Steve G.
Yelp
Legend has it that a king of ancient England was marching along the ridge with his men. They stopped to rest, and while the king - the King Stone that can be seen today - surveyed the way ahead, a witch approached him (the local village of Long Compton was said to have been a stronghold of witches in times past). The witch made a bargain with him, saying,
Seven long strides shalt thou take, If Long Compton thou canst see, King of England thou shalt be. The king, thinking this an easy bargain, replied, Stick, stock, stone, as King of England I shall be known.
The king took his allotted seven strides, but his view was blocked by the mound known locally as The Archdruids Barrow. The witch triumphantly announced,
As Long Compton thou canst not see, King of England thou shalt not be, rise up stick and stand still stone, for King of England thou shalt be none.
Next thing he knows, the king and his men became stones!
There are three separate things to see up in the fields above Long Compton. There is the King Stone, The Whispering Knights (they look as if they are leaning towards each other, conspiratorially - in actual fact they top a neolithic burial chamber), and the Kings Men, a ceremonial stone circle.
The King Stone and the Whispering Knights are enclosed by rails, but the main stone circle is open and you are free to walk around and touch them. It really is a magical and mystical place, and one that I will visit many times in my life I am sure.