This is the tenth in a series of events to highlight the twenty or so stone circles that are found within Derbyshire, with this one taking us to Beeley Moor, above the Chatsworth Estate. We might have a bit of an adventure trying to track this one down, as it is small & the location is a little unclear...
Gibbet Moor Stone Circle was discovered as recently as 1985! It is small & consists of just three standing stones approximately 0.5m in height, although one is leaning, which form the three corners of a square. It has been suggested that this is a rare example of a four poster in England, although there is no evidence of a fourth stone. This type of monument is common in Scotland, however.
This short event will give us an opportunity to meet up safely outside for some geochat & to swap trackables in hopefully peaceful & beautiful surroundings. Access to the site is across rough open access land, with no marked footpath going directly to the stone circle. There is some ambiguity as to the exact coordinates for this stone circle, so we may need to hunt around for it! Hopefully the event coordinates will get us close enough.
Starting from the suggested parking there is a well walked track heading north along Beeley Bar Lane before a footpath continues north after about 500m, heading towards Bunker's Hill Wood. The footpath then skirts the SE of this wood, where it can get quite wet & muddy. The footpath soon joins a track running east-west from where it is a short, but worthwhile detour east to see the Bronze Age barrow Hob Hurst's House. Although classed as a round barrow, it is unusual as it is actually square, consisting of a rectangular mound with a rectangular bank running around. Five stones in a ring stand in the middle, although it is believed that there may have originally been 13 stones.
Heading back west along the track, it soon continues NW before we have to cut off NE towards our stone circle. The last stretch will have to be navigated over rough ground, with no real footpath, although we may be able to use sheep tracks. Dogs are welcome, but please keep them on a short lead & be aware that you may pass grazing sheep, which may already be in lamb.
Please note that the recommended parking must be approached from the SE (above) as Beeley Lane is closed east of Beeley due to a land slip. There should be ample parking there for all attendees. There is a track from the north off the A619 which starts off towards GZ, but I am unsure of the parking situation beside the A619, so am not recommending it.