Merrivale
Megalithic complex
SX 553 746
The standing stone in the SW The southern standing stone towards the circle
The southern circle is made up of 11 small granite stones no more than 2ft (0.6m) high forming a ring about 20m diameter. Just to the south of the circle is a tall slender standing stone that reaches over 10ft (3.2m) with nearby cairns and another fallen stone measuring nearly 7ft (2.1m).
The southern circle
Heading back north towards the road you will come to some cairns, one is quite large with several of its surrounding stones remaining. The remains of another stone row leads to the NE to meet the main avenue from here.
The third circle
What is marked in Burl as a hut circle, but in a local book as a third stone circle lies north of the cairn just a short distance north of the double row. Almost hidden in the grass this circle has 9 low stones and is thought to align with a moonset position with Great Staple Tor. Certainly it doesn’t look like the many hut circles in the settlement complex further to the east.
One of the hut circles and the "apple crusher"
Returning to the settlement complex there is a large pound enclosure containing a carved granite apple crusher believed to be by early archaeologists to be either a sacrificial altar or burial chamber. Nearby there are up to 20 hut circles. The site is easy to visit and does not cover a huge distance so it can be done leisurely.
Oct
2001
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