Grey Wethers (S)

Ordnance Survey map reference: SX 638832.

Landranger map number: 191.

Latitude: 50.375 degrees.

Longitude: -3.55 degrees.

Architecture: Double ring..

Length of the major axis: 33.2 metres.

Length of the minor axis: 33.2 metres.

Height of the highest stone: 1.4 metres.

Shape: Circle.

Number of stones in the circle originally: 33.

Number of stones in the circle now: 29.

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

Burl rating of the circle: 2 (Restored ).

Thom reference for the circle: S2/1.

Astronomical alignments from this circle: -.

Excavations undertaken at this circle: -.

Details of any finds at this circle: -

This circle is not in state care.

Access to the circle:

Grey Wethers is one of the more difficult stone circles to reach. It lies high on moor land below the rocks of Sittaford Tor. Parking is at the end of the Fernworthy forest road and tracks through the forest lead past the Fernworthy stone circle to the open moorland. After passing Fernworthy, take the track that leads off to the left. This winds through the forest for 1.6km (1 mile) to the forest boundary wall where there is access to the open moor. The circles can be found about 0.8km from this wall beyond the steep rising ground on the right of a stream.

Grey Wethers is actually a double stone circle aligned N-S, although on the Landranger OS map they are shown in a SW-NE alignment. The southern circle is in better condition than the north due to 19th century restoration, although both are impressive. The circles stand only 6.1m apart. This site must be considered as one of the harder to access but it is also one of the most impressive and rewarding to visit. The stones stand tall and are roughly all the same size and height, they are evenly spaced around the ring at intervals of about 3.4m. In the northern circle some stones are missing from the northern arc but the southern circle is almost complete.The overall impression is that of a classic circle (that is what most people imagine a stone circle should look like). It has a breathtaking atmosphere of desolation and the past.

An arc of the southern circle.