AttractionEnglish Heritage

Hurlers Stone Circles

Liskeard, Cornwall

Three Bronze Age stone circles in a line on open Bodmin Moor, unfenced and always open, so you and your dog can walk straight in.

Three stone circles arranged in a deliberate line, a grouping found nowhere else in England. The Hurlers sit on open Bodmin Moor above Minions and date from the late Neolithic or early Bronze Age, probably the best examples of ceremonial circles anywhere in the south west. The name comes from a legend that they are men turned to stone for playing hurling on a Sunday, with two outlying stones called the Pipers, petrified for providing the music.

Whilst you work out the alignment and find the Pipers, your dog gets proper open moorland with no gates, no ticket and no closing time, which makes this one of the better free sites in Cornwall. Short cropped turf, granite outcrops, gorse and heather, with the Cheesewring and Stowe's Hill rising just above if you want to extend the walk.

Free and permanently open. There are no posted dog rules here, because the site is unenclosed common land, so moorland rules apply: sheep, cattle and ponies graze freely across Bodmin Moor and there are ground nesting birds in spring and summer, so keep your dog on a lead. Parking is in Minions village. No facilities at the stones.

At a Glance

Site Type: Prehistoric Site
Entry: Free
Members: Free for English Heritage members

English Heritage Membership

Planning Your Visit

Opening times and prices were checked on 26 August 2026 and are subject to change, and some sites close for events or over winter. Confirm on the English Heritage site page before you travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hurlers Stone Circles dog friendly?
Yes, dogs are very welcome at the Hurlers. The site sits on open, unenclosed common land on Bodmin Moor, so there are no tickets, no gates and no posted dog restrictions — you can walk straight in with your dog at any time. The short cropped turf and wide open moorland make it a genuinely good outing for them.
Are dogs allowed at Hurlers Stone Circles year round?
Yes, the site is free and permanently open with no closing time, so you can visit any time of year. That said, Bodmin Moor has ground nesting birds in spring and summer, so it's worth keeping that in mind when planning your visit and keeping your dog under close control during those months.
What should I know before visiting Hurlers Stone Circles with my dog?
Because this is open common land, moorland rules apply rather than formal site regulations. Sheep, cattle and ponies graze freely across the moor, and there are ground nesting birds in spring and summer, so you should keep your dog on a lead. There are no facilities at the stones themselves, and parking is in Minions village, a short walk away.