The British Trip
September 15, 2022: Keswick, England. On a green plateau surrounded by high fells stands the Castlerigg Stone Circle, with sheep in constant vigil.
“A Druidical circle where the mountains stand one behind the other, in orderly array as if evoked by and attentive to the assembly of white-vested wizards.”
― Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Yes, more old rocks. My fascination with ancient megaliths remains.
Romantics’ Spot
After a hike up Catbells, Jean and I did a pilgrimage to the Castlerigg Stone Circle, east of Keswick in the upper Lakes District of England. The setting is dramatic, and mother nature deigned the moment fit let the radiant sun part the clouds. It was magical.
Romantic-era poets Keats, Wordsworth, and Coleridge were all inspired and wrote about the site.
Old Rocks
The structure dates to around 3200 BC (over 5,000 years ago). While not as large or visited as Stonehenge, the setting is dramatic, with a natural amphitheater surrounded by some of the highest fells (mountains) in the area. It has been protected by law since 1882, but is still freely accessible. While we photographed the stones, more spiritual devotees did yoga or stood in the center, hand over heart facing the late afternoon sun. No one really knows the purpose of the circle; each visitor brings their own meaning and takes their own memory.
