The Hurlers

LoginSave

This unusual triple stone circle is said to have been formed by a group of local men who contravened the sabbath and played the local game of hurling (a cross between running and rugby) on a Sunday. In truth, no explanation has settled the mystery of what the trio of circles were for.

Just to the west are the twin standing stones known as The Pipers – again, supposedly punishment for playing music on the holy sabbath.

It's possible the two standing stones marked the entrance to the wider ceremonial site of which the stone circles formed a part.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • ST AUSTELL, ENGLAND - JULY 2, 2019: Eden Sessions music concert at Eden Project eco visitor attraction in Cornwall, England. 1494239609 architecture, attraction, biome, biosphere, bodelva, britain, british, building, concert, conservation, cornwall, design, destination, dome, earth, eco, ecosystem, eden project, eden sessions, education, educational, england, english, environment, garden, greenhouse, horticulture, indoor, kylie minogue, landmark, mediterranean, music, nature, outdoor, plants, rainforest, sphere, st austell, summer, sustainability, sustainable tourism, tourism, tourist, travel, tropical, uk, united kingdom, vacation, venue, visitor

    Eden Project

    16.65 MILES

    Looking like a cross between a lunar landing station and a James Bond villain's lair, the gigantic hemispherical greenhouses of the Eden Project have…

  • Lanhydrock House, Bodmin, Cornwall, England Lanhydrock The house was rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1881 as a home for the Agar-Robartes family

    Lanhydrock

    11.84 MILES

    This magnificent manor, 2.5 miles southeast of Bodmin, offers a fascinating insight into Upstairs, Downstairs life in Victorian England. The house was…

  • A view of the footbridge and castle ruins at Tintagel Castle in Cornwall, UK.; Shutterstock ID 1988916434; your: Bridget Brown; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: POI Image Update

    Tintagel Castle

    16.91 MILES

    Famous as the supposed birthplace of King Arthur, Tintagel's epic clifftop castle has been occupied since Roman times and once served as a residence for…

  • Laying down Giant at the Lost gardens of Heligan, Cornwall, England

    Lost Gardens of Heligan

    22.37 MILES

    This is Cornwall's real-life secret garden. Formerly the family estate of the Tremaynes, Heligan's magnificent 19th-century gardens fell into disrepair…

  • Plymouth, Devon, UK - August 3rd 2019: National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth, UK. Bright sunny day, day time photo.

    National Marine Aquarium

    17.67 MILES

    The UK's biggest – and perhaps best – aquarium is lodged beside the Barbican harbour. There's a huge amount to see, but the highlight is the impressive…

  • Plymouth England August 2020. The fish market with the deep sea fishing fleet moored alongside the quay. Boats registered in Plymouth and Brixham. Light cloud

    Plymouth Fish Market

    17.65 MILES

    Around 60,000 tonnes of fish pass through this market, making it the second biggest by volume in England after London's Billingsgate. It's an amazing…

  • St Nectan's Glen

    St Nectan's Glen

    15.95 MILES

    Hidden away in a secret valley, this little glen feels like something from a fairy tale. Fringed by climbing ivy and shrubs, a 60ft waterfall tumbles…

  • Cotehele

    Cotehele

    10.28 MILES

    At the head of the Tamar Valley sits the Tudor manor of Cotehele, one of the Edgcumbe dynasty's modest country retreats. The cavernous great hall is the…

View more attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Cheesewring

0.57 MILES

Looking like a gigantic game of granite Jenga, this stack of rocks is legendarily said to have been the work of giants – but the truth is even stranger. A…

2. Trethevy Quoit

1.6 MILES

Three miles south of Darite is this impressive example of a quoit, or dolmen – a Neolithic burial chamber resembling a flat stone table, supported by…

3. Golitha Falls

2.69 MILES

Around 1.25 miles west of St Cleer, these crashing waterfalls are one of the most renowned beauty spots on the moor. Around the falls are the remains of…

4. Dozmary Pool

4.51 MILES

About a mile south from the A30, this glassy expanse of water has many myths and legends associated with it – including one that claims it's where Arthur…

5. Carnglaze Caverns

5.34 MILES

Slate was once an important local export on Bodmin Moor, and these deep caverns were cut out by hand by miners, leaving behind an atmospheric network of…

6. Stripple Stones

7.62 MILES

Near the hummock of Hawk's Tor are the Stripple Stones, a circular alignment that once enclosed 28 stones, although only four now remain standing. The…

7. Cornish Orchards

8.34 MILES

This renowned orchard makes fruity apple juices and a range of exotic cider varieties, from traditional heritage scrumpy to raspberry and pear variants…

8. Cabilla & Redrice Woods

8.71 MILES

While most people head for the better-known woodlands of Cardinham, there's actually another wonderful patch of forest near Bodmin, much older and much…