The Great Christmas Escape 2017
December 30, 2017GLASS’s Seven Mile Smile
January 10, 2018
I thought I knew a fair bit about the ecology and archaeology of Wiltshire, having spent a lot of time exploring the many well-preserved sites that form this important part of our cultural legacy.
Jimmy Know-it-all? Not so!
Keith uses the green road network to explain the importance of the area to prehistoric man.
The historic Airfield Camp at Netheravon.
Keith explained that the pieces of
sarsen stone aside the road through the villages of the
Avon Valley may well have been brought down the nearby river during
Neolithic times when watercourses were the main methods of navigation, what with most of Britain still being covered by dense woodland.
This valley is one of several possible transit routes for the sarsen stones.
We followed the sarsen trail along the
Ridgeway byway from
Adam’s Grave, where the stones are named ‘
Grey Wethers’ on account with their similarity to sheep when observed from a distance.
This trail led us to the imposing
Silbury Hill, which – at roughly the same size as some of the smaller Egyptian pyramids – holds the distinction of being the largest man-made mound in Europe. A layby opposite the hill enabled us to park our bikes and ramble up to the 100-meter long
West Kennett Long Barrow, home to at least 46 burials since its construction in circa 3,600BC.
John, Andrew, Keiths, Becky & Steve pose a full kilometre away from Silbury Hill.
Lunch was taken at
Circles Café, operated by the
National Trust within the enormous stone circle and henge at
Avebury. Unlike the better-known
Stonehenge, the public are permitted to walk freely through the stone circle and its
approach avenue at Avebury, which makes for an enjoyable day out in its own right.
Andrew, John, Becky & Keiths posing by one of the many megaliths at Avebury.
Next stop was
The Sanctuary, site of prehistoric timber rings of unknown purpose,
Bronze Age barrows, and pottery from the age of the
Beaker People. Opposite
The Sanctuary is a continuation of the
Ridgeway byway – described as ‘Europe’s Oldest Road’ on account of its first known use being over five thousand years ago, when a
seasonal TRO was not required to manage its surface condition.
Riders inspect The Sanctuary after a brief introduction from Keith.
The sarsens of Fyfield Down look a lot like sheep from afar.
We headed south to
Marden Henge via
West Woods, where we crossed the post-Roman
Wandsdyke earthwork. In spring
West Woods is home to an impressive display of
bluebells, though was only able to offer us a blanket of golden leaves and a few slippery chalk climbs.
The stone ridgeway track atop Salisbury Plain, facing east towards Casterley Camp
Keith explains the importance of Amesbury to prehistoric man at Woodhenge.
Leaving Woodhenge and
Durrington Walls at dusk, we arrived back at Stonehenge in time to witness the sunset from the former
A344 road, which is now a permissive path managed by English Heritage. The former A344 is home to a twice-inscribed
milestone advising its distance to both London and Amesbury, and also the closest that visitors can get to the stone circle without having to pay.
Stonehenge at dusk, taken from the old A344 road.
Keith Dobson’s tour is suitable for most trail and adventure bikes and uses a combination of byways, permissive tracks and minor roads. He makes no charge for his time, though welcomes donations to
Amesbury History Centre, which helps tell the story of the town from 8,000BC to the present day, and
Tommy’s – a charity funding research to help save babies’ lives.
Motorcycling, adventure and fraternity.
4 Comments
What a great day out, I’d love to do this trip. My sister lives down that way and I’m fascinated by these ancient sites
Great day out and due to some new met TRF members I’ve joined the group myself
What a lovely report Jimmy. Does Keith do this interesting ride regularly? It sounds like something I’d like to do.
Thanks Steve. Keith arranges his tours by appointment, rather than arrangement. He can be contacted through the Wiltshire TRF Facebook page.