Lanyon Quoit is a Bronze Age burial monument located in Cornwall, England. It consists of four large granite stones, three of which form a rectangular chamber, while the fourth stone serves as a capstone. The structure is approximately 4 meters (13 feet) in diameter and 2 meters (6.6 feet) high. The quoit is surrounded by a circular ditch and is believed to have been built around 3500-2500 BCE.
Lanyon Quoit currently has three support stones which stand to a height of 1.5 metres. These bear a capstone which is 5.5 metres long, and which weighs more than 12 tonnes. In the eighteenth century the quoit had four supporting stones and the structure was tall enough for a person on horseback to ride under. On 19 October 1815, Lanyon Quoit fell down in a storm. Nine years later enough money was raised by local inhabitants to re-erect the structure, under the guidance of Captain Giddy of the Royal Navy. One of the original stones was considered too badly damaged to put back in place, thus there are only three uprights today and the structure does not stand so high as it once did. One of the uprights was turned at right-angles when the quoit was re-erected, but that is the only part of it which had its orientation changed. The cap stone is still aligned much as it was before the monument fell. The quoit lies at the north end of a long barrow 26 metres long and 12 metres wide. The barrow, which is covered by grass and bracken, is damaged and its outline is difficult to see. At the south end of the barrow are some more large stones that may be the remains of one or more cists. Small lay-by to pull in.
Second time I've visited this one, last time it was cold, windy and wet, but today perfect weather. Quiet around the area so parked in the lay-by closest to it, hopped over the stone style with the dogs and snapped some pics. It's worth seeing Men an Tol, Ding Dong mine, the Celtic chapel & Holy Well plus more historical Cornish landmarks whilst in the area as they're all close by and for a fit walker and guide to show the way it's a nice day out.
Tricky to find. Unmarked. Small layby with stone style over wall. I couldn't see it over the Cornish hedges! Only a couple of yards from the road. Atmospheric setting with Engine House of Ding Dong Mine in the background. Huge sone perched precariously on three stone supports
Awesome little find while driving around. Parking is a bit awkward, but there are a couple of passing places to stop, if you are quick. Lovely peaceful area with great views around.
A fairly large Neolithic burial tomb which is free to visit and located only a short walk from the road. The structure was reconstructed following a storm in the 1800s so sadly looks quite different from its original form (it originally had 4 'legs' and was taller than the current layout). Despite the reconstruction, it was still worth visiting. Parking was fine when we visited in November, although there are no designated parking spots. There are a couple of small lay-bys near the site which offer space for a car or two each. We were fortunate to be able to park in the lay-by closest to the site and only had to climb the stone stile and walk the short distance through the field to access the site. The stones used to create the stile are quite tall so could be challenging for those with mobility difficulties. There is no wheelchair access into the field. We visited shortly after a period of rainfall and found the field to be quite boggy in places so would advise visiting in drier weather if possible.
Very close to the road - so easy to access, unlike a number of the Cornish archaeological sites. I found it the most inspiring out of all the stones we visited
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Good for kids
Hello! I'm your AI guide for Lanyon Quoit. I can help you with information about this attraction, including its history, best times to visit, and tips for your visit. What would you like to know?
Discover hotels in Madron, Penzance TR20 8NY
Searching for hotels...
Lanyon Quoit currently has three support stones which stand to a height of 1.5 metres. These bear a capstone which is 5.5 metres long, and which weighs more than 12 tonnes. In the eighteenth century the quoit had four supporting stones and the structure was tall enough for a person on horseback to ride under. On 19 October 1815, Lanyon Quoit fell down in a storm. Nine years later enough money was raised by local inhabitants to re-erect the structure, under the guidance of Captain Giddy of the Royal Navy. One of the original stones was considered too badly damaged to put back in place, thus there are only three uprights today and the structure does not stand so high as it once did. One of the uprights was turned at right-angles when the quoit was re-erected, but that is the only part of it which had its orientation changed. The cap stone is still aligned much as it was before the monument fell. The quoit lies at the north end of a long barrow 26 metres long and 12 metres wide. The barrow, which is covered by grass and bracken, is damaged and its outline is difficult to see. At the south end of the barrow are some more large stones that may be the remains of one or more cists. Small lay-by to pull in.
Second time I've visited this one, last time it was cold, windy and wet, but today perfect weather. Quiet around the area so parked in the lay-by closest to it, hopped over the stone style with the dogs and snapped some pics. It's worth seeing Men an Tol, Ding Dong mine, the Celtic chapel & Holy Well plus more historical Cornish landmarks whilst in the area as they're all close by and for a fit walker and guide to show the way it's a nice day out.
Tricky to find. Unmarked. Small layby with stone style over wall. I couldn't see it over the Cornish hedges! Only a couple of yards from the road. Atmospheric setting with Engine House of Ding Dong Mine in the background. Huge sone perched precariously on three stone supports
Awesome little find while driving around. Parking is a bit awkward, but there are a couple of passing places to stop, if you are quick. Lovely peaceful area with great views around.
A fairly large Neolithic burial tomb which is free to visit and located only a short walk from the road. The structure was reconstructed following a storm in the 1800s so sadly looks quite different from its original form (it originally had 4 'legs' and was taller than the current layout). Despite the reconstruction, it was still worth visiting. Parking was fine when we visited in November, although there are no designated parking spots. There are a couple of small lay-bys near the site which offer space for a car or two each. We were fortunate to be able to park in the lay-by closest to the site and only had to climb the stone stile and walk the short distance through the field to access the site. The stones used to create the stile are quite tall so could be challenging for those with mobility difficulties. There is no wheelchair access into the field. We visited shortly after a period of rainfall and found the field to be quite boggy in places so would advise visiting in drier weather if possible.
Very close to the road - so easy to access, unlike a number of the Cornish archaeological sites. I found it the most inspiring out of all the stones we visited
