Stage 1

Castlerigg to Shap

The route starts at the iconic Castlerigg Stone Circle, just outside Keswick. It’s set in an atmospheric location surrounded by a ring of impressive mountain peaks, and is auspicious in terms of the part it played in the onward movement of greenstone stone axes from the Langdale pikes.

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Stage 2

Shap to Sedburgh

The Way of the Rings continues tracking neolithic features, past the 2.5km ‘Shap Avenue’ of stones across the M6 with stone circles marking the route, with a few rock shelters, including Yordas Cave and megaliths through Sedburgh, where there are a number of excellent refreshment stops and accommodation options.

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Stage 3

Sedburgh to Settle

The route wends its way up into the heart of the Dales to Dent and into Ingleton, enjoying some of the challenging cycling routes and stunning scenery. Settle provides an excellent ‘neolithic stop-over’ with some interesting rock shelters to explore on the dales above.

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Stage 4

Settle to Ilkley

From Settle the route takes a scenic route to Malham Tarn, past the site of ancient villages, stone circles and cairns with some of the most challenging cycling and some marvellous descents into Malham for refreshment stops. From Gargrave the route undulates and takes the scenic canal path into Skipton, a delightful and historic town of it’s own with the Craven Museum to boot! After a stop-over, the route continues to Ilkley which demands an over-nighter, owing the number and variety of neolithic sites including impressive stone circles and a huge amount of rock art, including the ‘swastika stone’.

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Stage 5

Ilkley to Sowerby Bridge

There are over 400 known ‘Cup & Ring’ Stones on Rombald’s Moor, which includes Ilkley Moor. The stones were carved during the Neolithic-Bronze Age period around 4,000 years ago. These designs of cups, rings and lines are intriguing. The reason they were carved is unknown, but they are fascinating. From Ilkley the route passes through Bingley and into the Calder Valley. There is some challenging cycling through the historic landscapes and even a 200m steeply uphill on a cobbled pavement, in the heart of the Calder Valley. After the Calder Valley, there are less neolithic and ancient features, due to urbanisation, so there is an option to take a train or bike-taxi onto Sowerby Bridge.

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Stage 6

Sowerby Bridge to Penistone

Sowerby Bridge provides an excellent chance to re-charge, with a lovely cycle along the canal path.

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Stage 7

Penistone to Rowlsey/Matlock

The cycle from Penistone undulates across the Peaks, with interesting cycling in a variety of terrain. At Matlock, there are a number of cycling alternatives, with many ancient sites to visit, including Arbor Low, known as ‘Stonehenge of the North’.

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Stage 8

Matlock to Derby

The Nine Ladies Stone Circle and King’s Stone above Matlock are in a delightful setting a steep walk up from the minor road. There is some stunning scenery in the Peaks and epic cycling taking in some of the most renown neolithic sites. Matlock is well worth a stop-over and a chance to explore.

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Stage 9

Derby to Nuneaton

The cycle from Matlock to Derby is straightforward providing the option to break the Way of the Rings at this point if undertaking the route over a number of weekends. There are options from Matlock to divert towards Tissington, site of the famous well-dressing ceremonies.

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Stage 10

Nuneaton to Warwick

Details to follow...

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Stage 11

Warwick to Chipping Norton

Before Chipping Norton are the famous neolithic sites of The Whispering Knights and the King’s Men.

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Stage 12

Chipping Norton to Marlborough

From Chipping Norton, the route undulates through the Oxfordshire Countryside and rises steeply at Uffington Hill Fort and the Ridgeway. There’s a 2km cycle off-road along the ridgeway to Wayland’s Smithy. This is a significant and atmospheric Neolithic long barrow. It was believed to be the home of ‘Wayland’, the Saxon god of metalworking. Human remains of over a dozen people are buried inside, and dates from around 3460 and 3400BC.

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Stage 13

Marlborough to Stonehenge

The final part of the Way of the Rings is one of the most spectacular in terms of neolithic heritage.

Avebury is the largest Henge and stone circle in the world. It is an impressive neolithic location and encompasses three stone circles and a henge, , with the remains of the triple circle of standing megaliths in the middle. The monument actually encircles the modern village. Avebury doesn’t stand alone but is part of a very expansive Neolithic landscape. It is testament to the ingenuity, creativity, leadership and sense of community which must have been part of neolithic culture. The landscape includes ‘West Kennet Long barrow, Silbury Hill and the adjoining Windmill Hill Stone Avenue.

West Kennet Longbarrow is a chambered tomb about 3700BC. It’s built of seven huge Sarsen stones, the harvesting location was passed earlier on the route west of Marlborough. The Tomb was a significant burial site and the remains of men, women and children have been found also indicating that the Tomb was used over a considerable number of years.

Silbury Hill is a prehistoric chalk mound just outside Avebury, completely made by human endeavour. It forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site including Stonehenge and Avebury. It is similar to the size of smaller Egyptian Pyramids at about 130feet high. It is the tallest prehistoric mound in Europe.

Windmill Hill Stone Avenue is the largest known causewayed enclosure in Britain, dating from the neolithic, and is also part of the UNESCO site. It was first occupied about 3800 BC and runs for 2.5Kms from the Avebury Stone Henge and circle. Some burials have been found at the base of the stones. Interestingly the avenue seems to have a male/female aspect to the stone row.

The route arrives at Woodhenge and Durrington Walls before finishing at Stonehenge and the Stonehenge visitor centre.

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