Background

Nine Ladies Stone Circle

A Bronze Age stone circle on Stanton Moor, steeped in legend and still revered as a sacred place for solstice gatherings and quiet reflection.

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Perched on Stanton Moor in the Peak District, the Nine Ladies Stone Circle is a Bronze Age monument steeped in myth and history. Comprising ten weathered gritstone pillars arranged in a ring, with a solitary King Stone nearby, it’s believed to be around 4,000 years old. The site is tied to a local legend of nine women turned to stone for dancing on the Sabbath, and it remains a place of quiet reverence, solstice gatherings, and ancient mystery. Surrounded by heather moorland and other prehistoric remains, it offers a powerful sense of timelessness and connection to the past.

A brief summary to Nine Ladies Stone Circle

  • Lees Rd, Matlock, Stanton in Peak, DE4 2LS, GB
  • +443703331181
  • Visit website
  • Duration: 0.5 to 2 hours
  • Free
  • Environment icon Outdoor
  • Mobile reception: 3 out of 5
  • Monday 12 am-12 am
  • Tuesday 12 am-12 am
  • Wednesday 12 am-12 am
  • Thursday 12 am-12 am
  • Friday 12 am-12 am
  • Saturday 12 am-12 am
  • Sunday 12 am-12 am

Local tips

  • Visit early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the busiest times and enjoy the circle in relative solitude, especially around sunrise or sunset when the light enhances the atmosphere.
  • Wear sturdy footwear and be prepared for changeable weather; the moor can be wet and muddy, and the wind can be strong even on clear days.
  • Respect the site: do not climb on the stones, leave no litter, and avoid disturbing any offerings or ritual items left by others.
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Getting There

  • Car

    From Matlock, follow the A6 towards Bakewell, then turn onto Lees Road near Stanton in Peak. A small lay‑by near the Cork Stone provides informal parking; from there, a well‑marked footpath leads across the moor to the stone circle in about 15–20 minutes.

  • Public Transport

    Take a bus from Matlock to Birchover or Stanton in Peak, then walk along Lees Road and follow footpath signs to the Cork Stone and Stanton Moor. The walk from the nearest stop to the stone circle takes around 30–40 minutes over uneven ground.

  • Walking

    From Birchover, follow the footpath up onto Stanton Moor via the Cork Stone; the route is well‑used but can be muddy and steep in places, taking roughly 30–40 minutes to reach the Nine Ladies.

Nine Ladies Stone Circle location weather suitability

  • Weather icon Any Weather
  • Weather icon Rain / Wet Weather
  • Weather icon Clear Skies
  • Weather icon Windy Conditions
  • Weather icon Mild Temperatures

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Discover more about Nine Ladies Stone Circle

Whispers of the Bronze Age

Standing on the windswept heights of Stanton Moor, the Nine Ladies Stone Circle is a remnant of a world long vanished. Dating from the Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age, roughly 3,000–4,000 years ago, this circle of ten gritstone pillars forms an oval ring about 11.5 by 10.5 metres across. Nine stones stand in a rough circle, while the tenth, the fallen stone, lies flat within the ring. Just over 40 metres away, the solitary King Stone stands apart, completing the ensemble. Archaeologists classify Stanton Moor as a prehistoric necropolis, dotted with more than 70 burial cairns and barrows, several ring-cairns, and at least four stone circles, of which the Nine Ladies is the most famous. The stones themselves are local Ashover gritstone, shaped by time and weather into rugged, almost human-like forms.

Legends in Stone

The name "Nine Ladies" comes from a persistent folk tale: nine women were turned to stone as punishment for dancing on the Sabbath, their fiddler companion becoming the King Stone. Though the story is medieval or later in origin, it has become inseparable from the site, adding a layer of narrative magic to the ancient stones. The King Stone itself bears historic graffiti, including the name "Bill Stumps," famously mentioned in Charles Dickens’s *The Pickwick Papers*, linking the circle to centuries of visitors and storytellers. While the true purpose of the circle remains unknown, theories range from a ceremonial or burial site, a territorial marker, a place for seasonal gatherings, or a symbolic link between the earth, sky, and the realm of the ancestors.

A Living Sacred Landscape

For many modern Pagans, Druids, and spiritual seekers, the Nine Ladies is not just an archaeological site but a living sacred place. Stanton Moor is often regarded as a sacred landscape, and the stone circle is used for rituals, meditations, and seasonal celebrations, especially at the solstices and equinoxes. The atmosphere here is one of quiet reverence, with the moor’s open skies and distant views amplifying a sense of connection to something ancient and enduring. The nearby smaller circle, Doll Tor, and the surrounding cairns and barrows contribute to a sense that this was once a densely ritualised and carefully arranged ceremonial landscape.

Walking the Moor

Reaching the Nine Ladies involves a walk across Stanton Moor’s heather-clad slopes, a landscape of gritstone outcrops, old quarry workings, and sweeping views over the Peak District. The moor itself is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, protected for its rich archaeological heritage. Paths are generally clear but can be muddy and uneven, especially after rain. The walk offers a chance to see not only the stone circle but also Bronze Age burial mounds, remnants of 17th–18th century packhorse routes, and the ruined Earl Grey (Reform) Tower. The experience is as much about the journey across the moor as it is about the destination, with the sense of remoteness and timelessness deepening with every step.

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