Iron Hills

There is a large, lonely area of moorland high up but not that far from Shap and the M6 motorway. There are sections of limestone pavement, but the whole area is covered in coarse grass and used only by sheep. 4000 years ago however, when this area was warmer, one could imagine a much richer and friendlier land for Neolithic and Bronze Age farmers. There are stone circles up here and lots of other evidence of ancient activity, showing that it must have been a place of some significance at the time.

This is Iron Hills and is one of the several stone circles around here. Well actually the picture shows only a half circle, as it has been perfectly bisected by a dry stone wall. The stones, all now fallen, are of the distinctive pink Shap granite. As with the other circles in the area, this one occupies a position high up and where it can be seen on the skyline from the valleys it overlooks. You can see here mist hanging about in the lower ground far below. You can also see the weak, but bright afternoon sun streaking the sky and catching the stone.

I still like to be in these places and just wonder . . .