A DAY AT AVEBURY (3)

Looking across at the village to the right and close to the Chapel you will see the large concrete plinth that marks the spot where the mighty stone known as "The Obelisk" once stood ( 11 ). Adjacent to it are a row of mysterious small stones referred to as "The Z Feature".....At this point you are standing in the centre of the Southern Inner Circle of which its 5 surviving stones still make an impressive arc which reveals just how massive the inner circles were.

When you have finished exploring this wonderful group of stones small gates will take you across the road and into the SW quadrant where a magnificent section of the outer circle has been restored by Alexander Keiller.
Almost directly opposite the gate is the infamous "Barber Stone" which when excavated by Keiller was found to have trapped an individual believed to have been involved in the burying of the stone during the 14th Century......Other stones in the quadrant offer a variety of interesting shapes and opportunities for the photographer.
Following the circle around will bring you back to the village High Street.....The last stone ( 12 ) you come to is an odd assembly of pieces that Keiller recovered from the floor of a nearby forge.....This incomplete relic brings into focus the tragic destruction that has been inflicted on this incredible monument.

By now you will probably have had a very full day if you have spent much time investigating the various sites and will be relieved at returning to your transport.....However there is one component of the complex that you may still feel like visiting if you still have some reserves of stamina.....

When you come out of the car park turn right toward Beckhampton.....Shortly you will be passing Avebury Trusloe on your right and a magnificent view of Silbury Hill to your left. Once you are past Avebury Trusloe you should spot the two Longstones standing alone in the fields to your right.....Just before you get to the roundabout at Beckhampton a small road ( 13 ) allows you to get close to the stones which are the only survivors of the Beckhampton Avenue and Cove ( 14 ). Known locally as "Adam & Eve" the larger stone was part of a cove feature and the smaller stone belonged to the avenue itself......As you look back toward Avebury you may lament the loss of the spectacular avenue that once would have led you back to the Henge.

If you have followed the itinery described here you should be returning home with a comprehensive memory of the Avebury monuments and hopefully will feel motivated to read-up in detail on the wonders you have  seen.

If you feel inspired to return there are other places worth visiting such as Windmill Hill and The Beckhampton Long Barrow. The tree-covered East Kennet Long Barrow is impressive but requires a long walk.  The one surviving stone of Falkner's Circle, though,  is only a short stroll down the hedgerow from the West Kennet Avenue lay-by. You also may want to seek out the four stones of the West Kennet Avenue that still lie by the hedgerow at the bottom of Overton Hill....
If you are passing through Marlborough it is worth pulling into the grounds of Marlborough College to see the massive mound that resides there. Also worthy of a visit are the sarsen stone fields at Lockeridge Dene and Piggledene.