Wishing Stone, which is located near the precariously balanced ‘Idol’. The Wishing Stone is a tall rock, at the base of which there is an opening around a short stone pillar with a hole through it.

The old guide book notes that people placed the middle finger of their right hand into the small hole, and then made a wish. Another reference mentions placing the right arm around the pillar itself, in order to bring luck.

The Wishing Stone name may have been given to this rock feature by the tour guides, or it may have been another part of the areas older folklore. In either case it shows that the belief in wishing stones existed hereabouts, and was familiar to visitors. Wishing Stones in other parts of Britain often required some action or ritual to be performed before making the wish, such as walking around the rock 3 times. There may have been something similar at the Brimham Wishing Stone, perhaps involving crawling through a gap in the rock below the wishing pillar.

Kevb

June 13, 2025

wonderful trek around the stones but watch out can be very busy

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Elevation 340 m

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Wednesday 17 December

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91 %

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Max wind speed: 32.0 km/h

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Location: Hartwith Cum Winsley, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, Yorkshire And The Humber, England, United Kingdom

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Wishing Stone (Brimham Rocks)

1. Druid's Writing Desk – Brimham Rocks loop from Low Laithe

2. Brimham Rocks – Pateley Bridge Market Town loop from Pateley Bridge

3. Brimham Rocks – Druid's Writing Desk loop from Low Laithe

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