Photographs taken 2004 to 2009
Bodmin Moor has many archaeological sites, both ancient and modern. The earliest sites on the moor date from Neolithic settlements, and the stone circles are likely to be late Neolithic/early Bronze Age. The Hurlers stone circles are among the most impressive in Cornwall, and are in fact three stone circles (although some people have suggested that there were originally eight circles in total, but very little evidence remains for this if this was the case).
The Hurlers are very close to Minions, and the largest of the three is over 40 metres in diameter. The circles actually date from sometime between 2,500 BC and 1,600 BC, and are around 4,000 years old. They were no doubt a site for ancient pagan rituals and ceremonies of some kind, but their purpose has now been lost in the mists of time.
Some think the Hurlers are sited on old "Ley Lines" - ancient lines that run across the landscape, lining up with other ancient sites, and many people have tried, not unsuccessfully, to trace these lines. In particular, the Hurlers are believed to lie on the "St Michael Line" that runs through St Michael's Mount, Glastonbury Tor (St Michael's Church), Brentor (St Michael's Church), Burrow's Mump (St Michael's Church), Avebury, Bury St Edmunds and other sites. For further information, see the St Michael Line on Ancient Wisdom for more information.
The Hurlers
Legend has it in fact, that the Hurlers were originally men who were caught dancing on a Sunday, and playing ball games, specifically the old game of hurling, thus their name "The Hurlers", who were instantly turned to stone as a punishment, along with "The Pipers" (who were not surprisingly playing music), being the two other standing stones found nearby.
The Hurlers with Houseman's Engine House and Caradon Hill in the
background
Looking down on the Hurlers from the track up towards Rillaton
Barrow
The Pipers
The Hurlers in the snow...
The Lone Hurler!
Hurlers and Houseman's Engine House
This one must have been heeling into the wind while Hurling!
Some of the Hurlers after the snowfall
More Hurlers in the snow
Line of Hurlers and Houseman's Engine House
Snowy Hurlers and Engine House again
The Pipers in the snow
November 2005 - and a new Piper!
Up on Bodmin Moor near Minions during late 2005, the Hurlers were
found to have acquired a new addition to their number... Saturday
26th November was a lovely sunny day, and the snow was good enough
to make igloos... and Snowmen Pipers! But that wasn't the case the
day before on the 25th, when the weather was very different - there
were very wintry colours in the sky, heavy snow showers, and amazing
snowy scenes with the snow sticking to all the twigs and branches on
the trees and hedgerows. The A30 was completely blocked on the moor,
and many drivers had to be rescued and taken to emergency overnight
centres. This is not the usual kind of weather for November in
Cornwall !!!
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