Arthur’s Stone Lane, Dorstone, Hereford, Herefordshire HR3 6AX
Arthur’s Stone
Prehistoric
Place photograph
8.1
Wildland
1–2 hours for a site visit
Time
Free entry
Cost
Atmospheric
Feel
Why it's Wildland
8.1A Neolithic burial chamber of great stone slabs stands on the hills above Herefordshire’s Golden Valley. Its name carries a much later Arthurian legend: that a giant’s elbow marks were left in the stones when Arthur slew him.
This is a striking prehistoric monument with a real sense of place: great stones on a grassy hillside, a long-lived Arthurian legend and expansive Golden Valley views. The uphill walk from Dorstone makes the landscape part of the visit.
Atmospheric · Ancient-feeling · Dramatic
Find your way
Open mapArthur’s Stone Lane, Dorstone, Hereford, Herefordshire HR3 6AX
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Know this place a little better?
The experience
Visit the chamber and take in its hillside setting, or make it part of the sourced Golden Valley circular walk. Do not climb on the stones. There are no nearby facilities at the monument.
Things to do
See the Neolithic chamber
View the burial chamber made from great stone slabs on the hillside above the Golden Valley. Do not climb on the stones.
Walk up from Dorstone
Use the village car park and follow the signed footpath uphill to the site. English Heritage describes this approach as approximately 1.2 miles.
Walk the Arthur’s Stone & Golden Valley route
A 6.3-mile moderate walking route taking in Arthur’s Stone and the surrounding Golden Valley landscape.
2 hours 50 minutes
Make a day of it
Quick escape · Allow 1–2 hours; exact visit duration is not specified in the sources.
Quick Escape: the chamber and its hillside setting
- 01
Use the Dorstone village car park and follow the signed uphill footpath to the site; English Heritage gives the walk as approximately 1.2 miles.
- 02
Spend time looking at the great stone slabs and their setting above the Golden Valley.
- 03
Keep to the ground and do not climb on the stones.
Half day · 2 hours 50 minutes for the sourced 6.3-mile route; allow additional time for stops.
Make a Half Day of It: walk the Golden Valley circuit
- 01
Follow the Arthur’s Stone & The Golden Valley route, listed as moderate and 6.3 miles.
- 02
Visit Arthur’s Stone and pause for the views described along the route.
- 03
Use the route’s published roadbook and map information for navigation; its suggested starting point is The Pandy Inn or the small car park opposite.
- 04
The route page suggests lunch at The Pandy Inn, The Red Lion Madley or The Bulls Head at Craswall; check current opening and availability.
Verified history
English Heritage identifies Arthur’s Stone as a Neolithic burial chamber made of great stone slabs. Its account says the tomb has been linked with King Arthur since before the 13th century. The supplied sources do not provide more detailed excavation findings or a precise construction date.
Folklore & legend
According to local legend recorded by English Heritage, Arthur slew a giant here; the giant’s elbows supposedly left impressions on one of the stones. This is legend, not verified history.
Hidden details
The giant’s supposed elbow marks — English Heritage recounts the legend that marks on one of the stones were made when a giant fell after being slain by Arthur. The supplied evidence does not verify the marks’ origin.
When to go
· Daylight hours; English Heritage does not specify a preferred time of day.
The supplied sources do not identify a season-specific advantage.
The site is approached over uneven ground and the Dorstone route climbs uphill. Check weather and ground conditions before setting out.
The route
- ascent
- 958 ft
- surface
- Asphalt, forested/wild trail, path and road; the route source reports approximately 25.09%, 15.60%, 48.95% and 10.35% respectively.
- distance
- 6.3 miles
- duration
- 2 hours 50 minutes
- difficulty
- Moderate
- route shape
- Circular, inferred from equal listed ascent and descent; verify against the route map before relying on this.
- start point
- The Pandy Inn or the small car park opposite, according to the route roadbook.
- parking start
- The Visit Herefordshire route page names a small car park opposite The Pandy Inn as a start option. For a visit to the monument, English Heritage advises using the car park in Dorstone; these are distinct access options.
- shorter alternative
- Visit the monument using the approximately 1.2-mile uphill approach from Dorstone village; this is not described as a circular route.
- Arthur’s Stone
- Golden Valley landscape
- Views towards the Black Mountains
- Merbach Hill views towards the River Wye and Wye Valley
Worth pairing with
Longtown Castle
English Heritage suggests Longtown Castle as a nearby heritage pairing, approximately 15 miles south of Arthur’s Stone in its plan-a-day text.
Hay-on-Wye
English Heritage says Hay-on-Wye is 7 miles away and has places to eat and shop, as well as public toilets.
What to look for
- 01
Look closely at the arrangement of the great stone slabs and the monument’s position on the grassy hillside. English Heritage recounts the local legend that marks on one stone were made by a giant’s elbows
- 02
treat this as legend, not established history.
The story
Prehistoric burial monument; Arthurian legend
Best time to go
No preferred season is specified in the supplied sources. Visit during daylight and check conditions before setting out.
Open at reasonable times during daylight hours, according to English Heritage. The supplied sources do not identify a best season or time of day.
How long to spend
1–2 hours for a site visit; allow around 2 hours 50 minutes for the sourced Golden Valley route.
Perfect for
History lovers · Walkers · Photographers
Before you go
Address
Phone
Website
Listed hours
- Monday: 9am-5pm
- Tuesday: 9am-5pm
- Wednesday: 9am-5pm
- Thursday: 9am-5pm
- Friday: 9am-5pm
- Saturday: 9am-5pm
- Sunday: 9am-5pm
Check before visiting.
Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
English Heritage describes the site as reachable on foot or by car and open at reasonable times during daylight. Do not climb on the stones. The approach and ground have uneven surfaces; there is a sheer-drop hazard.
Parking
English Heritage advises using the car park in Dorstone village and walking uphill to the site, approximately 1.2 miles. Very limited layby parking is available beside the site. The Google pin is a main-place pin, not a verified parking or entrance location.
Toilets
Check before visiting. English Heritage says there are no nearby facilities; public toilets are available in Hay-on-Wye, 7 miles away.
Check before visiting
Food & drink
No nearby facilities at the site. English Heritage identifies places to eat in Hay-on-Wye, 7 miles away.
Dogs
Check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Accessibility
English Heritage reports uneven surfaces and a sheer-drop hazard. The source row says the wheelchair-accessible entrance is false. Check with English Heritage before visiting if access requirements are a concern.
Check before visiting
Cost
Free entry
Gallery
Place photographs
Keep exploring
Around Arthur’s Stone
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
