Walk the Nine Stone Circles Circuit in the Peak District National Park
Enjoy a journey through sacred landscapes in the Peak District on this 12-kilometre circular day hike.
Fans of Outlander and folklore are in for a treat this month. My circular walk passes through two mystical stone circles and the atmospheric ritual site Stanton Moor, with multiple opportunities for pub stops along the route.
Sacred spaces and thin places
Anyone fascinated by folklore will probably have heard of “thin places”: locations where the physical and spiritual worlds feel closer together. Some believe these places enhance a connection to something greater, even the supernatural. Regardless of personal beliefs, it's undeniable that mysticism weaves through this route.
The first stone circle on the walk, Grey Ladies (Nine Stone Close Circle), is a perfect example. Once containing ten stones, today only four remain. Legends of the circle abound. Some say the stones dance at midnight and midday, while others claim strange lights can be seen twinkling in the woods next to the Grey Ladies at night.
Adding to its mystique, Nine Stones Close aligns with the midsummer moonset, which can be seen between the two boulders of Robin Hood’s Stride.
Today, these ancient rocks attract a different kind of worshipper: climbers. Robin Hood’s Stride and nearby Cratcliffe Rocks are among the Peak District's top bouldering and trad climbing destinations, drawing climbers from across the UK.
A hermit’s secrets
Just a few hundred metres from Nine Stone Close, the enigmatic Cratcliffe hermit cave appears prominently on the OS map. This medieval rock shelter features a crudely etched cross alongside grooves and sockets, hinting at a past religious life.
Finding the cave can feel like a pilgrimage unto itself; hidden behind trees and rock outcrops, it remains obscured from hikers on the nearby footpath.
While access is now restricted by a metal railing, it’s easy to imagine medieval seekers searching for solitude and spiritual enlightenment in these ancient rocks of Harthill Moor. This secluded space, like the stone circles, holds echoes of devotion.
Divine intervention with nature
Undeniably, the biggest draw on this trail is Stanton Moor. One of the Peak District’s most cherished landscapes, this ancient stretch of upland terrain holds four Bronze Age stone circles and over 70 prehistoric burial mounds. The sheer concentration of history has earned the entire moor status as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
At its heart stands the iconic Nine Ladies Stone Circle, where legend tells of women turned to stone as punishment for dancing on the Sabbath. Nearby, other ancient markers scatter the moor, standing silent witness to centuries of ritual and reverence. On a clear day, the Peak District stretches out in breathtaking panoramas beyond the stones.
Today, Nine Ladies continues to draw visitors: new-age pagans, families, and hikers. Offerings of coins, food, or handicrafts rest on the stones, while notes and ribbons flutter on a nearby tree.
Little is known about the stone circle's purpose, but perhaps the mystery is part of the stone circle’s enduring allure. Whether seeking divine intervention, a sense of connection, or a moment of stillness, these thin places offer moments of reflection across millennia of history.
You can download the GPS file for the Nine Stone Circles Circuit and use the OS Maps app to follow the route on your phone. Share your photos, comments and experiences of the route with me, I love to see how others have enjoyed the hike!
This route incorporates two popular long-distance routes in the Peaks: The Limestone Way and The Old Stones Way. If you love history and wonky rocks I thoroughly recommend you hike these trails over a long weekend.
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Trail essentials
Distance: 11.95 km
Time: approx. 4 hours
Terrain: short uphill sections, mostly trail with some sidewalk for the last few kms
Parking: Coldwell End, Bakewell DE45 1UY. Technically free however I recommend a £3 donation
Food: Two pubs on the route (The Druid’s Inn in Birchover and The Flying Childers in Stanton-on-the-Peak)
Hi, I came across your writing in the 3rd Heath & Mud zine. I loved your article about the Old Stones Way, and I’ll definitely try walking that one weekend. This route is also a great way to bring some really atmospheric places together. I love it! I’m glad to have found your Substack.
This is a lovely loop Kirsten! It’s saved in to my phone for a future adventure. Thank you for creating it.