A Cambridge professor vanishes in 1843. Generations later, three teenagers find his coded notebook and a glowing crystal deep in England’s New Forest. Then the trail leads them to ancient stone circles. That is the setup of Circles – The Secrets of the Stones, the debut novel of David Horsup. It comes out on 27 October 2026.

Photo: Sumit Surai / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

So why does a travel blog care about a novel? First, the places in the story are real, and you can visit every one of them. Second, the author’s proceeds support a literacy charity that brings books to children in Mindanao.

This guide starts with what Circles – The Secrets of the Stones is about. After that, it walks through the five real places behind it: the New Forest, Stonehenge, Framlingham Castle, Brú na Bóinne in Ireland and the Ring of Brodgar in Orkney. For each one, you get what it is and how to reach it. You also get what a Philippine passport holder needs to sort out first, such as the UK visa fee in pesos.

A quick note: this feature is unpaid, and the book links are plain links. However, a few travel links further down are affiliate links. So we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Circles – The Secrets of the Stones at a glance

Cover: courtesy of David Horsup

• What it is: a young adult fantasy adventure and mystery, with crossover appeal for adult readers.
• The story: 16-year-old William, his sister Anna and his friend Arthur find a coded notebook. A Cambridge professor who disappeared in 1843 left it behind. Its clues lead them to ancient stone circles and then into another world, Ciara. There, they uncover five teachings about how people treat the planet.
• The author: David Horsup grew up in Ipswich, Suffolk. He spent more than 30 years in the energy industry before turning to fiction, and he now lives near Houston.
• Release: ebook and paperback on 27 October 2026, hardback planned for 13 November 2026, audiobook planned for early 2027.
• Where to get it: Circles on Amazon (the ebook is on pre-order until launch day, and the paperback follows on the 27th). More about the author at DavidHorsup.com.
• Where the money goes: the author’s proceeds support Chapters of Change. This nonprofit runs a mobile library and small libraries in Mindanao.

Early reader Vron Earp of Manchester called it “a wonderful C.S. Lewis feel, a journey filled with discovery, self-reflection, and wonder.” Alistair Madle in Seville wrote that it is “a story that stays with you long after you’ve finished.” So if your teenager finished Narnia and wants the next thing, this book is for them.

Before you go: UK and Ireland visas for Filipinos

Every place in this guide is in the UK except one. Brú na Bóinne is in the Republic of Ireland, and that matters because the two countries run separate visa systems.

UK. Philippine passport holders need a UK Standard Visitor visa. As of October 2026, it costs £135 for a stay of up to 6 months. That is around PHP 11,400 at about PHP 84 to the pound. You can apply up to 3 months before you travel. After that, gov.uk says you will usually get a decision within 3 weeks. You give your biometrics at the VFS Global UK visa centres in Manila and Cebu. Also, if a past application failed, our guide to the common reasons UK visas get denied is worth reading before you reapply.

Ireland. A UK visa on its own does not cover Ireland, and Filipinos are on Ireland’s visa-required list. The standard Irish short stay visa costs €60 for a single journey or €100 for multiple journeys. That is roughly PHP 4,250 or PHP 7,100. But there is a useful shortcut: the Philippines is on Ireland’s Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme. With a valid UK short-stay “C” visa, you can travel on to Ireland from the UK without a separate Irish visa. However, you must enter the UK first. Then you can stay 90 days, or until your UK permission runs out if that comes sooner. Fly to Ireland without first entering the UK and the waiver does not apply.

Travel insurance is worth having for a long-haul trip. If you want cover, see what SafetyWing costs for a two week UK and Ireland trip.

Visa rules change. This is general information as of October 2026, not immigration advice, so confirm on gov.uk and irishimmigration.ie before you apply.

Getting to the UK from Manila

There is no nonstop flight between Manila and London right now. Philippine Airlines used to fly the route nonstop but dropped it, so you will make at least one stop. The usual hubs include Doha, Dubai, Hong Kong and Bangkok. Total travel time is roughly 17 to 18 hours, depending on the connection.

