The Nine Stones — Attraction in Winterbourne Abbas

We were at a wedding near Winterbourne Abbas when someone mentioned the Nine Stones. Next morning I set off nice and early (and hungover), only to find access to the stones via the field closed off due to building works.

So what did I do? I began walking up the grass verge of the A35, with summer traffic belting past me.

Then it started to rain - I mean REALLY rain (see pics). And I had to keep crossing the road because the verge was too precarious in places.

Eventually, I reached the circle but I had to jump over the ditch (nearly impaling my jaw on the railings in the process). I considered jumping over the railings next, but thought better of it in case I landed groin-first on them and bled out. So instead I shimmied right round the full length of them, getting thorned and pricked by the bushes as I did so, and eventually got to the stones.

And they were really impressive, I must say. It was as if the noise of the traffic just a few meters away was shut off by them for a few moments.

When I turned to leave, I approached the building site, seeing if I could sneak through that way back. Security spotted me straight away, and just let me walk through. It was a...

All the online maps I have seen (Google, footpathmaps and Strava) have the footpath in the wrong place - it actually follows the hedge (that has the road on the other side of it) and the footpath is about 10 feet / 3 metres from that hedge - all the online maps show it going up the hill - do not walk up the hill! Stick to the hedge next to the road.

If you are interested in bronze age history, this will interest you, if not, it probably won't. Think of it as a free 'mini stonehenge' that doesn't cost £30 a ticket like stonehenge does. They were built at about the same time, probably for similar reasons.

It does have the busy road running next to it, so not a quiet place for contemplation, but does have the weight of history that you can feel a connection to if you are that...

"Visited The Nine Stones and it’s a great secret find—a free miniature Stonehenge! Access is tricky: use the gate by the Dorchester Collection car showroom, following the hedge line, but the field can be overgrown in summer. The main A35 is dangerous with speeding cars and a ditch to navigate, also can be overgrown. Parking is a nightmare—no real spots nearby, just a farm barn across the road with space for one car if you avoid blocking the entrance. Known as 'Devil's Nine Stones' until 1968, it got spookier on 23/01/1985 when a breakdown van’s engine and lights failed at 9:15...