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Long Meg and Her Daughters
On Long Meg's sides are carvings of concentric circles, Legends and stories about the site abound. The best known is that the stones are
really a group of witches who danced here on the Sabbath and were William Wordsworth stated that he knew of Long Meg and her Daughters early in his childhood, and, in 1821, he wrote a poem about the stone circle: "A weight of Awe not easy to be borne
Photos courtesy of Graeme Dougal © 1997-2008 by The Cumbria Directory. Reproduction of this work in whole or in part, including images, and reproduction in electronic media, without documented permission from The Cumbria Directory is prohibited. |
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A short walk from the village of Little Salkeld is the third
largest prehistoric stone circle in England, Long Meg and her Daughters. Dating from the Bronze
Age (c.2000-900BC), Long Meg, sitting on a hill, measures 357ft by 305ft. The 60 standing stones
are arranged in a rough circle, while the 12ft tall sandstone pillar of Long Meg is outside the
circle, thus suggesting the name.
spirals, and a "cup and ring". Viewing a midwinter sunset from the
centre of the stone circle shows it setting directly behind Long Meg. North of the circle and
enclosing part of it was a ditched 10-acre site.
turned into the stones by a magician. Another states that no one
can count the stones more than once and come up with the same number. Superstition says Long Meg
bleeds if the rock is chipped. Apparently the stone's mysterious powers were still forceful in
1725 when the owner of Salkeld Hall decided to use the stones for mileposts. A wild storm
descended on the workers attempting to move the 
stones, and they ran, fearing for their lives.
Long Meg and her Daughters are located on minor road ¾ mile north
of Little Salkeld off the A686 at Langwathby.