Skip To Main Content

  • Accommodation
    • Don't Miss
      • City Breaks
      • Coast and Countryside Escapes
      • Spa Breaks
      • Dog Friendly
      • Stunning Stays
    • Hotels
    • B&B and Guest Houses
    • Inns & Pubs
    • Self Catering & Holiday Cottages
      • Self Catering Agencies
    • Caravan, Camping & Glamping
    • Hostels
    • Special Offers
  • Things to Do
    • Don't Miss
      • Beamish Museum
      • Bowlees Visitor Centre
      • Dalton Park Outlet Shopping Centre
      • Durham Castle Tours
      • Durham Cathedral
      • Durham University Botanic Garden
      • Durham University Oriental Museum
      • Hamsterley Forest
      • Hardwick Park
      • High Force
      • Kynren- An epic Tale of England
      • Locomotion
      • Palace Green Library
      • Raby Castle
      • The Bowes Museum
      • Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
      • Wharton Park
    • Support Durham's Local Businesses
    • Attractions
      • Castles & Historic Houses
      • Cathedral & Churches
      • Hands on History
      • Gardens & Parks
      • Family Fun
      • Museums & Galleries
      • Waterfalls & Reservoirs
    • Activities
      • Adventure Activities
      • Cycling
      • Fishing
      • Golf
      • Horse Riding
      • Spas
      • Walking
    • Entertainment
      • Cinema
      • Theatre
    • Shopping
      • Antiques
      • Arts & Crafts
      • Farm Shops & Markets
      • Garden Centres
      • Independent Shops & Boutiques
      • Shopping Centres
      • Regional Delivery Service
    • Sightseeing, Tours & Guides
      • Attraction Tours
      • Tour Guides
      • Scenic Tours
      • Cycling Tours
      • Walking Tours
      • Durham City Guide - Churches, Chapels and Cafes
    • Weddings
      • Historic Wedding Venues
      • Hotel Wedding Venues
      • Wedding Fairs & Events
      • Stag & Hen Party Ideas
      • Wedding Packages
  • What's On
    • Dark Skies Events
    • Family Events
      • Free Events
      • Summer Holidays
    • Foodie Events
    • Historic Events
    • Cinema, Theatre & Music Events
      • Cinema Venues
      • Theatre Venues
    • Sporting Events
    • 2022 Top Ten Events
  • Food & Drink
    • Don't Miss
      • Cafe Bowes at The Bowes Museum
      • Collage Restaurant and Grill
      • Eating Out at Ushaw
      • Headlam Hall Restaurant
      • Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill
      • Ozone at Seaham Hall
      • The Dining Room
      • The Rose and Crown
      • Undercroft Restaurant
    • Support Durham's Local Businesses
    • Restaurants
    • Tearooms & Coffee Shops
    • Pubs & Bars
    • Local Produce
      • Farmers Markets
      • Farm Shops
    • Afternoon Tea in Durham
    • Inspire Me
      • Food Itineraries
      • Foodie Events
      • Tasty Tours
      • Tasty Places to Stay
  • Inspire Me
    • Don't Miss
      • Auckland Castle
      • Beamish Museum
      • Dalton Park
      • Durham Cathedral
      • Hamsterley Forest
      • High Force
      • Killhope
      • Kynren – an epic tale of England
      • North Pennines AONB
    • Short Break Ideas
      • Dark Skies
      • Escape the Everyday
      • Dog Friendly Durham
      • Romantic Getaways
      • Spa Breaks
      • Golf Breaks
      • Weddings
      • City Break
    • Seasonal
      • Spring Breaks
      • Summer Breaks
      • Autumn Breaks
      • Winter Breaks
    • Blog Squad
    • Taste Durham
    • Only in Durham
    • Discover Durham's Great Outdoors
    • Delve Into Our Heritage
    • Durham's Unmissable Highlights
    • Itineraries
  • Explore Durham
    • Durham City
    • Durham Dales
    • Vale of Durham
    • Durham Coast
    • Durham Towns
      • Barnard Castle
      • Bishop Auckland
      • Chester-le-Street
      • Seaham
      • Stanhope
    • North Pennines AONB and UNESCO Global Geopark
    • North East England
  • Visitor Information
    • Information Points
    • Maps of Durham
    • Getting to Durham
    • Getting Around Durham
      • Car Hire
      • Taxis
      • Electric Car Charging Points
    • Accessibility
    • Publications
    • Durham Apps
    • Durham Videos
    • Discover Durham Digitally

