Quick Guide: Placing a Stone

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Our community has placed many stones across England. Use this guide to avoid common mistakes and ensure stones are safe, accessible, and meaningful.

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1. Location

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• The location is as important as the stone itself and forms a fundamental part of the overall experience.

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• Where possible, stones should be placed on land with established public access. If the location lies on private land, permission should be obtained from the landowner and a clear point of contact for access arrangements provided.

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• Stones should be positioned away from busy paths or rights of way to ensure the safety of the lifter and to avoid obstructing other members of the public.

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• Where feasible, the stone should rest on softer ground to reduce damage if dropped.

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• Locations with meaning are encouraged — such as historic sites, local folklore, or notable landscape features — adding context and character to the challenge.

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2. Legal Considerations

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• Although many lifting stones are informal features, care must be taken to respect the law and the rights of landowners.

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• Most land that is open to the public still has a private owner. Placing an object on land without permission may be considered trespass and the landowner may require its removal.

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• Stones must not obstruct public footpaths, bridleways, or other rights of way, as this may constitute an offence under the Highways Act 1980.

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• Public access land under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 allows people to walk and enjoy the landscape but does not grant the right to construct or permanently install objects.

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• For this reason, stones should remain natural, unfixed features of the landscape and should be placed responsibly and discreetly.

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3. Stone Weights

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• When placing a heavy stone (generally over 130 kg), consideration should be given to including a lighter companion stone.

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• A companion stone of around 50–70 kg allows beginners to participate and provides a natural warm-up before attempting the heavier lift.

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• This approach makes the location more accessible while preserving the challenge of the primary stone.

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4. Access

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• Access should be considered part of the character of the stone.

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• Some stones may be located close to parking areas for easier access, while others may require a walk-in — sometimes several miles — which becomes part of the challenge and experience.

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5. Weighing

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• Stones must be weighed prior to placement using reliable equipment such as crane scales to be featured. 

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• Where possible, multiple readings should be taken and an average weight recorded to provide lifters with a dependable guide.

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6. The Challenge

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• Each stone should have a clearly defined purpose.

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• The intended lift should be stated, along with an explanation of what makes the stone challenging — whether this is its weight, shape, height, grip, or setting.

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• Providing this context helps preserve the character of the stone and the challenge it represents.

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Once you're good to go, submit your Stone here.