Burl's authoritative, comprehensive, and best-selling guide.
This book is exactly what it says on the cover. Nearly 400 sites and over 500 stone circles are included. Organized geographically, each entry gives the OS grid reference for the circle, and directions for finding it. Then follows a description, readable notes on archæological discoveries, and references to further literature. Notes on the folklore of many sites are also included: Long Meg was a witch of unknown origins, who probably got her name...
. Entries range from a couple of sentences for ruined or dubious circles, to a couple of pages for major sites.
Burl is a real archæologist, so the guide is authoritative as well as comprehensive. But his passion for the subject shines through. He is not afraid to add to the dry academic facts sufficient speculation (clearly delineated) to delight any modern antiquarian.
With rounded corners, and a handy size, this book is well designed for life in a rucksack or kagool pocket. The only downside to this is that size limits the book to stone circles, plus a few avenues and stone rows. Other neolithic sites are excluded - so you won't find West Kennett (long barrow) or Grime's Graves (flint mine) here.
But if you have any megalithic interest, you'll want this book on your shelf. And you'll probably find - as I have - that it manages to squeeze into the luggage on every trip.
[TG]