The Druid Stone

A weathered lump of sandstone sitting in the Nottinghamshire countryside, the Druid Stone is one of those archaeological oddities that rewards a detour if you're already in the area, though it won't set your pulse racing. The stone itself is modest - a glacial erratic deposited here thousands of years ago, later carved with Bronze Age cup markings that archaeologists reckon date back 4,000 years or so. Whether it actually had anything to do with druids is anyone's guess; local names stick around long after their historical accuracy becomes questionable.

For serious stone-circle enthusiasts or anyone fascinated by prehistoric monuments, it's worth tracking down. The drive from Nottingham takes about twenty minutes depending on where you're staying. Families with restless kids might find the walk and the end result a bit underwhelming - it's not Stonehenge, and there's no visitor centre or interpretive panels to break things up. Walkers exploring Sherwood Forest or the surrounding countryside will stumble across more compelling sights. If you're camped at Sherwood Forest Holiday Park or one of the farms like Fairview, a morning ramble to the stone makes sense as part of a larger route rather than a dedicated trip.

Access appears unrestricted and free - it's essentially a field monument - though you'll need to ask locally for exact directions and parking. Best visited in dry weather when the ground isn't a bog. Go for the experience of hunting down obscure archaeology rather than expecting a landmark moment.