Don't Miss

  • Family Fun attractions in Durham

    Family Fun

  • High Force in Durham

    Only in Durham

  • Seaham summer beach holiday fun

    Summer Breaks

  • Corporate
  • Groups & Travel Trade
  • Durham Place Of Light
  • Northern Saints
Menu
  • Top Attractions

  • Places To Stay

  • Things to Do

    Things to Do in Durham

  • Planning Your Trip

    Planning Your Trip

  • Inspire Me

Site Search Icon
My Account icon

Login to your account

Welcome to the Itinerary Planner. Use this tool to build your own journey or choose from an exciting range of specially selected tours.

To build your own Itinerary, click Add to Excursion to add an item to your Itinerary basket.

List All My Saved Itineraries

  • Logo
  • Print Logo
Close Navigation

Follow Us...

  • Facebook

    Thumbnail for Facebook

  • Twitter

    Thumbnail for Twitter

  • YouTube

    YouTube Icon

  • Pintrest

    Pinterest

  • Instagram

    Instagram

  • Blog

    This is Durham Blog

You are here > Home > Inspire Me > Durham's Unmissable Highlights > Legends of Durham > The Devil’s Lapstone

The Devil’s Lapstone

Thousands of years in the making, Castle Eden Dene is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and
National Nature Reserve, found near the Durham Heritage Coast.
 

Devil's StoneThis ancient dene is North East England’s largest area of semi-natural woodland and a place to
truly experience the ‘wildwood’ that once covered much of Britain. Well-known for its majestic yew trees and ancient oak trees, Castle Eden Dene is a magical place full of legend and folklore.

If you choose to follow the Yew Tree Trail through the dene’s ancient woodland you will uncover
the legend of the Devil’s Lapstone.

It is said that the Devil himself offered to help build Durham Cathedral. His evil intention was to construct foundations using crumbly rock which would cause the building to eventually collapse, killing anyone inside.

Being the Devil, he had the ability to fly, and time and time again he would fly up and down
the length of the Dene, collecting stones for his project.

One day, as he navigated his way up the Dene, the leather apron he was using to carry a big,
heavy stone snapped, and the stone hurtled towards the ground. As the giant stone fell, the
Devil snatched at it, trying to catch it again and again. All he managed to do was leave scratch
marks in the rock and spots of his own blood on the rock surface.

If you stumble across the Devil’s Lapstone whilst exploring Castle Eden Dene, take a closer look, as you can still see those very marks and the blood stains he left behind.

Loading..Loading..
  • Enewsletter Sign Up

  • Win

  • Save

  • Contact Us

  • Print Page
  • Email Page
Home Accommodation
  • Hotels,
  • B&B and Guest Houses,
  • Inns & Pubs,
  • Self Catering & Holiday Cottages,
  • Caravan, Camping & Glamping,
  • Dog Friendly,
  • Hostels,
  • Special Offers,
Things to Do
  • Attractions,
  • Activities,
  • Shopping,
  • Sightseeing, Tours & Guides,
What's On
  • Family Events,
  • Foodie Events,
  • Historic Events,
  • Cinema, Theatre & Music Events,
  • Sporting Events,
  • 2022 Top Ten Events,
Food & Drink
  • Restaurants,
  • Tearooms & Coffee Shops,
  • Pubs & Bars,
  • Local Produce,
  • Tasty Places to Stay,
  • Foodie Events,
  • Food Itineraries,
  • Special Offers,
Inspire Me
  • Short Break Ideas,
  • Taste Durham,
  • Discover Durham's Great Outdoors,
  • Delve Into Our Heritage,
  • Durham's Unmissable Highlights,
  • Itineraries,
Explore Durham
  • Durham City,
  • Durham Dales,
  • Vale of Durham,
  • Durham Coast,
  • Durham Towns,
  • North East England,
Visitor Information
  • Information Points,
  • Maps of Durham,
  • Getting to Durham,
  • Getting Around Durham,
  • Accessibility,
  • Publications,
Submit Event
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Site Map
  • Submit Event
  • Terms & Conditions

© Copyright Visit County Durham. All Rights Reserved

Registered Office: Visit County Durham, 2nd Floor, County Hall, Dryburn Road, Durham, DH1 5UL

  • North East England logo

Ratings & Reviews

Powered By

tripadvisor

  • Durham County Council