Recently, we headed to Oxfordshire to say goodbye to loved ones before we set off for Europe again next month. We were told about a nearby ancient site, composed of various stone circles with Neolithic and Bronze Age history called ‘The Rollright Stones’.

If you’ve followed along with us for a while, you’ll know that we love exploring stone circles, castles and ruins. We have a highlight on our Instagram of some of the castles we’ve visited on our vanlife travels so far if you want to take a peek! The Rollright Stones are composed of three different monuments, one of which is ‘The King’s Men’.

The King’s Men

It’s thought The King’s Men stone circle was used for ceremonial purposes from the late Neolithic period. A legend states the stones themselves are in fact a King and his army who were turned to stone by a witch. Although the stones themselves stand proud and are full of legends and mythical tales, the nearby forest had an amazing energy of its own.

In particular, one area of the forest was adorned with beautiful crafts, beads, dried herbs and flowers, with handwritten messages hanging from various branches. It felt as though the energy was pouring out from the stones and somehow dancing its way through the trees.

The Whispering Knights

The second monument is only a short walk away and consists of 5 large stones, together creating a ‘portal dolmen’ burial chamber. Continuing with a similar magical history to The King’s Men stone circle, a witch is said to have turned the knights to stone for plotting against their King.

The grey clouds ready to burst with rain during our visit added to the eerie ambience of the stones. As the wind swept through the grass and we started feeling water droplets on our skin, we couldn’t help but imagine what this place must’ve been like all those years ago.

The King Stone

The final monument of The Rollright Stones, The King Stone, has an unusual shape, similar to that of a seal balancing a ball on its nose. The stone took this shape, due to the 19th century visitors, who chipped off pieces of the stone to take away as good luck tokens. This is the reason for The King Stone being protected by metal railings. The additional décor of coloured ribbons brings a welcoming fairy-like essence to the harsh metal.

Surrounding The King Stone is an array of various plants, and in Summer, this monument must lie amongst a bed of flowers.

During excavations in the 1980s, a circular stone burial cairn was found near The King Stone. Human remains were found within the cairn and other nearby areas, and so The King Stone is thought to have been a cemetery. Standing in front of this impressive stone was peaceful and grounding. Similar to the forest next to The King’s Men stone circle, along with the ribbon, The King Stone was embellished with a poignant note.

If you’re interested in finding out more about The Rollright Stones, visit www.rollrightstones.co.uk

FAQs

Where can you park at The Rollright Stones?

Although there isn’t a car park for The Rollright Stones, there are marked parking bays on the nearby road. The road has fast traffic in both directions, so take care when crossing over the road to explore each monument site!

Is it free to visit The Rollright Stones?

No, the fees are listed below:

• Adults = £1

• Children (7-16yrs) = 50p

• Children under 7 = free

Are The Rollright Stones worth visiting?

In our opinion - absolutely. The entire site has such a magical feel and you can learn so much from the information boards at each monument. The walk around each site is short too, perfect for those who don’t want to walk too far!

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