Green farm is lucky in having not just one but two of these amazing monuments within a short distance. Stonehenge is undoubtedly the more famous of the two, but Avebury situated on the edge of the Marlborough Downs is my favourite. The two are, in fact, very different in character.
At Avebury, a massive stone circle constructed in the late Neolithic period contains part of the village. The circle comprises nearly 100 sarsen stones, whilst the bank and ditch enclose some 28 acres of land, all of which combined to make Avebury one of the most important megalithic monuments in Europe. It is also very visitor friendly, and there is a museum for anyone to learn more about the site.
Legend has it that King Arthur's magician, Merlin, brought the stones for Stonehenge from Ireland. The reality is that Stonehenge was built using bluestone from the Preseli Mountains in South Wales, and Sarsen Stones from the Avebury district. In 1915 Stonehenge was bought by Cecil Chubb an Asylum owner and livestock breeder as a present for his wife. In 1918 Stonehenge was donated to the state.
For more information on Stonehenge, the Tourist Information: Amesbury 01980 622833 (01980 664780) and on Avebury (01672 539250).
Things to do in Wiltshire - Bradford on Avon, Castle Combe, Devizes, Cotswold Water Park, Kennet & Avon Canal, Lacock Abbey, Malmesbury, Salisbury, Cathedral, Savernake, Stonehenge, Marlborough, Salisbury Plain, Stonehenge & Avebury, Stourhead, Swindon, Warminster, White Horses, Longleat
