Stripple Stones

I sought out Cornwall's largest - and most unusual - stone circle during a walk in September 2006 that took in King Arthur's Hall, Garrow Tor and Hawk's Tor. The Stripple Stones is a most unusual site because it is Cornwall's only stone circle standing within a henge (circular bank and ditch) - if there were other such henges they have degraded so much as to be unidentifiable these days. The henge is about 225 feet in diameter but now quite shallow and degraded. It seems that no one can agree about how many standing stones there originally were in the circle. Estimates vary from 15 to 28. Only four stand now and the central longstone lies flat. It would be good to see the site cleared and the lost stones re-erected - if they could all be found. Pity is that the location is quite difficult to access so that is unlikely to happen. Location is on the lower southern slopes of Hawk's Tor. It lies on private land but it is to be assumed that the farmer doesn't mind if enthusiasts use his unlocked gates. I was able to approach it from De Lank water works, climbing access land over Carkees Tor and skirting Shallow Water Common before heading south to pass the east side of Hawk's Tor. A fascinating spot and well worth the fairly moderate effort involved in geting to it.

On OS 109 at grid ref: 143/755

A Stripple Stone; Roughtor and Brown Willy behind