Salisbury, Stonehenge, Avebury and Bristol again

We didn't get away from Bristol until 11ish as I had to pick up the PIN numbers for our bank cards. It turns out they went to Dunedin! (I thought the banking had gone too smoothly...)

We passed through Bath which we hope to visit with Dad and M, and stopped for lunch at Brassknocker Basin on the Kennet & Avon Canal. It was a lovely place and I'm determined to have a Canal break at some time. It looked so peaceful. The canals were built to transfer coal, and the area used to be a big mining area. Now there is very little to show for it at all. Almost as soon as the canals were built they were obsolete as the coal they were intended to carry fuelled the Industrial Revolution, and the revolution brought steam trains and boats which could carry heavier loads further. Still, they are an elegant reminder of that period, and without the grime that would have been standard.

We finally arrived at Salisbury at around 3 pm and by the time we had looked through the Cathedral and checked out an original copy of the Magna Carta it was closing time for the museums. We ran around the first, or at least J ran around while I dawdled through the pre-history section. We had thought that we might stay the night, but you can't just make this decision in England - places are either booked out weekends in advance or they are too expensive. After trying a few by phone we decided to continue back to Bristol and hope we could see the sights regardless. It was a good decision.

Old Sarum had just closed but we were still able to wander around the outer walls and compound, which were very interesting in their own right. To think that this area had been used for over 6000 years is quite mind-boggling. There were very substantial earthen banks, the remains of a Norman Cathedral (that was relegated to history's trash can only 200 years later by the famous Salisbury Cathedral), and some pretty solid stone walls that were also Norman but that had replaced earlier wooden walls used by the Romans and other groups before them. The views of the countryside around were very nice.

Next stop was Stonehenge. We came over a hill and there it was. Sitting there, one of the most famous monuments in the world. Of course by now access had closed, so we joined many others at the fence taking our pictures through the wire and imagining standing among the stones. Contrary to rumour you can actually go into the circles. It was slightly anti-climactic, but still nice to be there, do that.

We still had the Avebury Stone Circle to see, so with the day drawing to a close we headed north. This area has barrows, lines and circles by the dozen, with several White Horses as well. We took a less used route which turned out to be fortunate because we came upon the cursus (?) that was probably a processional way to the circle itself. Both were rather spectacular given the difficulties in transport and construction that must have been faced. The sun was dropping so there was that lovely warm light that comes in the evening. After traipsing the circle, we had a drink in 'the only pub in the world that was built within a circle'. We watched lambs gambolling and were told that they were "following the lines to build up their strength". I wonder if it improves their flavour too?

On the way home we had to stop at one of the many white horses that dot the area. They're a curiosity but I don't know much about them. Anyway, it had been a long, full day, so we were glad to be home.

If you would like to see more pics of these areas follow this link.