The Hurlers Stone Circles

Travel north from Trevethy Quiot to Darite, The south-facing slope of Minions Moor is the location of the three stone circles known as the Hurlers (Cornish: An Hurlysi). The centres of the circles point towards the ridge to the north, with Rillaton Barrow on the horizon and the summit of Stowe's Hill. Dating to the early Bronze Age, the Hurlers lie in a landscape of stone circles, stone rows, standing stones, cists and cairns. The alignments of the Hurlers, acknowledging surrounding tors and barrows suggest they may have been part of a significant processional route.

Although disturbed by mining over the years fourteen stone uprights remain in the central circle, with fourteen markers for missing stones, placed in empty stone sockets during restoration works. The circles are thought to have originally had twenty nine stones. The central circle being larger than the other two. The inner faces of the stones are smooth and regular and most of the stones are flat topped. Excavations point to a quartz crystal floor in the central circle and a small granite block sited within the circle. Two standing stones known as the Pipers are to the south-west of the Hurlers.

The Hurlers can be accessed by paths from car parks on the north and south sides of Minions village. Close to the northern car park, Houseman's engine house is now a base for the Caradon Countryside Service and contains displays on the archaeology, history and ecology of the surrounding moors.