Feet First Walking

 

I'm not normally one for a food-shot, but the Thursday steak night at the hotel was very good...

 

The breakfast was excellent too, and set me up nicely for the day's walking...

 

The car park at Avebury was fairly deserted, but the pay and display app and machine was quite confusing. To add insult to injury there was only a single option of £8 for all day parking. Never mind, I was soon rewarded with the spectacular view of Silbury Hill on the other side of the River Kennet.

 

Making the detour to the magnificent West Kennet Long Barrow is well worth it!

 

The tomb was closed sometime around 2000 BC. Excavations have found the partial remains of at least forty-six individuals -- both male and female and of all ages!

 

Although very dark inside, at certain equinox's of the year the rising sun fills the chambers with light.

 

The barrow is about 100 metres long, it is now covered with turf but would originally have had bare chalk sides and would have stood out against the landscape.

 

The Sanctuary at Overton Hill was built of concentric rings of standing stones and wooden posts, about 2500 BC. Across the road marks the start of the Ridgeway Path National Trail.

 

The Ridgeway, known as Britain's oldest road, is 5,000-years-old, stretching 85 miles / 137km from Overton Hill to Ivinghoe Beacon. It passes passes through a surprisingly remote part of southern central England, given how close it is to Swindon, Reading and London.

 

 

 

 

I decided to extend the walk by following the Ridgeway Path further towards Hackpen Hill. When I reached my turn-off point, the rain was driving straight at me and I had difficulty seeing through my glasses. Furthermore, there was a 'Beware Bull in Field' sign, so I walked to Monkton Down with a certain amount of trepidation.
UPDATE: no bull, just bullsh1te!

 

Monkton Down, at the point where I joined the farm track towards New Barn. There was no evidence of a footpath across the field -- the way was barred by barbed-wire fence, so I continued along the farm track.

 

I entered Avebury at the eastern edge and walked clockwise along the bank path.

 

 

 

 

Back to the lovely Castle and Ball and it's very squeaky floorboards!