Derbyshire's Stanton Moor

Beautiful to be back at the Peak District's Stanton Moor. A mini upland located far above Matlock to the east. The area is a geological, and indeed archeological curiosity with a deep complexity and international significance. Interplaying narratives comprising of ecology, spirituality, pre-history, settlements, farming, hunting, archeology, burial sites and of course the standing stones. All these elements combine to make this a truly special place to visit.

I chose the image above, because of the sense of it being on the periphery of Stanton Moor - as am I in terms of my understandings of the site. The light falling on the trees illuminated the sheer complexity of the site in the cyclical ensemble within this composition. Other images featured in my EXTRA PHOTOS. 

For me the Stanton Moor feels a little like an island and in a way this photo is like a beach front, the wood eventually to be moulded to coal. And in my extra photo the rock formations sit below the moorland plateau, as if submerged in a shallow sea swamp of lichen granite and heather. On the periphery again.


We also visited the Nine Stones Close, a mile or so west and very much within view of Stanton Moor and its accompanying radio tower. A longheld curiosity for me, that such towers seem to be located close to prehistoric monuments like standing stones. Indeed its probably just the favourable geography for broadcasting, but their co-location for me hints at the stones hidden, long lost meanings. The tower its purpose only appreciable via a radio.