TALK: Stone Lands by Fiona Robertson

Discover the Stories of the Stones

Fiona Robertson celebrates Britain’s incredible standing stones and all those who have been inspired by them, from charismatic early antiquarians such as John Aubrey (who stumbled upon Avebury while out hunting in 1649) and the famously Druid-obsessed William Stukeley to the megalith geeks and solstice watchers of today. Sharing pictures of spectacular sites all over the country, Fiona speculates about the motivations of the ancient builders, tells stories of cows, bog and other perils of megalith hunting, and explores how the stones stand as metaphors of endurance and strength, connecting us with the landscape and the past.

Fiona Robertson is a writer, editor and the author of Stone Lands (a Telegraph and Waterstones best book of 2025). Previously the Publisher of Watkins, she shaped a list leaning into her interests in folklore, folk tales, nature writing and, of course, standing stones. One of her favourite stones-themed commissions, The Old Stones by The Megalithic Portal, won the Current Archaeology Book of the Year award. Find out more about her megalithic adventures on Instagram: @stone_lands