably remain just that, but just to contemplate is an amazing experience.

What can I say about Rombald’s Moor. I’ve only been a couple of times, both in the last couple of weeks. I don’t know why ‘cause it’s probably the closest major site to my home. On the first visit I headed straight for the Twelve Apostles. It was getting late, and I was stuck for time. So for my latest visit (9/2/2) I got there nice and early in the morning, and spent a full day. I ended up spending a lot of my time huddled over the sexy Badger Stone, with a tour of some of the other attractions to follow.

All I can say is this has made my love of all things megalithic even more intense. The whole moor is like a playground for the imagination. A dreamlike quality pervades as you travel from stone to stone. After a while I found myself putting my map and list of grid refs away and just looking, the place is literally full of rock art.

It is a very powerful place.

On the downside a lot of the stones are vandalised. I can understand a need to leave a mark behind, almost in the tradition of these stones themselves – but there are plenty of unmarked rocks scattered across the moor. It just seems like people want to destroy this wonder on their doorstep. Perhaps if folk were educated correctly, and taught to have a sense of pride in this, their true heritage, then maybe it wouldn’t happen, who knows.

A word of warning: Be prepared for strange looks from the runners and walkers... :)

Lovely walk up to the Twelve Apostles. Plenty of mud and puddles, path repairs on the way up meant we had to take several boggy diversions, then when the circle was reached the land immediately was drier and more forgiving. The darkness descended while we were up at the circle. I took a few snaps, and stayed long enough to get a feel for the atmosphere of the place. The circle is very fragile, some of the stones sit on the surface of the soggy moorland, propped up by smaller stones. They must get blown over by the wind and propped back up all the time.
The walk back was interesting, my torch wouldn’t work, so we found our way down with the little remaining light and using our feet to feel the way.

We arrived at the farm car park, after just reading Julian’s note about the barking dogs. Sure enough stood waiting in the car park, unchained, was one of these dogs! We sat in the car for a while, the dog strolled over and plonked itself outside my door, then just stared. Images of savaged ankles ran through my paranoid brain. Eventually my mate braved it and got out of the car, to which the dog rolled over – it only wanted to be petted! So much for the barking guard dogs! Next the dog proceeded to lead us round the site – first the henge and circle, waiting on the burial mound as we took it all in, then ran over the field to Gib Hill, again waiting while we took it in. Once we were done it was off into a nearby field and just ran round and round as we drove off. And it didn’t even expect any payment.
My advice for future visitors: Take some dog biscuits!

O yeah, and the site is amazing!

Sunkenkirk is tucked away on a dirt track off a quiet country lane. The surrounding landscape gives the circle a protected, private feel. The nearest, small hill – Knott Hill – dominates the view to the SE. To the North & West the craggy ridge of Swinside Fell cuts across the skyline. On a clear day (?!) the distant lakeland mountains peer over the low lying fells to the North East. This circle feels quite wild. The location, out of the way of the Lakeland tourist trail, the lack of signage (I think there’s only one signpost) and the fact you have to walk to it, albeit not so far, mean there’s a good chance of being left alone here.

Lacra A. Well this is all we could find here today. Or should I say this was all we could be bothered finding. It rained like I’ve not seen in a long time. It’s probably just the weather but I find this site depressing. On a good day the view out to sea, and of Black Combe would make this short walk worthwhile, but not on a day like this.
Lacra D is just a bit further on, after Lacra A – according to Burl this is ‘questionable’, and I’d go along with that!!
Lacra B is by all acounts the one to see, I’ve seen some shots and it probably is worth the visit. On a sunny day. A VERY sunny day. Mmmm summer...

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.