At Bryn Seward the sea view is hidden behind a large cairn.
A significant proportion of stone rows with a sea view are also situated across the limit of visibility to the sea. This means that the sea appears/disappears on at least one occasion along the length of the row. The chances of so many being positioned in this manner being entirely coincidence is extremely unlikely and analysis on Dartmoor has confirmed that it most likely to be deliberate. This means that the row builders must have been incorporating sea view reveals into their special places. It seems most likely that the area denoted by the lines of stones were special because of their visual links with seascape, landscape and possibly skyscape and indeed the stones may have been added to emphasise the precise position of a carefully calculated linear zone which incorporated a range of different landmarks both natural and artificial. Exactly how these places were incorporated into any ritual activity is not known, but the evidence indicates that sometimes it involved the appearance and disappearance of places. This is reminiscent of the way in which the sun, moon and stars appear and disappear. It perhaps therefore not difficult to see why the row builders positioned their rows to replicate this. Whatever the motive it is clear that the rows were positioned at least in part to create a “wow factor” and this of course is something that visitors to the rows today can share.
Distribution of stone rows with sea view reveals.
The sea view to the south of Ballinaby stone row disappears along the middle length.
The sea is only visible from the upper part of Bancbryn stone row.
The sea is not visible from the western end of Black Tor (Stanlake) stone row.
⊗ The sea is visible only from the top of Brent Fore Hill stone row.
The sea is hidden from view behind a cairn at Bryn Seward stone row.
Plymouth Sound is only visible from the northern part of Burford Down stone row.
The English Channel is only visible from the southern end of Burford Down stone row.
⊗ Sea views appear and disappear as you walk along Butterdon Hill stone row.
From the northern end of Cardinham Moor/Colvannick Tor stone row the Atlantic Ocean is visible.
From the southern end of Cardinham Moor/Colvannick Tor stone row the English Channel is visible.
There is a sea view at the top of bottom of Careg Lwyd 1 stone row but not in the middle.
It is very likely that Careg Lwyd 2 was built across the limit of visibility to the sea.
The sea is not visible from the lower length of Clash-an-dam stone row.
St Kilda and the sea to the west of Cnoc na Grèine stone is not visible from the eastern part of the row although the sea to the east is visible along its entire length. © Meg Rodger.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis only the top of Conies Down stone row has a sea view.
The sea is hidden from view in the eastern part of Creag Bhreac Mhor stone row.
Sea views appear and disappear as you walk along Fonllech stone row.
⊗ The sea is not visible from the southerm part of Garrywhin stone row.
⊗ The sea is not visible from the lower part of Glasscombe Corner stone row.
The sea view at Hart Tor, North stone row is limited to the lower length. Though not photographed this sea view has been seen.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis only the top of High Bride Stones has a sea view.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis a restricted sea view exists at Hingston Hill stone row except at the upper western end.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis the sea is only visible from the top of Hook Lake stone row.
Whilst the sea is visible along the entire length of Lacra NE stone row a separate sea view glimpse appears only at the top of the row. The row points towards this feature and its appearance feels deliberate.
Whilst the sea is visible along the entire length of Lacra SW stone row a separate sea view triangle appears only at the top of the row. The row points towards this feature and its appearance feels deliberate.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis only the top of Laughter Tor 1 stone row has a sea view.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis only the bottom of Leeden Tor stone row has a sea view.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis only the top of Little Links Tor stone row has a sea view.
The Bristol Channel is only visible from the eastern part of Madacombe stone row.
The sea is not visible from the eastern end of Merrivale 2 stone row.
The sea is not visible from the western length of Mynydd Clywedog stone row.
The sea is only visible from the northern end of Nine Maidens stone row.
The sea is only visible from the upper end of North Ings stone row.
The sea is visible only from the western length of Parc y Meirw stone row.
⊗ The sea is only visible from the western length of Piles Hill stone row.
Porlock Common NE is built across the limit of visibility to the nearby Bristol Channel.
⊗ The sea is visible only from the upper end of Ringmoor Down stone row.
There is no sea view from the northern length of Sharpitor NW 1 stone row.
There is no sea view from the northern end of Sharpitor NW 2 stone row.
There is a sea view only at the southern end of Shaugh Moor stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis only the top (south) of Shoveldown 1 stone row has a sea view.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis only the top (south) of Shoveldown 5 stone row has a sea view.
A restricted view of the sea is visible from the centre of Shoveldown 6 stone row.
Plymouth Sound is visible only from the northern end of Spurrell’s Cross stone row.
The sea is not visible at the northern end of Stalldown stone row.
The sea is visible only at the northern end of Stalldown SE stone row.
The sea is not visible at the northern end of Stannon stone row.
The sea is only visible at the eastern end of Swarth Howe stone row.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis only the upper length of Trehudreth Downs stone row has a sea view.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis only the upper length of Trowlesworthy 1 stone row has a sea view.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis only some of the Upper Erme stone row has sea views.
Only the eastern length of the Warcombe Water, West stone row has a sea view.
⊗ According to viewshed analysis only some of the White Ladder stone row has views of the sea.
A sea view only exists at the top of the Yar Tor stone row.
The Stone Rows of Great Britain 