Rudston Monolith

Given the interest in Britain’s great megalithic monuments – Stonehenge, Avebury, Callanish and so on – you would be forgiven for thinking these are the most massive. But no, the tallest standing stone in the UK (7.6m above ground, 4.5m below), sits in a quiet churchyard in the Yorkshire Wolds. Scientists claim the 40 tonne monster was dragged at least 15km to Rudston and set up, probably on a sacred hill. The truth, however, is that the devil hurled it there in fury when early Christians built a church. Only divine intervention sent the diabolical warhead off-course into the graveyard. There are two village pubs and a good walk could take in Burton Agnes Hall, a fine Elizabethan manor house (with handy cafe).