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Whitecastles Stone Circle, Lockerbie. |
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Description
Despite the size of this circle, some 50m in diameter, it is
easily missed as all the stone appear to have fallen, although
it has been suggested that they were never erected and that the
circle was never completed. There are nine stones in total of
various sizes and shapes with the largest (see image) measuring
2.10m by 1.70m by 0.60m. The circle is located on gently sloping
west-facing ground in a forest clearing, although at the time of
visit, the area had been clear felled. A large outlier over
2.50m long can be located about 20m to the south west.
Directions
Whitecastles forest is located north of the B7068 running between
Lockerbie and Langholm. Take a minor road north at Paddockhole and
enter the forest at Corrie Common. The best way to reach the
stones is to follow the forest trails either on foot or by
mountain bike. There are various way-marked trails through the
forest.
Parking
At Corrie Common area.
Fieldnotes
I actually almost walked past this circle before noticing the
stones lying in the long grass. All the remaining stones are
visible and the outlier can also be seen about 20m to the rest,
again lying recumbent. While it has been suggested this stone is
an outlier to the circle it might also be a stone destined for
the circle but did not reach the stone before it was abandoned.
Good views to the north east and south west. There are a number
of large boulders in the vicinity of the outlier, forming a
rough circle but this might only be coincidence.
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