The Four Stones

Rising above the Worcestershire countryside near Bromsgrove, this popular Clent Hills summit is crowned by four distinct megaliths. Though they look prehistoric, they were actually an 18th-century folly. It offers a short, rewarding ascent with far-reaching views across the Black Country and the distant profile of the Shropshire Hills.

• •The name refers to the four blocks of red sandstone at the summit. While they resemble a Neolithic burial site, they are a 'sham' megalithic circle erected in 1763 by Lord Lyttelton of Hagley Hall, reflecting the Georgian era's romantic fascination with Druidic history.
• •Looking west from the stones, the view is dominated by the long, jagged spine of the Malvern Hills and the isolated peak of The Wrekin, while the north-easterly view provides a clear sightline over the Birmingham skyline.
• •The hill is a key landmark on the North Worcestershire Path, a 27-mile long-distance trail that links the Clent Hills to the Lickey Hills and the sandstone ridges of Kinver Edge.
• •The area has been a popular destination for 'fresh air seekers' since the 19th century, when workers from the industrial Black Country would travel by brake or bicycle to escape the smog of the nearby factories.
• •Despite their convincing mossy texture and weathered appearance, the stones are younger than many of the local pubs, proving the Georgians valued a good aesthetic almost as much as a good pint.