The first walk with SPR expeditions for a while. Having arrived at Millets Farm at 8am I discovered there was a slight change of plan – not a section of the Mid Wilts Way but a circular walk starting at Avebury. Steve the leader had been called away on a family issue and Annie had been asked to lead at the last moment – she felt she needed to do something she knew especially as she was also driving the van.
Four of us, plus Annie today. First to cross the road away from the car park towards Silbury Hill -a prehistoric man made chalk mound – the tallest in Europe and part of the Stonehenge, Avebury UNESCO World Heritage site. We are not diverting to visit today – you can no longer climb this monument.
Our path turned to the left and skirted under the West Kennet Long Barrow and we are following the White Horse Trail, which crosses a couple of tracks and follows the ridge of the hill gently upwards.
The path continues until it meets a path along Wansdyke a large earthwork. This is now part of the Mid Wilts Way.
The dyke was found to be post Roman and possibly built as part of a defence strategy during one of two Saxon wars which were held due to invasions into the area.
The path turned and led down a very straight track along the spur of the hill down to Beckhampton, a village with some attractive houses. Once through the village we had an interesting section of road work around a round about and towards Avebury. The path is alongside a field featuring two large stones – named Long Stones on the map and called Adam and Eve on the information board. These were the two starting/ final stones of an Avenue that led to the stone circle.
We emerge into the village and walk through the stones which are now dissected by a couple of roads. This is a complex site with circles within a circle and one of the largest sites in Europe. The village also has a Manor and garden, which we didn’t visit but a dovecote could be seen in the farm courtyard and we did partake of tea in the NT cafe.
The walk today was quite straightforward and a bit grey, slightly damp but not actually raining. It was about 17.5 km and we all felt quite achy at the end, having kept up a good pace.
Marion's 50 Walk Challenge 