Swinside (Sunkenkirk)

Ordnance Survey map reference: SD 172883.

Landranger map number: 96.

Latitude: 54.17 degrees.

Longitude: -3.165 degrees.

Architecture: Portal stones..

Length of the major axis: 28.7 metres.

Length of the minor axis: 28.7 metres.

Height of the highest stone: 3 metres.

Shape: Circle.

Number of stones in the circle originally: .

Number of stones in the circle now: 55.

Impression of the site (10 amazing, 1 limp): 10

Burl rating of the circle: 1 (Good, worth visiting).

Thom reference for the circle: L1/3 Sunkenkirk.

Astronomical alignments from this circle: Sun rise on entrance, Dec -21.5, Az 128.8.

Excavations undertaken at this circle: 1901.

Details of any finds at this circle: None.

This circle is not in state care.

Access to the circle:

Swinside is to be found along a farm track and just inside a field to the right of the track. It can be reached and seen by car but there is no immediate parking and a walk from Cragg Hall along the Swinside Farm track is necessary to reach the circle. It may also be wise to seek permission before entering the field.

The circle can be looked down upon from the nearby farm track where a gate in the wall gives access to the site. It lies on a plateaux next to Swinside fell and is surrounded by hills except to the SE where there are views down the valley. There are many tall stones arranged in a neat ring, some of which have been placed so close together as to give the appearance of a complete wall. The tallest stone stands to the north and there is an entrance of large portal stones to the SW which are aligned on the midwinter sunrise and which also face down the valley. 

Swinside is also known as Sunkenkirk because legends says a church built here by day was supposed to have been dragged into the ground at night by the Devil. If you can believe that you can believe anything!I have a theory that it was infact a group of Clergymen turned to stone for planning the biggest ecclesiastical insurance scam of all time.

Swinside is a beautiful sight and probably the best stone circle in Cumbria, it's secluded location and almost perfect condition makes it a must for anyone remotely interested in these ancient rings.

Swinside as seen from the nearby farm track. An impressive sight!

The portal stones at the entrance to Swinside.

The tallest stone at Swinside has a northerly alignment.

An arc of the Swinside circle shows the almost wall like appearance of the stones.