Ballynoe Stone Circle
Ballynoe Stone Circle
4.5
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4.5
64 reviews
Excellent
45
Very good
17
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
0
CLE68
Perth and Kinross, UK555 contributions
Jul 2024 • Friends
We love visiting historical sites especially standing stones. The walk to the site is magical through a lovely wooded area. Dotted along people have tied ribbons and other small offerings onto the trees. The stones are great to see and to feel the sense of history. Easy parking and the walk takes about 10 minutes.
Written 19 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
301lisa33
Coventry, UK2,006 contributions
Sept 2021
This stone circle is approached along a short hedge-lined track. This has been adorned by various items, with a fairy theme. It is really quite cute. The walk takes you over a couple of fields.
The circle is quite big with quite a number of stones in place. There is some interpretation in place. Great place, especially for families
The circle is quite big with quite a number of stones in place. There is some interpretation in place. Great place, especially for families
Written 28 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sean
Ireland88 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Visited on 8th Aug 23. Took 2 passes along road to actually see signage and entrance to walk. Car parked outside entrance, with limited to zero parking on narrow voluntary road. This is only reason 1 point deducted with review. Environmental heritage could make location much easier to find with better and clearer signage. As historic site is in middle of nowhere and not within short walking distance of Downpatrick etc, most people visiting I assume would travel by car. There really needs to be some dort of designated park area provided. The walk to stone circle is beautiful lane way with fields either side. At a leisurely pace, it takes about 10mins to reach standing stones. A large, open area of total quiet, lovely scenery and Mourne mountains in distance. No facilities at all at location, but good notice boards giving historic context to site.
Written 28 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
irishgirl61
Belfast, UK471 contributions
May 2020 • Solo
Visited on a Thursday evening. Parking at side of road is limited. Directions via google maps is wrong. But once get it it's fine.
Well maintained with the grass cut. I had the site to myself. Lovely quiet place to enjoy the good weather walk about and take pictures. Well visited with the fairy trees and trinkets. Great for families. Clean and tidy.
Well maintained with the grass cut. I had the site to myself. Lovely quiet place to enjoy the good weather walk about and take pictures. Well visited with the fairy trees and trinkets. Great for families. Clean and tidy.
Written 6 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anthony W
Caylus, France29 contributions
Jun 2013 • Friends
One reviewer has said that this site is 'not for pansies', but I am a 'gay' man of over seventy, who goes frequently, and has photographed it in sun, snow and moonlight. Townies who are afraid of cattle or cow-pats or muddy lanes should not bother. Ireland is a muddy island.
It is an unique stone circle of British type (similar to some in Cumbria), which dates from way before 'Celtic' intrusion in Ireland. It features on my Irish Megaliths site (irishmegaliths.info) and bears no relation to a theme park, unlike Newgrange.
The 'green lane' which leads to it is one of the last such remaining passable in the whole of Ireland.
It is an unique stone circle of British type (similar to some in Cumbria), which dates from way before 'Celtic' intrusion in Ireland. It features on my Irish Megaliths site (irishmegaliths.info) and bears no relation to a theme park, unlike Newgrange.
The 'green lane' which leads to it is one of the last such remaining passable in the whole of Ireland.
Written 2 July 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
27twinkle
Belfast, UK116 contributions
Aug 2011
Interesting for those who are into archaeological relics of ancient Ireland but be warned this site is far from anything and in an isolated spot. You will find you'll need a car to get here. Situated on a narrow country road - very narrow - so you have to park as close to the verge as you can. Entrance is via a grassy tract beside a private house. A grassy track takes you on a nice scenic walk past some fields - hedges on both sides of the path - and you walk for about ten minutes before you arrive at a small gate with a sign relating information about the stone circle. Once through the gate the circle is about 100 feet away in the middle of a paddock - don't attempt this after the rains or you will find it very soggy and mucky.
Regarding the previous reviews and the grazing stock: this is farm land so respect it. Don't leave any rubbish behind at all. The ancient folk did not know people would build farms around their sacred site thousands of years later so be prepared for a herd of cows to be resident. There is only ever ONE bull in a field and they can be temperamental but we never saw any bull the both times we have visited. If there are cows, just walk quietly past them and you will be okay - they will just regard you with boredom. If you have a dog then I advise that you LEAVE IT IN THE CAR!!! - cows don't like dogs and they particularly dislike them when they have calves. If you feel you must bring Rover with you then have him on a VERY short leash, keep him QUIET and don't let him run or bark at the cows. That's when they will charge and that's potentially fatal. Tie Rover to the gate instead and don't take him inside the field.