Fares rise around peak holidays, so price your dates before you commit. Compare Manila to London fares on Trip.com before you lock in your plans.

Once you land, you can reach the English places in this guide by train from London plus a local bus. Our London on a budget guide covers where to stay and how to keep transport costs down between day trips.

The New Forest: where the notebook is found

Photo: James Cracknell / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

In the book, the teenagers find the weathered satchel, the glowing crystal and the professor’s coded notebook here. In real life, the New Forest is a national park in southern England. It became a National Park in 2005, and its most famous residents are the ponies. However, they are not wild in the strict sense. Local “commoners” own the ponies, cattle and pigs that roam freely, and they have the right to graze them there.

Getting there is easy without a car. The fastest trains from London Waterloo to Brockenhurst take about 1 hour 30 minutes. From there, the forest starts right around the village. The animals graze freely, so give them space.

It is one of the cheaper stops in this guide, as the forest itself is free to explore.

Stonehenge: the most famous stone circle in the world

Stonehenge is the best known of the book’s stone circles. English Heritage dates the first monument here, an early henge, to about 5,000 years ago. The stone circle itself dates to about 2500 BC. Together with Avebury it forms the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What surprises first-time visitors is the logistics. Salisbury is the nearest train station, about 19 km away. From there Salisbury Reds runs a hop-on hop-off tour bus to the site. At Stonehenge, you arrive at the visitor centre first. Then shuttle buses run every few minutes from there to the stones. Tickets are timed, and English Heritage says booking early saves up to 15 percent. If you buy on the day, you pay full price.

If you would rather not juggle trains and buses from London, a guided day trip handles all of it. Compare Stonehenge day trips from London on GetYourGuide.

Want to stay nearby and see the stones early? Salisbury is the natural base.

Check places to stay in Salisbury

Framlingham Castle: the author’s home county

Photo: Bill Harrison / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Suffolk is where David Horsup grew up, and Framlingham Castle is one of the real Suffolk places in the book. English Heritage describes it as a late 12th-century castle. Roger Bigod II built its huge stone curtain walls. Its most famous moment came in July 1553, when Mary Tudor fled here to gather her troops. She arrived on 12 July, and thousands of her supporters soon flocked to the castle.

The highlight is the wall-top walk around the defences. English Heritage promises “800 years of history from above” there. However, it also says some sections close for maintenance from 24 September, so check the castle page before you go.

From London, take the train to Ipswich, then on to Wickham Market, about 26 minutes further. Wickham Market station is 6.5 miles from the castle. Then an electric minibus service called Katch takes you on to Framlingham. Booking advance tickets online saves 15 percent.

Brú na Bóinne: older than Stonehenge

Photo: David Brossard / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

The Irish stop in the book is Brú na Bóinne in County Meath. It is home to the passage tombs of Newgrange and Knowth. Ireland’s heritage service dates them to around 3200 BC. In fact, Meath County Council says they are older than the main pyramids at Giza by about 400 years. They also predate the main trilithon phase of Stonehenge by about 500 to 700 years.

On winter solstice mornings, a shaft of sunlight enters the Newgrange chamber through a special opening above the doorway. So the visitor centre opens early from 19 to 23 December, and it stops regular tours on those days.

The practical rule to remember: you cannot walk up to the monuments. All access is through the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre. From there, a shuttle bus takes visitors to the tombs, and you must book ahead. Turn up directly at Newgrange and you will not get in. The site is about 40 to 50 km north of Dublin. Also, if you are planning a Belfast leg, our things to do in Belfast guide pairs well. But remember that Belfast is in the UK and the Boyne Valley is not. For a guided option from Dublin, see Newgrange tours on GetYourGuide.

Ring of Brodgar: the stone circle at the edge of Scotland

Photo: Ekrem Canli / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The most remote place in the book is also one of its quietest. David calls these sites gems that not many tourists visit. The Ring of Brodgar sits on Orkney, the islands off Scotland’s north coast. Historic Environment Scotland says 36 of the original 60 stones survive, and the circle is 104 metres across. It is part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site.

