Long Meg and Her Daughters
A massive Bronze Age stone circle cursed by a witch who transformed a coven into stone, where the petrified witches allegedly bleed if damaged.
Long Meg and Her Daughters is one of the largest and most impressive stone circles in Britain, comprising 59 large stones forming a circle nearly 100 meters in diameter, constructed around 3300 BCE. The site’s name derives from a medieval legend claiming that Long Meg was a witch who, along with her daughter-witches, was transformed to stone for dancing on the Sabbath. Long Meg herself stands apart from the circle—a striking 12-foot red sandstone pillar covered in Neolithic rock art including spirals and cup marks. According to folklore, the stones cannot be counted accurately, and anyone who manages to count the same number twice will break the spell, bringing the witches back to life.
The most dramatic element of the Long Meg legend claims that if any of the stones are damaged or broken, they will bleed. This curse was supposedly proven in the 17th century when Colonel Samuel Lacy attempted to break up the circle for building stone. According to accounts, a terrible storm erupted, and his workmen fled in terror claiming they saw blood seeping from the stones. Some versions add that Lacy himself died shortly afterward as punishment. Whether true or folkloric embellishment, the legend effectively protected the stones from destruction. Modern witnesses report that Long Meg—the outlying pillar—feels warm to the touch even on cold days, and some sensitive individuals claim to feel energy pulsing from the rock art.
Beyond the witch legend, the site experiences significant paranormal activity. Visitors report seeing spectral female figures in dark robes or cloaks moving among the stones, particularly during twilight or misty conditions. Some witnesses describe hearing women’s voices chanting or singing in unknown languages, and several have reported the sound of laughter or screaming when the site appears empty. The circle is said to be particularly active during the winter solstice sunset, when Long Meg’s shadow falls directly into the circle—an astronomical alignment that some believe amplifies spiritual energy. Mysterious lights, electromagnetic anomalies, and unexplained mists are frequently reported. Dowsers detect powerful energy lines converging at the site, and many modern witches and pagans consider Long Meg one of Britain’s most magically potent locations. Whether haunted by genuine witch spirits, ancient priestesses, or simply charged with millennia of spiritual significance, Long Meg and Her Daughters remains one of Cumbria’s most legendarily active prehistoric sites.