Avebury and West Kennet

Our walk starts at the National Trust car park in Avebury (located off the A4361). From here we follow the path in the far corner, remembering to pay at the hut or through the JustPark app on your phone (National Trust members will need to register their car registration with either for free parking). The path takes us alongside the recreation ground and cricket pitch until we see, on our right, part of the prehistoric henge. We continue walking until we come to a gate that allows us entry into where some of the standing stones are.

Avebury is the largest stone circle in the world. The first farmers of the land here arrived some 6,000 years ago. It was 4,600 years ago though that the bank and ditch that we see today were formed and shortly after local stone was used to create at least 3 circles. Whilst many of those stones still stand today – some you will see have now been replaced with concrete posts. In the middle ages, some 700 years ago, some stones were pulled down and buried in the earth. More recently still, some 300 years ago, other stones were taken down and used as building materials locally.

It was in 1934 that the archeologist, Alexander Keiller, started excavations to reveal an avenue of 100 pairs of standing stones running south from the village. He discovered many of these stones had been buried and set about getting them standing once more.

Our walk takes us on the well worn path around the stones until we come to the road where we use the gate to cross, taking care as we do so. On the other side we are greeted with more stones and a stepped path that takes us up onto the henge. From here we are offered views of the surrounding countryside and back at the standing stones.

We follow the path, crossing another road to see yet more stones, crossing the road again and heading back towards the village centre. Here you will find a pub if you’re in need of refreshments and Avebury Manor, a property that is managed by the National Trust.

When you’re ready we’re heading back past the stones, retracing our earlier steps but this time heading south along part of the Stone Avenue that Keiller restored nearly 100 years ago. To our right we see Waden Hill which we climb up and over until we join a footpath on the other side that sits alongside the River Kennet. Here we turn left and head towards the busy A4.

As we reach the road care must be taken as we cross into a layby, turning left and then right at the marked footpath. If you look ahead of you on the hill side you may get a glimpse of what we have come to see. The path takes us across one field (that may have cattle grazing) and to a gate where we turn left and then take a right to go up a well worn path to the summit of the hill. Here we come to the West Kennet Long Barrow – one of the largest and most accessible Neolithic chambered tombs in Britain that dates back to around 3650BC. At one time around 50 people would have been buried here before it was blocked off. When you approach it, you will need to go up a couple of steps to see the entrance behind some taller stones. The ground is uneven and care needs to be taken – but it is worth stepping inside for a moment or two. During summer months swallows nest inside the chamber.

When you step outside you can follow the steps to walk up on top of the long barrow. There are steep and unguarded drops so please watch your step as you go. From here, as you look north you’ll see Silbury Hill which is where we are headed next. When you’re ready to leave this really special place, retrace your steps back down the footpath and back towards the A4.

Taking care again to cross the road, we’re stepping back through the gate but this time turning left and heading towards the hill ahead of us. Silbury Hill is the tallest prehistoric man made mound in Europe and one of the largest anywhere in the world. Formed from chalk and clay that was excavated locally, its original use is unclear although there is debate that it may be connected in some way to either Avebury or Stonehenge (which is just a short distance away). Our route takes us around the base of the hill – heavy rains back in 2002 caused a collapse in an excavation shaft at the top leaving it unsafe for the public to climb up.

At the far side of the hill we turn right along a well marked footpath back towards the River Kennet. At the river we turn left and head back towards Avebury and the car park.