Lordenshaw - cup and ring stones

The path starts to rise and the ground becomes rougher as you wander past groups of bemused looking sheep.  Depending upon the time of year, the weather can be very changeable from dark and broody to snowy and cold.  However, irrespective of the weather conditions, to me, the Northumberland countryside must still rank as one of the most beautiful in the world.  The path eventually takes you to Lordenshaw.  The fort at Lordenshaw is one of the most important archaeological sites containing prehistoric ‘cup and ring’ stones.  These carvings in stone consist of an inner cup surrounded by rings. These were originally carved on sandstone during the Neolithic period and were later incorporated into burial cairns and stone circles.  The meaning of the marking is stillnot known but may be based on tribal boundaries, spiritual beliefs or border markers.