The Duddo Stones
Nearly a mile north of the village of Duddo in Northumberland, stand the Duddo Five Stones. This dramatic hill top stone circle is the remains of a Neolithic/Bronze-Age monument. A small stone circle, it is over 4,000 years old, a contemporary the very much more famous Stone Henge.
‘The Duddo Stones’ have other names too. They include ‘The Singing Stones’ (probably because of the noise the wind makes as it whistles through them.) Sometimes they are called ‘The Women,’ and they are currently under the ownership of English Heritage and are located on private land.
How to get there
This fascinating group of standing stones is well worth a visit. The circle is accessible via the B5364 road, through a gate and up a path. The farmer who owns the land allows people to visit, but you must stay on the rough ground allocated to reach the site. As there is no car park, you must be careful to park on the verge. Don’t forget to close the field gate before setting out on your way up to the monument. The stones appear set on a green circle of a low hill, surrounded by the farmer’s crops. Wearing comfortable shoes is a good idea, as it’s about a fifteen minute walk.
Stunning scenic stones
The wind is prone to sweep up and across the landscape and it was certainly very windy on the day of our visit. After a couple and their dog left, we had the stones all to ourselves. There is no fence and no entrance fee. You can imagine the stones back in time and you can wonder where they came from, and why they were moved there.
It seemed there was a certain peace and magic about the site, or maybe it was just my imagination.
The scenery is dramatic and you can see the impressive Cheviots standing to the South in the distance. The Scottish border lies only four miles away and the Lammermuir Hills on the borders are visible to the north.
What are the Duddo stones made from?
The Duddo stones are soft sandstone and so have been worn into deep ridges by centuries of wind and weather. Several large bowl shaped hollows are on one of the stones, they could be either man-made or natural.
Many historians and archaeologists have researched and excavated the site over the years and it is thought that there were seven standing stones at one time:
Robert Carr found and explored a pit in the centre of the circle in 1890 and found it contained charcoal and bone fragments, which seems to indicate a cremation burial. Antiquarian Canon James Raine, in 1852, suggested there had also been an outer circle. Some say that The Duddo Stones are aligned with the Winter solstice.
What else is there in the area?
Once back from your stone pilgrimage you may feel the need for some refreshment and that’s where the Black Bull pub in Etal comes to the rescue. Etal is a charming picturesque village. This cozy pub is the only one with a thatched roof in Northumberland. Hot meals are available in the restaurant and we enjoy a couple of top notch toasties. Cheviot Brewery manage the pub and brew their real ale just up the road.
The village of Etal
Etal is also home to its own historic castle. It was built to defend the borders against the invading Scots by Robert Manners in 1513. At the time of the middle ages this part of England was a wild and dangerous place with constant battles along the Scottish English border. The castle falls to James IV’s army immediately before their catastrophic defeat at nearby Flodden fields. It is recovered shortly afterwards.
The Duddo stones will have been standing all through this time of historic turmoil, and today they stand here still.
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2 thoughts on “The Duddo stones – Northumberland’s Stonehenge”
Love the Duddo Stones, our finest stone circle in Northumberland. Thanks for sharing 🙂
There is actually a little tower just around the corner in the village of Duddo too and the historical Twizel Bridge and Castle just up the road.
The Twizel Bridge! I must go back!
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