Wonderful or weird?

From the top of the Robin Hood's Stride, it is possible to see this stone circle. There are around 20 such circles in Derbyshire and the Peak District and it is believed that they were built sometime during the early Bronze age, which would make them around 5,000 years old. 

This particular circle is the Nine Stones Close Circle.  As it's name suggests, it was once a ring of nine stones, forming a circle with a diameter of 45 feet. These are the tallest standing stones in Derbyshire; up to 2.2 metres high.

No one knows exactly why these circles were erected, but it's likely that they had some religious significance, probably connected with the cycle of the seasons and the relative positions of sun and moon at particular times of the year.

Of course, such places grow legends. This circle is also known as the Grey Ladies; the belief being that, at midnight, the stones turn into ladies and dance on the moor.

Another legend tells of a 19th century farm worker who was walking near the stones when he found a clay pipe. As soon as he lit it, his head was filled with the most beautiful aroma. He gradually became aware that the ground around the stones was transparent and he could see down to another world, filled with brightly clothed little people; possibly faeries.

Wonderful or weird? What do you think?

To see what other people have chosen for W, wander over to Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday.