Loupin Stanes Stone Circle | Dumfries & Galloway | History of Neolithic Scotland | Before Caledonia

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

The enigmatic Loupin Stanes stone circle sits beside the White Esk River and is one of two ancient rings 550m apart. The Loupin Stanes is a small ring with two large entrance stones set on a low platform. 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 our ancient ancestors chose the number twelve to represent the twelve months in a year.

The original function of the circle will never be known but a few theories is 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.

In Caroline Hoare and Gary Biltcliffe’s excellent book ‘The Spine of Albion’ the female dragon current known as ‘Elen’ flows through the stones. Scottish Archaeoastronomer, Professor Alexander Thom (well known for the Megalithic yard) measured the ring 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.

The local vicinity is very interesting with an archaeological trail of forts, settlements and King Schaw’s grave. The circle is situated near the small village of Eskdalemuir on the B709 road and about fifteen miles from Lockerbie. Also close by is the well known Samye-Ling Tibetan Centre. A small car park is provided with an information board on both circles
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Before Caledonia is a historical project which looks at the vast prehistoric sites in Scotland and focuses on the Neolithic and Bronze Age, stone circles standing stones and rock art.

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