Witches and Stone Circles
There are enough witches in Long Compton to draw a hay wagon up Long Compton Hill.
That's the saying from the olden days - right up to 1875. Within the cemetery at Long Marsdon church is the grave of Anne Tennant. Considered a witch by some villagers, she met a violent end. The story goes that in 1875, she was accused of witchcraft and subsequently killed by a local farmer named James Heywood. Heywood stabbed her with a pitchfork, believing she was responsible for various misfortunes in the village, including the illness of his animals. He never tried to deny his responsibility, claiming several more witches existed in the village and it was his job to get rid of them all.
This is the story told in Episode 3 of the Loreman Podcast. A road trip to Oxford and we could incorporate a stop for a fine Cotswold walk that also takes in the third most important Stone Circle in England. Only Stonehenge and Avebury top trump it.
Here's the history, should you have a spare 10 minutes.
Parking up at the sports ground behind the village stores and heading out into the hills. Nothing spooky, just an aged but well maintained geocaching trail.
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| Mrs M getting bored with Tupperware in bushes already |
Little Rollright for a (popular) lunch stop. A remote church with two other sets of diners and a chance to explore inside. Extraordinarily well preserved tombs within.
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| Resting Knight |
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| Memento Mori |
Onwards and upwards for an Adventure Lab Cache to add a modern twist to the Bronze age standing stones....
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| If a woman visits the Whispering Knights at midnight and listens closely, she may hear the voice of her future husband whispering to her. |
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| The Kings Circle - Turned to stone by a witch and when counted, you never reach the same number |
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| The King's Stone - Other side of the road and said to grant wishes |
Any beer on this walk Mappiman?
Long Compton has a single pub - the Red Lion. A classic Cotswold Gastro-pub, with a rather fine rear beer garden.
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| Red Lion, Long Compton |
I'm not saying the Landlady is a witch.... she was actually very friendly. But a Goff's Jouster Bitter and a Eurofizz and lime at £12.20.
Enough to set a rambler pricing up pitchforks on Amazon.
Walk Details
Distance - 6.25 Miles
Walk Inspiration - Locations from the Loreman Podcast, Episode 3
Route Inspiration - Country Walking Magazine, December 2002, Walk 15
Geocaches - 9 and an Adventure Lab Cache
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