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Bewcastle Cross in St Cuthbert's Churchyard

Bewcastle Cross in St Cuthbert's Churchyard

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Bewcastle Cross in St Cuthbert's Churchyard

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Road cycling

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Location: Bewcastle, Carlisle, Cumbria, North West England, England, United Kingdom

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Willem VS

July 13, 2025

Cycling

The Bewcastle Cross. This 7th-century Anglo-Saxon cross is one of the oldest and most exquisite in Europe. It still stands in its original location in the church garden and is richly decorated with runes, wickerwork, and Christian iconography. On the west side, you see Christ, John the Baptist with the Lamb of God, and a falconer who may represent John the Evangelist. On the east side, a vine winds upward, populated by mythical and real animals—a symbol of the connection between creation and faith.

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JakobusPilger

May 1, 2025

Cycling

There are several reasons why cyclists should not just pass by this small sacred monument, but rather pause for a moment: Firstly, the church, together with the surrounding cemetery and …

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Amy

February 8, 2020

Cycling

Dating back to around the 7th and 8th century, Bewcastle Cross is an impressive historical monument in St Cuthbert's Churchyard. Together with a similar cross in Ruthwell, the crosses were described as "the greatest achievement to their date in the whole of Europe" by scholar Nikolaus Pevsner.

Its four stone sides are carved with reliefs of animals, chequers, vine scrolls, and interlace knots, as well as a sundial, thought to be the earliest surviving sundial in England. There are also runic alphabet inscriptions.

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Details

Informations

Elevation 150 m

Weather

Wednesday 13 May

11°C

2°C

81 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 22.0 km/h

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Take Me There

Location: Bewcastle, Carlisle, Cumbria, North West England, England, United Kingdom

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Bewcastle Cross in St Cuthbert's Churchyard

#1.

Hadrian's Wall – Birdoswald Roman Fort loop from Gilsland

#2.

Ford Crossing – Ruins of Bewcastle Castle loop from Stapleton

#3.

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