The stone circle is in a beautiful spot, bring some printed matter with you to read about their creation and soak up the history. People stood on that same spot thousands of years ago and placed those stones there - quite fascinating.
Totally unsuitable for strollers or wheelchairs.
Regarding the previous reviews and the grazing stock: this is farm land so respect it. Don't leave any rubbish behind at all. The ancient folk did not know people would build farms around their sacred site thousands of years later so be prepared for a herd of cows to be resident. There is only ever ONE bull in a field and they can be temperamental but we never saw any bull the both times we have visited. If there are cows, just walk quietly past them and you will be okay - they will just regard you with boredom. If you have a dog then I advise that you LEAVE IT IN THE CAR!!! - cows don't like dogs and they particularly dislike them when they have calves. If you feel you must bring Rover with you then have him on a VERY short leash, keep him QUIET and don't let him run or bark at the cows. That's when they will charge and that's potentially fatal. Tie Rover to the gate instead and don't take him inside the field.
The stone circle is in a beautiful spot, bring some printed matter with you to read about their creation and soak up the history. People stood on that same spot thousands of years ago and placed those stones there - quite fascinating.
Totally unsuitable for strollers or wheelchairs.
Written 22 October 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jude P
4 contributions
Just discovered this fantastic place the hawthorn covered walk is magical and the blackberries were in full swing! The stones seem to have faces and one can feel the energy of ancient ireland! Will be back in winter!
Written 14 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lahanna
belfast71 contributions
May 2021 • Solo
This a great stone circle in a well maintained field accessible via a beautiful lane made of gorse bushes and stone walls. If you're getting to it via Google maps though, it doesn't take you right to it. Follow the directions until it says you've arrived. Then continue to the crossroads and turn right. The sign for the stone circle is on your right a little further on.
Written 12 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeff D
3 contributions
Aug 2018 • Friends
Currently, there are 41 reviews on TripAdvisor and 38 on Google, all of which say "stone circle is hard to find but worth it"... and none of them mention where this place is! So let me spoil the fun and give you **actual directions**:
Simply: from The Castle Inn, go south on Ballynoe about 200m and look for the sign/path on the West side of Ballynoe.
Your GPS will take you to a farm on Erenagh Rd, which is where the confusion starts. The Stone Circle is due south of Erenagh Rd, but the clearly marked entrance is on Ballynoe Rd, south of the Erenagh/Ballynoe intersection.
If you are at that intersection, (Erenagh, Ballynoe, Grangecam) drive south about 200 metres or 600 feet and on the West Side of Ballynoe you'll see a sign and a path.
Enjoy!
Simply: from The Castle Inn, go south on Ballynoe about 200m and look for the sign/path on the West side of Ballynoe.
Your GPS will take you to a farm on Erenagh Rd, which is where the confusion starts. The Stone Circle is due south of Erenagh Rd, but the clearly marked entrance is on Ballynoe Rd, south of the Erenagh/Ballynoe intersection.
If you are at that intersection, (Erenagh, Ballynoe, Grangecam) drive south about 200 metres or 600 feet and on the West Side of Ballynoe you'll see a sign and a path.
Enjoy!
Written 21 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vincent-in-Ireland
Newtownards, UK120 contributions
Jul 2014 • Friends
How have I not heard about this tranquil beautiful place before. Okay, not the easiest to find, but far from impossible....ask a local they are very helpful. The covered sunken lane way to the site edged on both sides by a dry stone wall made of vertical and 90 degree angled stones sets the scene for your arrival at a pretty large stone circle and burial mound. Views of the Mournes are right there, and today rooks were circling in their dozens on summer thermals to dizzying heights and buzzards were prowling the area too. Tranquil and quiet.... amazing little sanctuary. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballynoe_Stone_Circle
Written 1 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thinking of heading here this evening,what's the parking like?
Written 18 August 2017
Fine for two or three cars. You park by the side of the road. There is a delightful walk down a fairy path to get to the stone circle. Well worth a visit!
Written 13 May 2019
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