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Home > Tourist Pages > Walks with Crag Face > Swastika Stone
   
 

The Swastika Stone

The most famous single carving in the area is situated on Woodhouse Crag. It is carved on a flat slab of grit stone. (There is also a 20th century replica in front of the original carving.) The Swastika Stone may be of a later date than other cup and ring markings, and consists of a four curved arms weaving through 9 cups in the form of a cross - two lines of five cups. Similar carvings are found in Italy and Sweden.

Cup and Ring marked rocks probably date from the Late Neolithic and Bronze Ages - from around 2800 to 500 BC.

They are often found close to burial mounds, but their purpose and meaning remain unknown. Similar carvings have been found in Northumbria, Derbyshire, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, Palestine, America, Madagascar, and many other parts of the world.

Cups are circular hollows carved out of the rock by a sharp stone or antler. They can be between 2 and 10 cms in diameter. They occur on their own, or along with grooves (carved lines); when the groove encircles the cup it is known as a cup and ring. Two parallel grooves with rings joining them are known as "ladders" these are unique to Rombald's Moor.

Over 280 such carved rocks have been catalogued on the moor by the Ilkley Archaeological Group, many of them hard to find and not obvious to the casual visitor. They are listed as Scheduled Monuments by English Heritage.

         

 

 

LINKS

The Megalithic Portal
Findings & Ideas
The Modern Antequarian
More pictures

   
Distance: Dependant on your choice about 2 miles.
Time: 2hrs
Height: 1225 ft (373m)
Difficulty: Steep beginning, but simple to follow.
Scenery: Very good in all weathers. Stream, wildlife, and the vista from above.
Location: SE 095469
Maps: Landranger Map 104

 

1

Take the A6069 out of Skipton, and onto the A65 passing Addingham. Just on the outskirts of Ilkley, on Skipton Road, turn right into Victoria Road, right at Grove Road, and left into Hebers Ghyll Drive.

Pass Premier Park (this is a cul-de-sac) on your left and at SE 100473 park near this Bridge. (pictured-as seen from the Public Footpath.)

2

Taking the pathway immediately before the stone bridge, you cross a wooden bridge over the beck, and face the vista pictured here.

This journey was undertaken in severe precipitation, (rain to you lot) so the quality of some images is poor, but you should get the idea.

3
The walk way snakes ever upward and crosses several bridges. (about seven) At steeper points along the way, steps have been cut to ease the climb.
4

Even in poor weather the view all around is quite exhilarating.

This path is well used by dog walkers, joggers, and the general public alike.

5
The whole journey is very picturesque, and I spent as much time both looking around, and composing my pictures as I did walking the path!
6

Even in its winter colours the wood looks beautiful.

Nearly at the top now, stop for a breather and take time out to look around.

7

At these steps near the top, you will see this signpost (pictured) Climb the steps, and once on the junction, turn right. After a very short distance you can see a small metal kissing gate in the wall.

Go through this gate and follow the path up over.

8

Find your way up and onto the main path, turning right along it.

Not long now before you can see these railings (pictured) on your right.

The nearest central carved rock, is the Victorian copy, and further away, a little to the left is the original.

9

Your choices are now to either retrace your steps back to the car the way you came...

...or turn around and continue back along the path; but instead of going back down over the bridges, continue along the top, and pass the small reservoir (Panorama Reservoir) on your left. Make your way past a private house and at a double wooden gate on your left, go through this and head downhill into Panorama Woods, and you should be able to navigate back from here. As long as you keep going downhill and left, you will find yourself eventually back on Grove road, leading back to Hebers Ghyll Drive.

 

 

Walkabout Checklist : Print this out and take it with you...

This walk (and pictures) submitted by Crag Face.

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