Stonehenge, Lark Hill

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Stonehenge: A Jewel of the UK You cannot visit the United Kingdom without stopping by Stonehenge! I recommend studying up on Stonehenge before you visit and getting one of the small guides for your visit. There is a well-planned winding trail that has several interesting land forms and archaeological features that are not described (except for the small pocket guide). There are personable and very knowledge guides throughout the journey that are happy to answer any questions. Although you cannot get right up to the stones -- protecting both them and us--you can still get the awesome sense of achievement--how DID they get those huge stones on top?? I highly recommend taking the time to visit! [more]

Ancient rocks from Wales and Wiltshire I paid my 5.60 GBP concession price to enter the grounds of Stonehenge in order to get a look at one of Britain's most important prehistoric monuments. As far as history is concerned, Stonehenge is a gem of a place where you can see 5000 years of history in just one glance. There was actually a 1000 year gap between the initial earthwork for the rocks and the final stage where the rocks were arranged into the "U" and circular shapes intended. Of course weathering, landscape changes and human influence have played a part into shaping the stones into what we see today, although they still retain a large proportion of the "U" and circular shape. There are easy routes to Stonehenge by rail, car and local buses. I don't recommend the train though because the nearest station is about ten miles away, and then you have to rely on buses which could really make your journey quite lenghty. I feel that Stonehenge is something that you need only a few hours for and not a whole day, so if you can do it by car that would be best overall. There are several motels and cottages where you can stay for the night, but again I reitterate my point that it is an attraction that you don't need more than a few hours for. I enjoyed walking around the site. Visitors are not allowed to go right up to the stones, which as a history enthusiast I was quite glad to know. I can only imagine the amount of graffiti that would be painted and scratched into the rocks, and how "samples" would be taken from enthusiastic visitors should walking right up to the rocks be allowed. Yet again, us cosmotourists would surely be respectful and so it is a shame that I couldn't get a closer look! Stonehenge holds a significant astronomical purpose, and should you be interested in this physical science I recommend a visit. Every summer solstice all are allowed free access to the stones for the night but be prepared for heavy traffic, potential standing in the rain, and a flood of visitors! Nevertheless, should the sun shine brightly that evening, it is a visual treat. I recommend reading up a little bit about Stonehenge before you visit the site because it gets labelled far too often as "just a bunch of rocks". In doing so, it's then possible to appreciate Stonehenge for the remarkable construction that it really is, made from the blood, sweat and tears of manpower alone. [more]

Stonehenge for Free Stonehenge is world famous, arguably the best known pre-historic monument and is some two hours to the West of London to the north of the cathedral city of Salisbury. It’s managed by English Heritage who charge a not insignificant sum to visit the stones but if you’re travelling on a very tight budget then my recommendation would either be to park on the country tracks a half mile beyond the henge and walk back to photograph it through the fence or, if your timing is spot on, visit at the Equinox. During the Equinox, through the night, the whole site is open for free and even the normal restriction of staying ten metres away from the main circle is lifted as “druids” come to worship at the site. Wrap up well and be prepared for large crowds however. And while you’re in the area I’d also recommend a trip to the much larger stone circle at Avebury which can be visited for free or to Woodhenge although there is little to see there. [more]

So Far Away Being from rural America, I can tell you that visiting Stonehenge is nothing more than a pipe dream for most of us Americans. We are taught about Stonehenge in grade school, but like learning about the pyramids in Egypt, it seems like something so far away we will never be able to visit it… it might as well be as far away as the moon! As we were driving up the road and over a small hill, I think my heart actually stopped when the massive pillars first came into view. I can understand how some may be let down by the fact that you can’t walk up to them and touch them anymore, but seeing them in person was satisfying enough for me! [more]

More Than A Big Pile of Rocks Stonehenge was one of those places that I've always wanted to go, and I'm glad I did. Everything is roped off, I couldn't get very close to the actual monuments, but they have to do this so people don't destroy the place. The staff at Stonehenge are friendly, the prices are reasonable for a tourist attraction, and I would say it's worth the price. I found the recorded tour that was given to me to be very informative. It's also worth the extra walk to see the burial mounds that are off in another field by Stonehenge. If, for no other reason, just to see ho big they are. [more]

