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England
Gamelands Stone CircleStone Circle
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Location: Exactly where OS map shows it! To E of walled track. A gate gives access to the field a short distance N of the circle. All the stones are pink granite (erratics from Shap?) apart from one which is limestone. Some nice pictures and further info at: http://www.visitcumbria.com/pen/gamelands.htm and http://www.stone-circles.org.uk/stone/gamelands.htm |
Posted by mislet 10th July 2007ce Edited 10th July 2007ce |
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The big round stones are all down and today lie deep in the tall meadow peppered with buttercups and daisies. Look closely and you'll see the stones are pink - bright, sparkly Barbara Cartland pink, shimmering and round like something sensual and erotic, ironically in a way that Barbara Cartland wasn't. The stones are in proportion to the diameter of the circle somehow - people reading this who have seen a lot of circles will know exactly what I mean. It's impressive but lacks the 'oomph' of Swinside and of Castlerigg. Visit it anyway. Just to see how pink it is. This post appears as part of the weblog entry Cumbrian circles - but not the 'Hollywood' ones
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Posted by Jane14th June 2004ce Edited 14th June 2004ce |
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This one is a bugger to find even if you don't follow the directions provided by Mr Cope. No need to repeat what has been said below by others, but I will say this - as you walk up the path keep looking to your right and JUMP (if short, as I am) until you see it. I managed to go on a day when the nettles on the side of the path were so high that I had to risk all limbs to even get close.....but it was worth it. |
Posted by Vicster18th December 2003ce Edited 18th December 2003ce |
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Sunday 29 June 2003 I had previously had a very cursory half-attempt to find this one. We parked by the side of the lane leading towards Knott Hill – a fine 'mother hill' if ever I saw one! As we walked down the track I was scanning the surrounding fields for a clue with no luck. After about 200 yards, John said 'There it is then…' and I looked expectantly to the right (where I knew it should be). Nothing. 'Jump!' said John looking at me with a not altogether pleasant smirk spreading across his face. 'How hi…' I started to say (no, not really). 'Shortarse!' grinned the Ginger one. So I jumped. And there, for a moment, was the elusive Gamelands circle. The unpalatable truth was that when visiting on my own before, I'd missed it – not for the lack of looking, but for the stupid yet almost unavoidable reason that I couldn't see over the bloody wall!!! Well, it was worth the wait. This must once have been one SERIOUS circle. Still is if you look. I won't say much about it, but although many, many stones are missing and all (as far as I could see) that remain are fallen, it seems clear to me that the circle certainly has much in common with the beautiful Castlerigg and Sunkenkirk (or Swinside) circles. It's dimensions, proportions and the (short) distances between many of the stones speak immediately of those 2 much better known and, admittedly, better preserved circles. Even its setting reminded me of Castlerigg or Swinside, though possibly less dramatic in more forbidding weather conditions than both of those places can be! Just before we left, to my surprise, John suggested this might be a site that would be interesting to see 'restored'. Unusually as far as my feelings about restoration are concerned, I thought for a moment he might just be right. But then I though 'it's not gonna happen though is it!' and was quietly glad. If it was restored anyone could see it! I want to keep it for them what can reallysee! This post appears as part of the weblog entry Such a nice Shap!
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Posted by Moth2nd July 2003ce Edited 12th July 2004ce |
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This was first stop on todays tour of the Howgill Fells. I parked on the roadside and walked the few yards up the lane. As I was pulling my boots on the farmer, a very pleasant bloke who looked about 200 years old, pulled up for a chat. He asked me where I was walking to? I explained that I was just going to see the stones and he told me of some folk who had stopped him on the fell to find out where the stone were, "daft buggers were looking right at 'em!. The fells and the Lune Valley were looking spot-on with a covering of snow and the lovely sun shining upon them. The only thing to spoil the scene was the airforce putting itself on war footing by screaming around in their Tornado jets. The field with the stones in was full of sheep so I walked to the next field along to use the gate, as I opened the gate, hundreds of black and white faced shep ran towards me "oh shit, cumbrian fighting sheep" they were obviously expecting me to ladle out a few bales of hay. Needless to say I beat a hasty retreat. Maybe I should suggest to the generals that they forget the Tornados and just drop a few flocks of hungry Cumbrian fighting sheep on Saddam. Summary - A lovely big Cumbrian Circle in a lovely setting. Get yersel there! |
Posted by fitzcoraldo8th January 2003ce |
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7 Feb 2000 - Ian, Andrea, Bart and Claire "Let Me Speak To The Driver" indeed. Well this driver shouts back "East! East!" Beware of Cope's directions on this one, go east not west the track is on the summit of the road on the left and is very rutted. You can just about park at the top of the track if you don't mind losing your car to the sheep. Well we found it in the end. And a rainy day turned to sunshine as we arrived so perhaps Cope knew it would be so and that's why he led 4 damp people a not-so-merry-dance in such a small car. |
Posted by Ian Edwards 17th March 2000ce |
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"In the farmers family for at least three generations that he knew about, the circle had been used as a vet. he had been brought up with the knowledge that is, if lambs did not play in the circle, there was something wrong with them, so have a look at them". Taken from The Reason for the Stone Circles in Cumbria by Ray Seton published the author. |
Posted by fitzcoraldo 30th June 2005ce |
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Extreme Stonefeelers' World of Hard Rock & Standing StonesPics of Gamelands stone circle |
Posted by new abbey19th May 2010ce |
Stone-Circles.org.ukPanorama with rain threatening from the west. |
Posted by Chris Collyer6th September 2006ce |
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