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Before Caledonia 'A Journey Through Scotland's Ancient Sites'.
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Loupin Stanes & Girdle Stanes Stone Circles, Eskdalemuir, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland.

LOUPIN STANES

The enigmatic Loupin Stanes and Girdle Stanes stone circles are located beside the White Esk River. These two ancient rings were erected by our ancient ancestors. They are 550m apart but not visible from each other. The Loupin Stanes is a small ring with two large entrance stones. The word ‘Loupin’ in Scottish means ‘to jump over’ and ‘Stanes’ translates as stones.

The main feature is the twin entrance Megaliths at around 1.5m high on a west south west orientation. A further ten much smaller and unevenly spaced boulders complete a twelve stone 10m diameter ring. Perhaps the ancient architects chose the number twelve to represent the twelve month year.

The original function of the circle will never be known but a few theories are a cosmic observatory, a multifunctional space for life events such as birth, death, marriage and coming of age. The solstices and equinox’s may have been witnessed and celebrated from inside the circle.

Scottish Archaeoastronomer, Professor Alexander Thom (well known for the Megalithic yard) measured the Loupin Stanes and found a ‘Type A Flattened Circle’.

Aubrey Burl stated between the pillars appeared to indicate sunset in early November or late January which suggests the Celtic festivals of Samhain and Imbolc. These are cross quarter days between the solstices and equinox’s. The Loupin Stanes is similar in design to Faskally stone circle in Pitlochry.

A personal theory is The Loupin Stanes may be the male circle with the phalic like entrance stones. The close by Girdle Stanes could be the female site with its close connection to the water of the White Esk river and the shape of the half circle perhaps symbolic of the crescent moon.

A processional stone avenue may have exsisted between the Loupin Stanes and Girdle Stanes. Evidence for this is sparse. Random boulders can be found between the circles.

In Caroline Hoare and Gary Biltcliffe’s excellent book ‘The Spine of Albion’ the female dragon current ‘Elen’ flows through the Loupin Stanes and Girdle Stanes. This line goes from Southern England to Northern Scotland and passes through many magical, ancient and religious sites.

GIRDLE STANES

The peculiar Girdle Stanes stone circle is likely a remnant of the Neolithic culture of circa five thousand years ago. This site with its 40m diameter is much larger than the Loupin Stanes.

The Girdle Stanes is unique in only half a circle survives. It is thought the White Esk river has changed course over thousands of years and taken with it the western portion of the ring. Is it possible our ancient ancestors only constructed half a circle? Or could the Loupin Stanes have been constructed after half the Girdle Stanes was washed away.

In our present day roughly twenty six boulders make up a semi-circle. It is though up to forty five stones would have completed the ring. A possible entrance is situated at the south east arc with the highest stone at the north arc.

The half circle arrangement is very rare however another semi ring can be found on the Isle of Lewis at Bernera Bridge known as Callanish VIII. This site is also located next to water. Perhaps water spirits were important to the ancient people.

The female dragon current ‘Elen’ passes through the site. Directly next to the stones is the water of the White Esk river, water is an element associated with the female. The half circle shape perhaps represents the first or third quarter moon phase. Could these three elements suggest the site being female.

A geophysical survey was carried out by Geoquest in November 1993. The results indicate several pits within the enclosure with further pits along the line of the ring. It is thought the name ‘Girdle’ comes from a cooking utensil or flat rounded surface.The local vicinity is very interesting with an archaeological trail of forts, settlements and King Schaw’s grave.

The circles have public access and are situated near the small village of Eskdalemuir on the B709 road and fifteen miles north east of Lockerbie. Also close by is the well known Samye-Ling Tibetan Centre. A small car park is provided close to the Loupin Stanes with an information board on both circles. Here we can enjoy visiting two ancient stone rings in a beautiful and peaceful setting.