EACH YEAR IN LATE June, Stonehenge draws a sizable crowd to the Salisbury Plain to celebrate a day that people have been taking note of for thousands of years. Whether you believe the summer solstice represents a convergence of kinetic energy or simply the longest day of the year, it was clearly important to the prehistoric inhabitants of Great Britain.
The stone circles of Stonehenge and Avebury – which are theorized to have charted major astronomical events like the solstices and equinoxes – get most of the press, but there are close to 1,000 such sites throughout the Isles. Below are some shots of both the big names and others you might not have heard of. For more info on any of them, check out the Stone Pages.
Stonehenge solstice party
Though well-visited any day of the year, Stonehenge is overwhelmed at the solstices. This was the scene on June 21, 2009. Below is the famous site during a more reflective moment. Photo: vintagedept
Quiet Stonehenge
Photo: jonrawlinson
Callanish standing stones, Scotland
The massive standing stones in this corner of Scotland's Outer Hebrides date from 1800 BC. They share the ground with younger, more active residents, as shown below. Photo: photojenniIntermission
Ram at Callanish
Photo: Donald Macleod
Stanton Drew
The largest of Stanton Drew's three stone circles is 112 meters in diameter, England's second biggest. Photo: Hardo
Swinside
Lying in Cumbria, near England's Lake District, Swinside is one of the best preserved circles in Western Europe. Photo: SalePhotoSociety
Avebury stones
Avebury is the world's largest circle, and its stones run through part of the town of the same name, making them very much part of daily life, as seen below. Photo: markbarky
Avebury sheep
Photo: Andrew Stawarz
Merry Maidens
Legend says that 19 maidens were turned to stone in this Cornwall meadow for dancing on a Sunday. The petrified band stands nearby. Photo: Le Petit PoulaillerIntermission
Castlerigg with snow
Castlerigg is one of Britain's oldest circles and lies on a hill among more recently constructed stone walls in Lake District sheep country. Photo: alancleaver_2000
The Hurlers, Cornwall
More capital petrification -- the Hurlers are said to have been caught playing ball on a Sunday. Photo: Le Petit Poulailler
Merrivale standing stone
The site at Merrivale includes a partially preserved circle, a couple stone rows, and this standing stone. Photo: Le Petit Poulailler
Ring of Brodgar, Scotland
Brodgar's 27 remaining stones, on Scotland's Orkney Mainland, stand as tall as 15 feet. Photo: brockvicky
Long Meg standing stone
Long Meg stands at 12 feet and presides over a large circle of 60 of her "daughters," two of which are shown below. Photo: Joccay
Long Meg's daughters
Photo: alllyballly
Rollright stones
The Rollrights make up a site nearly as complex as Stonehenge, with a circle, a large standing stone, and a burial chamber. Photo: Keith@Fibonacci
Sunhoney stone circle, Scotland
This Scottish site is defined by the stand of trees that surround its broken and recumbent stones. Photo: stusmith_uk
Hal Amen
Hal Amen is managing editor at Matador. His personal travel blog is WayWorded.
Lovely pics. Even though I’ve always wanted to check out Stonehenge, of course, I think I might put some of these lesser-known stone circles on my list.
Great pics. Perfect for the Solstice. Something about Sunhoney intrigues me.
I live not far from the Rollright Stones and there are some additional ones nearby. The Whispering Knights in a field which is now accessible all year round thanks to the local farmer and the King Stone over the road from the Rollright’s themselves.
Legend has it that the stones were all men, a King with his Knights: http://www.stonepages.com/england/kingstone.html has the details as mentioned above in the article.
A few years ago the Rollright’s came up for sale after the previous owner retired and sold up. Since then the site has been opened up to give it a clearer view from the South (as in the picture) and the pathways to the Whispering Knights was established.
To find the site you have to Head towards Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire and then along the B3400 towards Long Compton. Turn left at the sign for Little Rollright and approximately half a mile along this road on the left is a strip of parking parallel with the road. The entrance to the Rollrights is not very obvious so you need to be observant but watch for the people crossing the road to the King Stone on the other side. The Whispering Knights are accessed via the Rollrights complex.
Have fun.
Nice photo essay Hal.
The rollright stone look incredibly weathered indicating a very ancient past!