Wiltshire Travel Forum

Avebury area planning
Posted: Tue March 27, 2007 10:58 AM UTC

Me again. Seeing as I found a bus to both Stonehenge and Avebury I have solved that issue BUT my question is now if anyone knows if the West Kennet Long Barrow is at walking distance from the village itself? Some sites I've found says it is just a 1,5 mile distance but what does this mean in reality? Waling along a busy main road, muddy fields or a proper public footpath from somewhere in Avebury?

If the answer is any of the first two, would it be easy to find a taxi (including calling one when you want to go BACK again in the middle of the countryside!).

Sjalen

5 replies

[Reply]

Re: Avebury area planning
Posted: Tue March 27, 2007 02:22 PM UTC

Hi
I visited both these sites on the same day. I cheated and used a car as my children were small at the time and I parked in a layby on the A4. As regards walking, the main problem would be the A4 that is a busy with fast moving traffic but if you are careful it only appears about a 1km walk along this road. The long barrow is in a field and there is an easy to follow footpath to reach it and as I said I had young children with me. I would think it might be muddy during the winter but is ok during the summer. You may also want to consider having a look at Silbury Hill, which is also close by.

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alancollins

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Re: Avebury area planning
Posted: Tue March 27, 2007 03:44 PM UTC

Thanks! Yes Silbury Hill is visible from the barrow it seems.

I haven't got a driving license as I'm a typical city dweller I'm afraid. A bit silly seeing as I love the countryside but money always goes to foreign travel rather than driving...:)

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Sjalen

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Re: Avebury area planning
Posted: Tue March 27, 2007 07:22 PM UTC

No problem walking from the village; the A4 is busy, but there is a grass verge so you will walk on that. Look out for barrows and tumuli on the skyline and in the fields along the way. The footpath to the barrow is clearly signed on the left as you walk from the village (you won't be able to miss Silbury Hill, you'll see it in front of you before you find the footpath). Walking to Silbury Hill will only take another 5 minutes or so, though take care when crossing the A4 (not a wide road, but one on which many travel at some speed).

Have a look at the OS map for the area on

http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/getamap/

(search for West Kennet then scroll to the west till you find the long barrow/Silbury Hill).

It will show you distances/sites/barrows/footpaths etc very clearly (the 1:25000 scale is best) and is printable.

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leics

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Re: Avebury area planning
Posted: Tue March 27, 2007 07:43 PM UTC

If you really really don't want to walk then I suggest you ask locally (Avebury?) for a taxi firm to take you there. Pubs will usually have taxi details, possibly pinned up somewhere (or ask the bar staff). Then (assuming you have a mobile/cell phone) you can phone them to collect you when you are ready. There is no public phone box near either barrow or hill, as far as I remember.

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leics

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Re: Avebury area planning
Posted: Sun April 1, 2007 10:12 PM UTC

Unfortunately you haven't solved the issue of a bus serving both Stonehenge and Amesbury - please see my latest reply to your previous message.

If you really want to visit West Kennet Long Barrow and Avebury on the same day, ask the bus driver to set you down at West Kennet Phone Box, which is about half a mile from Silbury Hill and the Long Barrow.

When you have finished at West Kennet, there is a direct road to Avebury (called "The Avenue") which the bus uses and is not as busy as the A4 (however you may need a map as it is not well signposted !

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