May 9” Avebury and Lacock

We got a very late start today, as we had a few exhausted members of our party.  Alanna, Margaret and Ian took the opportunity of a drizzly morning to wander around Tetbury while following a printed walking tour.  By 1:30 we were in the car and on our way to Avebury.

We saw the village of Avebury, which is bisected by the largest standing stone circle in Britain.  We were amazed to think that these massive standing stones were moved into a circle from the local area, and the circle is older than the pyramids.  

The entire area containing the Avebury Stone Circle was surrounded by a huge embankment and ditch dug by the original builders to enclose the sacred barrier.

Some of the Avebury stones.  Note the thatched roofs on the houses in the background.

 After a wander around the stones and through the museum, we drove off to see the largest artificial prehistoric hill in Europe, Silsbury Hill, which is even older than the standing stone circle.  

Silsbury hill.

Next stop was West Kennich Long Barrow.  Dorothy and Beverley waited patiently in the van while we climbed the hill and finally made it to the longest barrow in Britain.  We even went inside!  

Ian standing in the entrance to the barrow tomb chambers.

Wind whipped Alanna standing in front of the gate of the barrow.

Finally, we headed to the village of Lacock.  We were too late for the abbey (aka Hogwarts), but enjoyed seeing the town where so many Austen movies have been filmed.  We plan to return to see the abbey.  Here we sit in the Red Lion Pub in Lacock, enjoying the most excellent lamb and fish and chips of all time – and wonderful WIFI as well.

Canola fields on the way to the barrow.