Loupin Stanes

The Loupin Stanes

Loupin' Stanes stone circle in 2008
Coordinates	55°15′30″N3°10′14″W / 55.258263°N 3.170489°W / 55.258263; -3.170489
Type	Stone circle
Scheduled monument
Official name	Loupin' Stanes stone circle
Type	Prehistoric ritual and funerary: stone circle or ring
Designated	1 April 1924
Reference no.	SM637

The Loupin Stanes (grid reference NY25709663 ) is a stone circle near Eskdalemuir, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

Description

Oval in shape, the site consists of twelve stones set on an artificial platform. ^{[1] [2]} At the west-southwest portion of the circle are two large pillars, which are typical of the 'entrance circles' of south-west Scotland. ^[3]

The circle takes its name from the tradition of leaping between the tops of these two stones. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

Nearby sites

There were two other circles nearby, which are now ruined and almost imperceptible. ^[1] A line of stones leads south to the Girdle Stanes; it is possible that this is the remains of an avenue linking the two circles. ^{[2] [1]}

See also

• Stone circles in the British Isles and Brittany
• List of stone circles

References

1. Burl, Aubrey (2005). A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. p. 123.
2. Burl, Aubrey (2000). The Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. p. 255.
3. Burl, Aubrey (2005). A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. p. 309.
4. Christison, David (1897). "'The Girdlestanes,' and a Neighbouring Stone Circle, in the Parish of Eskdalemuir, Dumfriesshire" (PDF). Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland: 285.
5. Hyslop, John; Hyslop, Robert (1912). Langholm as it was: A History of Langholm and Eskdale from the Earliest Time. Sunderland: Hills and Company. p. 19.
6. Burl, Aubrey (2005). A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. p. 124.