Stonehenge Stonehenge is perhaps on of the most famous prehistoric monuments in the world - shrouded in mystery and of disputable origin. Some argue that the circle of standing stones was created for ceremonial use, whilst others believe it has a connection with astronomy. Whatever it was intended for, all agree that its creation was a remarkable feat – and nobody seems quite sure of how it was done. If you stumbled across it without knowing what it was, - or that so many have attempted to explain it - perhaps you would find it unremarkable. I visited it recently and I must admit, it did not hold the same fascination for me as it did when I was a child. Now a UNESCO Heritage Site, it is protected by fences and visitors are no longer allowed to touch the monument. Children cannot play hide-and-seek behind the stones, nor dance around and pretend to be part of some bizarre ritual in 2000 BC, as I remember doing as a child. Even so, to stand and gaze at this strange construction from the perimeter path and imagine how it could have been made all those thousands of years ago - to stand and marvel at the ingenuity of mankind - makes a trip here well worth the effort. [more]

Tip on getting to Stonehenge I am sure there are other ways to get there but if your primary source of transportation is the British Railway system then this article is for you. In February of 2007 I had an uncontrollable desire to visit Stonehenge. Owner of a BritRail Pass I researched how close I could get using train stations alone. I hoped that I could get to a station and then walk to Stonehenge somehow, even if it took an hour or so. Turned out that the best I could do was get to the train station in the city of Salisbury before connecting to a bus service meant specifically for Stonehenge. The convenient part was that the bus picked and dropped off at the train station, so there was no need to venture through this town that I didn't know at all. I do not remember the actual cost of the bus, but if I was willing to pay it, chances are you will be willing as well. Also, Stonehenge is not spelled Stonehedge. [more]

Stonehenge....worth 30 minutes of your time When I visited Stonehenge in February of 2007 I expected to be able to get really close to the stones themselves. I expected to be able to touch them if I wanted to. If this is your expectation, then allow me to kindly burst your bubble. There is a rope at about twenty to thirty yards that prevent people from getting any closer. Though I was disappointed, I guess they need those ropes there or else some mucky-mucks will vandalize this ancient site. My tip for visiting Stonehenge is to NOT pay the price to get past the gates. Just view the rocks from the highway for free, or for the cost of your transportation there. Since you don't get a close up look EVEN WHEN YOU PAY FOR IT, then why pay at all? [more]

The surreality of Stonehenge Stonehenge is one of those iconic places in the world that I think is a must visit site. It’s such a well-known place to anyone from anywhere, that a visitor to the UK would be remiss in bypassing a chance to see it. That being said, it has definitely been commercialized and packaged for tourists. This makes it at once convenient for visitors and a bit tacky. The entrance to the site is through the gift shop, where visitors can buy all sorts of Stonehenge memorabilia from books to t-shirts to CDs and more. A tunnel underneath the nearby highway takes visitors to the stone circle itself. There is a rope that prevents you for getting close to the rocks to prevent anyone from carving graffiti or chipping off a piece of the ancient rock. It’s a bit of a surreal experience to see such an incredible historic sight up close. I couldn’t quite believe that I was there. The price isn’t cheap, but there is a slight discount for students with student IDs and seniors. Check online or call to make sure that it's open. My cousin went on the summer solstice and it was closed. She was a bit devastated. There are buses from the nearby towns that will take you to the site. Don't expect to see it like you do in pictures, with no one around. You have to accept that there will be plenty of other tourists around. I would say leave yourself a morning or an afternoon to explore the area. The stone circle is lovely and fascinating, but it doesn't take all that long to see. I've always wondered how much time is appropriate to pay to a place, particularly one of such historical significance, but I suppose it's up to everyone's own personal taste. Before visiting, I would definitely do some research about the history and legend of Stonehenge. You will be able to appreciate the experience in a deeper, richer way. [more]

Stonehenge Probably the most celebrated prehistoric monument in Europe, Stonehenge is some 5,000 years old. Despite many books being written about it, its original purpose remains a mystery. The romantic theory that Stonehenge was constructed by the Druids is nonsense as it was completed before the Druids reached Britain in the 3rd century B.C., but the legend persists. Except on special occasions, you are not actually permitted to walk amongst the stones and have to view them from a distance. It’s simpler, and cheaper, to park on the main road (A303) and take a look from there. I’m not quite sure what I expected but, all in all, it was a bit of a disappointment. [more]

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