Devil's Quoits

Three massive sarsen stones stand alone in a Oxfordshire field near Witney, and honestly, they're a bit underwhelming on first glance. Devil's Quoits is a Neolithic monument - what's left of a stone circle that's been around for roughly 5,000 years - but you're looking at three weathered boulders, not Stonehenge. That said, there's something rather compelling about standing next to them and knowing they've been here since before the Romans arrived.

The site sits in farmland, and the walk to reach them takes about fifteen minutes from the car park. It's flat and easy, which makes it accessible for families with younger kids, though they might lose interest once they've clambered on the stones for five minutes. Walkers and history enthusiasts will get more from it - the isolation and age of the thing create a genuine sense of time passing. The name itself - Devil's Quoits - comes from legend, though nobody's entirely sure which legend anymore.

It's free to visit and open year-round. Allow an hour total with the walk. Spring or autumn are best; summer brings mud and insects in the fields, and winter can be boggy. If you're staying at Hardwick Parks or Lincoln Farm Park Partnership near Witney, Devil's Quoits makes a decent half-morning outing combined with a proper walk across the countryside. It won't blow your mind, but it's a proper bit of ancient England that most visitors completely miss.