Avebury Stone Circle

On long Summer evenings, you can drive out from Melksham to Avebury and see the prehistoric remains there.

Avebury stone circle is the largest around - it covers a far greater area than the better known Stonehenge, for example. But it's "lower" and many of the stones were pillaged in medieval times to build houses some of which actually stand within the circle.

Map locator - Avebury

At Avebury, you can park and walk right up to the stones, sharing the fields with the sheep.


Sheep around the Avebury Stones

A few miles down the road is the great mound of Silbury Hill. There are disputes as to the purpose of this earthwork which looms spectacularly over the surrounding countryside. West Kennet Long Barrow, Windmill Hill, and the Sanctuary are also in this area.


Silbury hill at Sunset

You're also in White Horse country here - here's the Hackpen Hill example


White Horse, Hackpen Hill