Beltany Stone Circle

About 3 kilometres south of Raphoe in County Donegal lies Beltany Stone Circle.

This Stone Circle is located on a hilltop with expansive views across the surrounding countryside in a panoramic rural setting.

It's believed that Beltany is not a Stone Circle in a traditional sense and that the interior of the circle once held a substantial megalithic monument which has long since been denuded from the site.

It's suggested from several sources based on previous testimonies that an expansive stone Cairn mound was contained within the circle and that it may have been a neolithic Passage Tomb. No trace of this structure now remains on the site.

There is a lone upright Standing Stone close to the Circle acting like an outlier and which is suggested as having been used as a source of astronomical alignment.

There is also a stone in the circle which is covered in Cup marks.

This stone can be easily recognised in the circle and is distinguished from the others by its triangular shape.

The Stone Circle has been damaged over time and may have originally contained 80 or more stones.

Nonetheless it is an enchanting location and well worth visiting if you are ever in the area. If you're driving there is parking close to the site and it's easily accessible on foot along a wide track.

Keep the wheels turning.

Coordinates here: