Stonehenge area?

Nick Pedley said:

Next week I'm taking a Canadian workmate on his first trip out of
London since he arrived in January(!) to Stonehenge. Thing is, this
doesn't seem enough for a day trip and we can't really spend all
afternoon in a pub sampling real ale as I'm driving.

What else is there to do within a 45 minute drive of Stonehenge?
Anything big or small is considered, with a Canadian element a
bonus?

Uffington Castle and the White Horse isn't too far away. Avebury is
close too.

Chris
--
Chris Eilbeck
MARS Flight Crew http://www.mars.org.uk/
UKRA #1108 Level 2 UYB
Tripoli UK Member #9527 LSMR

old wardour castle - very quiet n scenic (also used for the film robin hood
prince of thieves with kevin costner)
"Nick Pedley" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Next week I'm taking a Canadian workmate on his first trip out of London
since he arrived in January(!) to Stonehenge. Thing is, this doesn't seem
enough for a day trip and we can't really spend all afternoon in a pub
sampling real ale as I'm driving.

What else is there to do within a 45 minute drive of Stonehenge? Anything
big or small is considered, with a Canadian element a bonus?

Thanks,
Nick

Bath is well worth a visit

"Nick Pedley" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Next week I'm taking a Canadian workmate on his first trip out of London
since he arrived in January(!) to Stonehenge. Thing is, this doesn't seem
enough for a day trip and we can't really spend all afternoon in a pub
sampling real ale as I'm driving.

What else is there to do within a 45 minute drive of Stonehenge? Anything
big or small is considered, with a Canadian element a bonus?

Thanks,
Nick

[email hidden] said...

Quoted message said:

What else is there to do within a 45 minute drive of Stonehenge? Anything
big or small is considered, with a Canadian element a bonus?

Goodness, where to start?

Avebury - http://www.avebury-stones.co.uk/
Cherhill White Horse - http://tinyurl.com/dn8pb
MOD Boscombe Down - http://tinyurl.com/7bz2a
Salisbury Cathedral - http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/
Watership Down
Andover museum - http://tinyurl.com/73zpr
.... and probably loads more.
--
"Some witty person in rec.arts.sf.composition (I forget who)
called them feral apostrophes. Untamed, unregulated, they roam
the wastes of the English language and pop up where lea'st
expected."

"Nick Pedley" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Next week I'm taking a Canadian workmate on his first trip out of London
since he arrived in January(!) to Stonehenge. Thing is, this doesn't seem
enough for a day trip and we can't really spend all afternoon in a pub
sampling real ale as I'm driving.

What else is there to do within a 45 minute drive of Stonehenge? Anything
big or small is considered, with a Canadian element a bonus?

A couple of others have mentioned Avebury - I'd do this in preference to
Stonehenge myself. It's far more atmospheric, and you can actually touch the
thing! Sadly (or not ;-) you can't avoid ale completely, as there's a fair
pub inside the circle. Silbury Hill and West Kennet Long Barrow are also
adjacent. It's personal preference, but it's a strong one. Drive past SH on
thye way.

There's also good local walking, on the downs.

If you must do SH, then Salisbury Cathedral, and Old Sarum are worth
visiting (if a little OT).

M.
(Sorry, mailed this in error!)
--
From Sunny South Canterbury

Once upon a time I tried not to spoil my reply address.
Then the Swen-virus started to send me emails :-(
Remove mashed to reply. Sorry.

On Wed, 27 Apr 2005 22:31:38 +0100, "Nick Pedley"
<[email hidden]> wrote:

| Next week I'm taking a Canadian workmate on his first trip out of London
| since he arrived in January(!) to Stonehenge. Thing is, this doesn't seem
| enough for a day trip and we can't really spend all afternoon in a pub
| sampling real ale as I'm driving.
|
| What else is there to do within a 45 minute drive of Stonehenge? Anything
| big or small is considered, with a Canadian element a bonus?

Masses of things in the area.
Look at *all* the parts of the Stonehenge landscape.
Silbury Hill
Avebury stone circle
Weylands Smithy
Numerous barrows.

--
Dave F
Howard Flight was right

As already mentioned, Avebury is definately worth a visit (and it is
better than Stonehenge). You could also head north from Stonehenge
towards Devizes and pick up the White Horse Way along the edge of the
plain (Bratton/Westbury White Horse has great views on a clear day
across to the Cotswolds ) before heading to Bath.

As already mentioned, Avebury is definately worth a visit (and it is
better than Stonehenge). You could also head north from Stonehenge
towards Devizes and pick up the White Horse Way along the edge of the
plain (Bratton/Westbury White Horse has great views on a clear day
across to the Cotswolds ) before heading to Bath.

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] writes

Quoted message said:

As already mentioned, Avebury is definately worth a visit (and it is
better than Stonehenge). You could also head north from Stonehenge
towards Devizes and pick up the White Horse Way along the edge of the
plain (Bratton/Westbury White Horse has great views on a clear day
across to the Cotswolds ) before heading to Bath.

Agreed. Avebury is a wonderful place. You must check it out.

--
IamTheWalrus

IamTheWalrus wrote

Quoted message said:

Agreed. Avebury is a wonderful place. You must check it out.

And it is and you must. If you, or anyone else in the area, can spare the
time then it's well worth wandering onto Fyfield Down and looking for the
polishing stone. It isn't easy to find but well worth it; it appears much
more prosaic than Avebury, much more everyday and at first sight not really
much to look at compared to the stone circle that surrounds a whole village,
until you think over how many years it must have been used to appear like it
does - and why that stone, that one amongst all those others that are lying
around there?

A walk over the down back to Avebury is well worth it too, with good views
of West Kennett and Silbury Hill as well as the village.

T.

On Thu, 28 Apr 2005 14:35:36 +0100, "Tony Buckley"
<[email hidden]> wrote:

| IamTheWalrus wrote
|
| > Agreed. Avebury is a wonderful place. You must check it out.
|
| And it is and you must. If you, or anyone else in the area, can spare the
| time then it's well worth wandering onto Fyfield Down and looking for the
| polishing stone. It isn't easy to find but well worth it; it appears much
| more prosaic than Avebury, much more everyday and at first sight not really
| much to look at compared to the stone circle that surrounds a whole village,
| until you think over how many years it must have been used to appear like it
| does - and why that stone, that one amongst all those others that are lying
| around there?

Found pictures http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/7320

Do you have a grid reference for this? or preferably a GPS position?
I will put it on my list of things to do next

BTW uk.rec.gps has just been created. Coming to a newsserver near you
shortly. News.individual.net has it already :-)

--
Dave F
Howard Flight was right

On Wed, 27 Apr 2005 22:31:38 +0100, "Nick Pedley"
<[email hidden]> wrote:

| Next week I'm taking a Canadian workmate on his first trip out of London
| since he arrived in January(!) to Stonehenge. Thing is, this doesn't seem
| enough for a day trip and we can't really spend all afternoon in a pub
| sampling real ale as I'm driving.

Just found:
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/user/506/weblog/10/17037
Lots more worthwhile things near Stonehenge listed here.

--
Dave F
Howard Flight was right

Dave Fawthrop wrote

Quoted message said:

Found pictures http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/7320

Do you have a grid reference for this? or preferably a GPS position?
I will put it on my list of things to do next

No, I hadn't got a GPS with me and at the moment don't have a map either -
although a quick web search reveals SU128715 being quoted by
http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=10054 and quick look at multimap
shows this to be about where I remember it. Even though I was in the
company of someone that had been before when I went it still took a little
searching to find it and there were some inquisitive but harmless cows in
the field too, just to add to the fun.

T.

Mark Houghton said:

Avebury - I'd do this in preference to
Stonehenge myself. It's far more atmospheric,

Same hear, but he may feel the need to *do* SH.

Daytona

On Thu, 28 Apr 2005 17:57:50 +0100, Daytona <[email hidden]> wrote:

| "Mark Houghton" <[email hidden]> wrote:
|
| >Avebury - I'd do this in preference to
| >Stonehenge myself. It's far more atmospheric,
|
| Same hear, but he may feel the need to *do* SH.

IMO Silbury Hill is more impressive, when you think it was built with
antler picks and baskets.

--
Dave F
Howard Flight was right

[email hidden] said...

Quoted message said:

As already mentioned, Avebury is definately worth a visit (and it is
better than Stonehenge). You could also head north from Stonehenge
towards Devizes and pick up the White Horse Way along the edge of the
plain (Bratton/Westbury White Horse has great views on a clear day
across to the Cotswolds ) before heading to Bath.

Bath is stunning, if a tad on the expensive side. There is a
marvellous self-guided tour of the baths themselves - visitors
are given a handset rather like a very bulky telephone and
every so often a number is displayed around the complex. Key
in the number to get a commentary. These are included in the
admission price and make the overall experience well worth it.
Although not necessarily relevant here, these handsets are
available in many other languages as well, so Nick's Canadian
happens to be a French speaker he can be catered for. I
wonder if they have them in Welsh? I forgot to ask last time
I was there ;-)
--
"Some witty person in rec.arts.sf.composition (I forget who)
called them
feral apostrophes. Untamed, unregulated, they roam the wastes
of the
English language and pop up where lea'st expected."

[email hidden] said...

Quoted message said:

BTW uk.rec.gps has just been created. Coming to a newsserver near you
shortly. News.individual.net has it already :-)

Good grief, so it has! I wondered if you were joking at
first, but no. I may wander over there - if and when I find
my 'yellow peril'. It's got itself buried under goodness only
knows what.
--
"Some witty person in rec.arts.sf.composition (I forget who)
called them
feral apostrophes. Untamed, unregulated, they roam the wastes
of the
English language and pop up where lea'st expected."

In article <[email hidden]>, Fran
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

I
wonder if they have them in Welsh? I forgot to ask last time
I was there ;-)

You'd be lucky to get one of those in Wales even !
--
Bill Grey
http://www.billboy.co.uk

On Fri, 29 Apr 2005 19:55:06 +0100, Daytona <[email hidden]> wrote:

| Dave Fawthrop <[email hidden]> wrote:
|
| >On Thu, 28 Apr 2005 17:57:50 +0100, Daytona <[email hidden]> wrote:
| >
| >| "Mark Houghton" <[email hidden]> wrote:
| >|
| >| >Avebury - I'd do this in preference to
| >| >Stonehenge myself. It's far more atmospheric,
| >|
| >| Same hear, but he may feel the need to *do* SH.
|
| Sorry just realised that was unclear; SH = Stonehenge
|
| >IMO Silbury Hill is more impressive, when you think it was built with
| >antler picks and baskets.
|
| Never been up it, but have driven past several times. Wasn't it closed
| because an internal tunnel collapsed ?

The National Trust has closed it :-( Still very impressive. :-)
But I was at RAF Yatesbury c1956 just down the road and used it as an
escape from Wednesday Sports afternoon. Road out on my bike, down to
Silbury Hill, climbed it and read an SF book on top.

--
Dave F
Howard Flight was right