Rollright Stones: The Witch's Army
South East, England
Badge Unlock
King of England Thou Shalt Not Be
Complete this challenge to add this badge to your collection.
200
XP
1 day
Rollright Stones: The Witch's Army
200 XP
Three separate prehistoric monuments stand on the ridge along the Oxfordshire–Warwickshire border near Chipping Norton: the King's Men stone circle (77 stones, 33 metres diameter), the King Stone single monolith, and the Whispering Knights portal dolmen — the oldest of the three at around 5,500 years. All three are connected by the legend of a witch who turned a marching king and his entire army to stone with a single prophecy.
Required Activities
1
of 3
Try to count the stones of the King's Men — the accepted count is 77, but legend says no one will ever count them three times and get the same number
2
of 3
Stand at the King Stone and recite the witch's prophecy: "Seven long strides shalt thou take, and if Long Compton thou canst see, King of England thou shalt be" — then take seven paces toward the valley and try to locate Long Compton village below; the hill crests just enough to block the view
3
of 3
Walk the 400m from the circle to the Whispering Knights portal dolmen — four standing stones around a fallen capstone, named in legend for knights who lagged behind whispering treachery against the king; they mark a Neolithic burial chamber that predates the circle by approximately 1,000 years
Try to count the stones of the King's Men — the accepted count is 77, but legend says no one will ever count them three times and get the same number
Stand at the King Stone and recite the witch's prophecy: "Seven long strides shalt thou take, and if Long Compton thou canst see, King of England thou shalt be" — then take seven paces toward the valley and try to locate Long Compton village below; the hill crests just enough to block the view
Walk the 400m from the circle to the Whispering Knights portal dolmen — four standing stones around a fallen capstone, named in legend for knights who lagged behind whispering treachery against the king; they mark a Neolithic burial chamber that predates the circle by approximately 1,000 years
Finding nearby campsites...
About South East
Loading region info…
Explore more about South East:
Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
200 XP
Potential total
200 XP
More challenges nearby
within 100km
Hidcote: The Garden Made of Rooms
England · South West
nature
easy
1d
17 km away
Blenheim Palace: Vanbrugh's Reward for Marlborough
England · South East
history
easy
1d
21 km away
Stratford-upon-Avon: Shakespeare's Birthplace and the RSC
England · West Midlands
cultural
easy
1d
26 km away
Cirencester and Chedworth: Corinium and a Roman Villa
England · South West
history
easy
1d
30 km away
Oxford: The Bodleian, Christ Church and the Ashmolean
England · South East
cultural
easy
1d
33 km away
Warwick Castle and the Beauchamp Chapel
England · West Midlands
history
easy
1d
34 km away