Better news for the budget: the Ring of Brodgar is free to visit and open year-round. The hard part is getting to Orkney. Loganair flies direct to Kirkwall from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness. By sea, NorthLink ferries cross from Scrabster to Stromness in about 90 minutes. Alternatively, the evening ferry from Aberdeen leaves at 17:00 and reaches Kirkwall at 23:00 on the days it calls there.

Edinburgh is a natural gateway. Our Edinburgh like a local guide is a good starting point for the mainland part of that trip.

And Cambridge, the missing professor’s university

The missing professor in the novel is from Cambridge. So the university city makes a natural add-on to any London stay. The fastest trains from London King’s Cross take about 49 minutes, which makes it an easy day trip.

The Filipino connection: Chapters of Change in Misamis Oriental

Photo: courtesy of Chapters of Change

This is the reason we said yes to featuring the book. Chapters of Change is a nonprofit founded by David’s daughter, Arianna, when she was 14. The charity launched its first mobile library in Misamis Oriental in 2024, and regular school visits began in January 2025. Today, it records about 2,000 student visits a week. That covers the mobile library and three small static libraries, and more are planned.

For children in remote schools, a mobile library visit can mean choosing a book of their own. Because the author’s proceeds from Circles go to this work, a copy bought on launch day does two things at once. If you are from Northern Mindanao, or have family there, you can follow the project or donate through ChaptersOfChange.org.

Planning a Circles trip: how the five places fit together

You do not need to see all five in one go. Also, with one UK visa, the English sites are the easy part. A realistic plan for a first trip from Manila:

• London base, 4 to 5 days: Stonehenge via Salisbury, the New Forest via Brockenhurst and Cambridge as day trips.
• Suffolk, 1 to 2 days: Ipswich and Framlingham Castle by train and minibus.
• Ireland, 2 to 3 days: fly or ferry from the UK. Use the visa waiver if you hold a UK “C” visa, and book Brú na Bóinne ahead.
• Orkney, 2 to 3 days: only if you have the time, via Edinburgh and a Loganair flight.

Our 2 week Europe itinerary shows how to pace a first long-haul trip like this without burning out.

FAQ

When does Circles – The Secrets of the Stones come out?
The ebook and paperback launch on 27 October 2026. Then a hardback follows on 13 November 2026, with an audiobook planned for early 2027.

Is it for kids or adults?
It is a young adult novel with a 16-year-old lead. Still, early readers say it works for adults too.

Are the places in the book real?
Yes. The New Forest, Stonehenge, Framlingham Castle, Brú na Bóinne and the Ring of Brodgar are all real sites you can visit. Cambridge also plays a part.

Do Filipinos need a visa for Stonehenge and the other UK sites?
Yes, a UK Standard Visitor visa, £135 for up to 6 months as of October 2026.

Can I use my UK visa to visit Newgrange in Ireland?
Only under Ireland’s Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme. With a valid UK “C” visa, you can travel on to Ireland after first entering the UK. Otherwise, you need an Irish visa.

How does buying the book help the Philippines?
The author’s proceeds support Chapters of Change. It runs a mobile library and small libraries for children in Mindanao.

One book, five trips

Most novels give you a place to imagine. However, Circles gives you five you can actually stand in. They range from a quiet forest in southern England to a ring of stones at the top of Scotland. Along the way, the book also sends a little money to a library in Mindanao. If you read it on launch day, 27 October, you help a first-time author get noticed too. Finally, if one of these places lands on your travel list, start with the UK visa, because everything else follows from it.

About the Author

Bianca Rei is a Filipino traveler, entrepreneur, and problem-solver who has called Serbia home for many years. She has been following Two Monkeys Travel Group since 2014, back when she was simply a reader dreaming, traveling, and collecting stories of her own, so being able to contribute to the blog now feels a little like coming full circle.

Bianca runs Rodi Solutions, where she helps people and businesses navigate life and business in Serbia, alongside website design, development, and management. When she is not working, she is usually traveling, boxing, chasing another adventure, or spending time with her family.

Find her work at rodi.consulting, or get to know her beyond work at biancarei.net.