Long Meg and Lacy's Caves from Little Salkeld
Eden's finest short walk: a great Neolithic stone circle, a riverside wood and the red sandstone chambers of Lacy's Caves above the Eden.
- Distance
- 9.3 km
- 5.8 miles
- Ascent
- 135 m
- High point 181 m
- Time
- 2 hours
- Walking time, no stops
- Grade
- Moderate
- Circular
Take this walk with you
Google Maps does not know most fell paths, so use it to get to the start, then follow the GPX in an app like OS Maps, Komoot or AllTrails. To see the line in Google Maps, open Google My Maps, create a map, choose Import and pick the KML file. It then appears in the Google Maps app under Saved, Maps.
Weather on this walk
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Long Meg and Her Daughters is one of the largest stone circles in England, around 60 stones in an oval about 100 metres across, watched over by Long Meg herself, a 3.7 metre slab of red sandstone carved with spirals and rings. Most visitors drive up, look and leave. Walking to it from Little Salkeld, and on to the River Eden, is far better.
After the circle, with an optional detour to its smaller neighbour Little Meg, the route crosses quiet farmland to Glassonby and drops to the Eden. A woodland path follows the river upstream to Lacy's Caves, five chambers cut into a sandstone cliff in the 18th century for Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Lacy of Salkeld Hall, who entertained guests there. Why he had them carved nobody really knows.
It is a moderate half-day with few climbs, but the riverside path is narrow and eroded in places. Finish at the Watermill tearoom in Little Salkeld.
The route
- 1
Little Salkeld to Long Meg
From the village head north along the road signed for Long Meg, passing a small reservoir, then follow the unmade lane and the access road to the stone circle.
- 2
On to Glassonby
From the circle head north across the fields towards Glassonby. A short detour along the field path past a small plantation visits Little Meg, a much smaller circle. Join the quiet road into Glassonby, past the Old Chapel.
- 3
Down to the Eden
Continue to Daleraven Bridge, leave the road and pick up the riverside path heading upstream along the River Eden.
- 4
Tib Wood and Lacy's Caves
Follow the river through Tib Wood, with boardwalk over the wettest ground, to Lacy's Caves. The final approach is narrow and steep above the water.
- 5
Back past Long Meg Mine
Continue past the site of Force Mill by the weir and the old Long Meg Mine buildings, then follow the lane back to Little Salkeld.
Questions people ask
Who made Lacy's Caves?
They were carved in the 18th century for Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Lacy of Salkeld Hall, who used them to entertain guests. Nobody knows exactly why he had them made.
Are the paths to Lacy's Caves open?
The council reports that the paths have reopened, but repairs have not yet been made. Check with Westmorland and Furness Council before you go and take care on eroded sections.
How many stones are in Long Meg and Her Daughters?
Counts vary, but around 66 stones survive, 27 still upright, with Long Meg standing outside the circle.
Can you park at Long Meg?
There is a small free parking area by the circle. This walk starts in Little Salkeld, where there is limited roadside parking.