The Hopestone

Standing stones don't get much more mysterious than this solitary sentinel on the Staffordshire moorlands. The Hopestone rises from the rough grassland like an ancient finger pointing skyward, its weathered gritstone surface carved with centuries of initials and graffiti that somehow add to rather than detract from its brooding presence.

What you're looking at here is probably a medieval boundary marker, though local legend insists it's where condemned prisoners took their final leap - hence the name. The stone itself stands about eight feet tall and offers cracking views across the moors toward the Roaches on a clear day.

Walkers and history buffs will get the most from a visit, particularly those exploring the wider moorland paths around this part of Staffordshire. It's not exactly a destination in itself - you'll spend maybe fifteen minutes here unless you're particularly taken with ancient stones - but it makes a proper atmospheric stop on a longer ramble.

The location is wonderfully remote, just a short walk from the nearest road but feeling miles from anywhere. Those staying at nearby sites like Alton's Star Camping and Caravanning Club or the various farm campsites around Stoke-on-Trent will find it's well worth the detour for a taste of proper Pennine edge country without the crowds you'd get at more famous stone circles.