Rock Art (also known as Cup and Ring marks) is widespread in North Northumberland. These simple carvings in rock were made by Neolithic and Early Bronze Age people between 6000 and 3500 years ago.
There are some locations where many of these markings are concentrated together in a relatively small area and one of these is Lordenshaw, an area of moorland lying at a height of around 250m at the foot of the upper reaches of the crag-crowned Simonside Hill. This raised, prominent extension of the hills is made up of outcrop Fell sandstone, with only a thin layer of acidic soil.
Prominent on the hilltop is a 'fort', a ditched Iron Age enclosure that has been re-used as a Romano-British settlement. The slope southwards towards the car park has many field walls, some of cobble and soil construction, and others of vertically-set sandstones.
The Rock Art designs vary from simple cups to more complex ringed cups and grooves and there is regional variation, consisting of long grooves or channels that follow the slope of the rock. There are over 100 carved rocks at Lordenshaw.
This is open-access land managed by the Northumberland National Park who have created a parking area and signposted some of the paths. This Virtual cache will take you on a walk of about 1.5 miles and includes 3 of the best examples of Rock Art. But feel free to wander around and explore. There are many paths and the going is not difficult as long as you stay on the paths. And it is beautiful moorland with fantastic views and wildlife.
To qualify for this Virtual cache you need to visit the 3 sites below, where there are good examples of Rock Art. On the way between #2 and #3 you will pass through the iron-age fort. There is a question to answer for each of the 3 locations and a photograph to be taken from the fort which is the highest point.
Stage 1 Main Rock (at the given coordinates)
A good path leads up from the car park to the start of the action. This first, and impressive rock slab contains many carvings, those on the very top having, sadly, been weathered and become unrecognisable.
Count the number of cup marks at the SW corner of the rock (look along the top edge of the sign towards the rock if you are not sure which is the corner in question). Include those which are less clearly defined.
Stage 2. Horseshoe Rock N 55 17.228 W 1 55.274
A short walk down the hill towards the NW will bring you to this rock which contains an unusual feature – a curved double groove which gives the rock its name.
Count the number of cup marks within the “horseshoe”. Include those which are less clearly defined,
Mid stage. Hill Fort N 55 17.253 W 1 54.906
The path will take you through the middle of the fort. When you reach the high point of the hill you have perfect views in all directions,
Take a photograph of you (or your hand holding your GPSr or other personal item), with the Simonside Hill crags in view (or pointing in that general direction if the cloud is down).
Stage 3 Channel Rock N 55 17.319 W 1 54.721
Continue on the path over the ramparts and down the hill until a smaller path leads down to the final location. This rock has many cup markings but also the characteristic phenomenon of this region - long grooves or channels that follow the slope of the outcrop. This one is very long, flowing from a small cup at the top right down to the base. The imaginative mind can no doubt conjure up what this may have been used for.
Measure or estimate the length of the channel from the top to the point where it falls steeply down to the ground.
Please post the photo with your log and email me with the answers to the questions at the 3 Stages.
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between June 4, 2019 and June 4, 2020. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 2.0 on the Geocaching Blog.