Avebury

Calling all those who are spiritually, archaeologically and historically interested to this beautiful (best enjoyed on a sunday day – in my opinion) Wiltshire village where you can see the Avebury Henge stone formations. It’s recognised as a World Heritage Site, set in beautiful Wiltshire countryside and it really is a lovely day out. I’ve returned several times now, since moving closer to it and have taken friends and family on visits here too.

It’s about 10 miles from Swindon, and although there are a few places you can park, you can also get the no 49 bus from Swindon if you don’t drive. Parking is strictly forbidden around the resident’s streets, which is fair enough as it can get really busy. You can park at the Red Lion pub, the National Trust car park or at the Village Hall for a small fee. Signal gets quite bad on some networks so don’t rely on your parking apps to get yourself parked but if you have a drink in the pub you can park there for free, which seems a fair return!

The village itself is set around Avebury Henge which is the largest prehistoric stone circle in the world. With a mixture of quaint thatched and non-thatched cottages alongside grand Georgian homes, it’s very picturesque. There are still many private homes but quite a lot of Avebury belongs to the National Trust. I think they do a great job in the area. Avebury does get a mention in the Domesday Book but the village was founded further back in Saxon times, with the buildings edging towards the stones over many years.

There’s a lot of history to be learned about Avebury, but I will leave you to find out more about this as you explore the National Trust sites and just share a few bits.

Walkers

Here’s Avebury’s top thing to do – walk! Of course, if you just want a little village walk and a stop at the pub, then you can do that quite easily, taking in some of the stones too. You can’t fail to miss the stones on the drive in, with some very close to the roadside and then the formations on show as you drive to the centre. Of course, it’s best seen by foot. Avebury is famously at the start of the Ridgeway (I completed this 87 mile walk in about a week, staying at various hotels along the route- in fact I may just do a post on that sometime as it was incredible) and you can walk for as long as you like, taking in the remains of the stone circle and beyond on the white chalk path. You can also walk around Avebury Henge, which is a huge earthen ditch, which is a nice circular route from the pub and around. Amazing views of the stones, which unlike the ones at Stonehenge, you can go up to, touch (or hug) or sit and lean against. Also on this route, you may well encounter a Shamen; quite often they will host a talk or regale stories and bring interesting facts out about the stones (on one visit, they pointed out a particular spot that is known as a decision-making place and sure enough, I had just before joining the group listening intently, made a decision at that very spot). You will also likely see hippies who are true hippies in the sense of the word, who pay a visit to the area. It’s a fascinating place to wander around. And as you continue along the Avebury Henge walk, you’ll come across three ancient copper beech trees. The roots of these trees run downhill and spread wide and the branches are often found with wishing ribbons tied to them as loved ones are remembered. It’s a nice spot for contemplation. The trees are also alleged to have inspired JRR Tolkien’s walking trees in the Lord of the Rings novel!

If you walk through the village, take a turn off the high street on to Church Walk and further along there is a lovely bench that looks across to Silbury Hill in the distance. You can get closer to this by car but unfortunately, however daring you may feel, you can’t walk up it! Still, a lovely spot to stop and look at if from afar (maybe wrapped up in your national trust blanket? (not a plug, just something I did and it brought back a nice memory).

Shoppers

For a visitor, you are in luck for a little light shopping! There are two lovely shops, The Henge Shop which has a treasure trove of different items to buy from crystals to clothing to books and Elements of Avebury which has a lovely display of jewellery, local art and gifts. The National Trust shop also stocks a vast amount of different items (I was gifted a beautiful multicoloured blanket from here and the quality is very good!). There’s also a local community shop for basics and Cobblestones, (so-named due to the original cobblestone floor) a National Trust second-hand bookstore is a lovely place to wander around and where the proceeds of books sold go back into the upkeep of the Avebury site.

Drinkers

With one pub in the village, that makes this section very easy! The Red Lion makes for a great central spot to people-watch and enjoy a drink.

Cafe’s/Restaurants

The Red Lion is again your main option and I’ve had some nice meals there. One place that is about 5-10 mins outside of Avebury but well worth the drive is magical-looking Waggon & Horses. Many people had told me that I must go there for a Sunday carvery…well when I finally did, wow. Amazing!!

Places I’d like to try:
The Circles Restaurant – as part of the National Trust, a nice looking place for a coffee and cake

Hotels

Two options on site which both look and sound lovely are Silbury House and Avebury Lodge. I probably live too close to justify staying but I will try to find a reason in the future as I bet it’s an extremely tranquil place after all the visitors have gone home!

Sightseeing

Well THIS is why you came here! So we’ve touched on the Avebury Stones and those are definitely worth walking around. Even if you’ve come to visit and the stone were not your primary reason to, it still makes for an interesting walk.

Also in the village you will find that many of the Grade II listed cottages and house stand out; notably The Old Bakery, a pretty thatched house and The Manor Farmhouse, a striking Georgian Grade II listed house but do amble around and enjoy the views.

The National Trust own the Great Barn Museum; a 17th century barn, which showcases rural life in the format of temporary exhibitions. This is where you can also pick up your tickets for the manor.

Once used to keep pigeons by the owners of Avebury Manor, there’s also a pretty dovecoat that you can go in and observe for free. We visited during Easter time and they had decorated it beautifully; their seasonal displays are lovely.

Silbury Hill, which I have got as close to as you are permitted is a mystery still. There are guesses for the reasons it could have been built but nothing has been able to be confirmed. It’s had it’s time where people could climb it but now it’s deemed too unsafe to.

Places I’d love to visit:
Avebury Manor is a 16th century tudor manor house, with rooms brought back to their original decor throughout different eras. Queen Anne was also thought to have stayed here and I would love to look around some time.
Alexander Keillor Museum – owner of Avebury Manor and a keen archeologist.
I’ve only sat outside of this medieval church, but St James is a beautiful looking church that I’d like to step into some time.
West Kennet Long Barrow, one of the largest tombs in Britain

Would I come back again?

As I’ve not completed everything, I would come back again and bring a picnic too in the summer. It’s such a special place and a really relaxed day trip too, with a pub and a b&b to while away the evening if you wanted to stay over. I do pop there to pick up crystals, given the selection is so good and the prices are reasonable and there are some just slightly different gifts that make the trip worthwhile. I always leave with a sense of calm, so that alone would make me want to go back. Not to mention the adorable and friendly ginger cat we bumped into last time we went for a walk around the village. I hope you enjoy it if you do make it there!