Today we planned to go and see the ancient white horse at Uffington, but we started off with a visit to the vilage of Hungerford along the way. We took a walk along the tow path of the canal and while Holly and Aidan fed the local ducks, I took a detour to look at the local church, the Parish Church of St Lawrence, the furthest East to use Bath stone, which was transported on the canal.
We walked through the town and bought sandwiches and bananas at the supermarket which we took back down to the park to enjoy in the sun, while watching a narrowboat come in to moor and unload.
The weather was perfect and there were plenty of people out enjoying it.
We continued on to Uffington and found the busy car park high on the hill. Plenty of people obviously had the same idea.
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| Ordnance Survey marker |
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| from the fort looking down to dragon hill |
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| View up to the ridge from dragon hill |
We walked down the steep path and up to dragon hill, where St George is said to have slayed the dragon. There is a bare patch of chalk where supposedly the dragon's blood spilt and no grass has grown since.
Monday 6th June
picked up the car from Malmesbury then celebrated with a Pizza Express lunch and some shopping in Bristol.
Tuesday 7th June
Started the day with a 9am appointment at the bank to finalise the account. In stark contrast to banks at home where there is nary a teller to be seen, you are greeted at the door here, then passed on to a reception desk. When our bank officer came, she was accompanied by the assistant manager who introduced herself and made us comfortable before leaving. Our business was quickly sorted and then Aaron took the kids to the station to collect some train tickets for the weekend, and I went to the public library to print out some school work.
Back home to collect Rufus, then we were off to Avebury to visit the standing stones.
We arrived just in time for the 12 o'clock guided tour where we learnt much about the history of the site and the various theories .
We snacked in the courtyard afterwards then set off on foot to see Silbury Hill, the largest man made chalk mound in Europe, dating from around 2400 BC.
After climbing a similarly large hill, we walked back though the avenue to the main circle.
back in the car to drive to nearby West Kennet Long Barrow. After a few wrong turns we found the appropriate layby in which to park and piled out to climb another hill.
Long Barrow is a neolithic chambered tomb
Thursday 8th June
Despite the promise of rain in the forecast it looks like we are in for another fine day. After our morning school session we head off towards Salisbury for Stonehenge. Recommendation is to book a timeslot but I have been watching the website and it seems quiet at this time of year so we decide to risk it and hope to get a timeslot when we arrive.
As it is coming up to 12pm as we are nearing Stonehenge it seems wise to stock up on some lunch before we arrive. A short detour into Amesbury finds us immediately at an Aldi, so we pull in and purchase some sandwiches, apples and bananas and are quickly on our way back to Stonehenge.
The road back gives us our first view from the road.
Our navigator was obviously programmed prior to the new viewing system and is most upset that we stop before we are due to arrive. Parking is easy and we walk to the information building and get our tickets. As hoped it is quiet and there is no timed entry today meaning we are free to catch any bus, which depart at 5 minute intervals. We find a table to eat our lunch, next to Bob the Springer Spaniel who takes something of a dislike to us and sets off with all manner of barking should we so much as look at him.
Once we are done we collect our audio guides and get on the next bus. Only a few minutes sees us arriving at the stones.
After the stones we spent some time in the exhibition marvelling at the age of the construction and the modern technology that is able to used in learning about it. http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1997-03-09/news/9703080239_1_adrian-targett-cheddar-man-dna-samples
Leaving Stonehenge we travelled on into Salisbury to see the Cathedral which has the tallest spire in Great Britain, as well as containing one of the 4 (and best preserved) remaining copies of the Magna Carta.
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| cloisters |
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| School boy cricket in Salisbury |
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| chapter room where magna carta is on display |
Thursday 9 June
Overcast and a lot cooler again today. Spent the morning quietly at home and didn't head out until nearly 12.
Set off for the nearby village of Castle Combe, supposedly one of the prettiest in England. On the way we stopped off in the tiny village of Sandy Lane, which appears to consist mostly of thatched cottages.
Carrying on to Castle Combe we park on the hill and walk down. Once a weaving town and home to a wool fair the town has been used for various period tv dramas as well as the filming of War Horse.
In the centre is a 14th Century Market Cross and water pump.
The houses are all of typical Cotswold type, constructed in stone with thick walls and roofs made from split natural stone tiles. The properties are many hundreds of years old and are listed as ancient monuments. Strict rules apply to preserve the beauty and character of Castle Combe for later generations to admire.
Some of the houses even had baked goods for sale by the door for hungry tourists.
We wandered through the village towards the gentle river at the bottom of the hill. It was a quiet day for tourists though I imagine it will be crowded here in the height of summer.
The church is home to a 15th-century faceless clock - one of the oldest working clocks in England.
Arriving at the Bybrook River, the temptation to paddle is too much to resist for Holly. Luckily the weather has warmed up considerably from the chilly start.
Even Rufus enjoys a paddle and a drink.
Returning up to the market square, we go to the White Hart for some lunch as it is now nearly 2pm.
The sandwiches, apply described as doorsteps take some getting through and the beef burger (the landlord informs us that only Americans say hamburgers) is superb.
Stuffed to the gills, Holly requests a return to the river so we wander back down and the kids spend a happy hour trying to catch trout while I nap happily in the sun on a bench.
Leaving the village we stop in briefly at Castle Combe circuit, a motor racing track, then stop at a little shopping precinct to try and get a plumbing part that Sue needs for the shower.
There is a pet warehouse there, so the kids and I have a look around and ooh and ahh over the hamsters, gerbils and Degus.
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