A Visit to Arbor Low
Arbor Low is one of the most important Neolithic sites in the UK, situated just outside the pretty Peak District town of Bakewell. Established around 2500 BC, this well preserved stone henge features 50 large white limestone slabs encircling a central cove of 7 smaller stones, a feature found only at major sacred sites. Surrounded by an oval earth bank approximately 2 metres high, the site is believed to have been a ritual and funerary monument, with human skeletal remains discovered near the central cove in 1901. Set high on moorland in the White Peak, Arbor Low offers a truly atmospheric experience with stunning views across the surrounding countryside on a fine day. Combine your visit with a day in Bakewell or a walk in the beautiful Peak District landscape. The site is owned and managed by English Heritage, with an honesty box for a small fee to visit and use the car park.
Arbor Low is a stone henge situated just outside the pretty town of Bakewell. It’s regarded as being one of the most important Neolithic sites in the UK, and very few henge monuments are as well-preserved.
Thought to have been established in around 2500 BC and in use until the Bronze Age, Arbor Low was one of the first ancient monuments in the UK to be given statutory protection in the late 19th Century.
The henge is made up of 50 large white limestone slabs that encircle a central cove of 7 smaller stones, a feature found only in major sacred sites. The stones are surrounded by an oval earth bank approximately 2 metres high.
Human skeletal remains were discovered close to the central cove during excavations in 1901 and it’s very likely that the site was a ritual and funerary monument.
It’s an atmospheric place, set high on moorland in the White Peak, and the view from the hill on a fine day is stunning. Combine your visit with a day in Bakewell or a walk in the beautiful surrounding countryside.
The site is owned and managed by English Heritage. There is an honesty box for a small fee to visit and use the car park.
How Do I Get to Arbor Low?
The site is well signposted from the A515 Buxton to Ashbourne road. It’s situated on moorland accessed through a private farm, close to the junction of the A515 with The Rake, near Parsley Hay. The postcode is DE45 1JS.
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If the ancient mystery of Arbor Low fascinated you, the Peak District has many more remarkable historical sites to explore. Minninglow is a fascinating burial site with Neolithic chambered tombs hidden among a distinctive ring of beech trees. The Nine Ladies Stone Circle on Stanton Moor dates back to the Bronze Age and is surrounded by fascinating myth and legend. The mysterious Rowtor Rocks features ancient carvings and cave tunnels created by a Druid parson. The beautiful town of Bakewell is nearby, famous for its pudding and riverside setting. Explore more mysteries at our Ancient Sites Guide.
