Devil's Arrows

If finding absolute behemoth standing stones is your thing (and if it isn't then why not?) then you're in for a huge treat with the Devil's Stones in Boroughbridge.

There used to be five stones, but one was disturbed by treasure hunters and finally broken up and used in a nearby bridge with the top of the stone being found in the grounds of Aldborough Manor. The location of the fifth is still a mystery.

The standing stones are most likely called the Devil's Arrows due to the deep grooves in the top naturally caused by the elements. However they have also been called many other names over the years including The Three Arrows, The Devil's Bolts, The Three Sisters and the Three Greyhounds.

But where does the Devil come into this? Well there is a myth that the Devil was a bit displeased with the residents of Aldborough (just around the corner from here) and decided to climb up How Hill and pepper the village with giant stones. Either his aim was off or he hadn't had his Shredded Wheat as the stones fell short of their target and landed here in Boroughbridge.

The Devil's Arrow standing stones are a pretty impressive size. The big lad on his own stands at 6.9m tall, the second tallest stone in Great Britain, only topped by the Rudston Monolith. The other two in the field are no slouches either standing at 6.7m and 5.5m.

They are set on a rough line 174m apart and is thought they were arranged to align with the summer moonrise.

According to the information board the stones were quarried and carried from Plumpton Rocks which is about nine miles away.

It was thought that the stones were erected between 5,000 and 3,500 years ago which makes it the Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age period.

If you want to witness these gargantuan stones with your own eyes, they are just situated off the A1. So if heading north or south you can make a quick diversion to see them.

Thanks to Tim Watkinson for the photos and letting us know about these beauties.