Salisbury Plain

A fantastic day out in brilliant weather again! We have been through North Somerset to Wiltshire to visit Stonehenge and weren't disappointed. I've only seen it from the road before and that was many years ago in the early morning heading for a cross Channel ferry. We woke the kids up to see it and they weren't impressed!

We definitely were this time and although you can't get right in amongst them it isn't as restricted as I thought it might be.
Took so many pictures it's always hard to decide. Here the lighting is key. As we approached the stones were virtually silhouetted against the sun; quite dramatic and of course on the other side they were bright in the full glare of today's sunshine. In the end I've gone for a side on view in terms of light so you can see both light and shade on the stones. The Rooks/Crows were flying over and around them all the time. Very atmospheric.
Fabulous to think they are over 4,500 years old and we still don't understand them.

I originally called this Salisbury Hill as I've always loved that song by Peter Gabriel. (*Now I know it was Solsbury Hill in Bath he was singing about) It was a bit breezy up there today but we walked back to the visitor centre as the whole place is surrounded by Barrows ( burial mounds ) from a later period 2-2,500 years ago.

As we were so near we continued to Old Sarum after lunch. It has a magnificent situation above Salisbury. We've visited Salisbury Cathedral before but not the sight of it's predecessors at Old Sarum. Originally an Iron Age fort it was taken over from saxon kings by William the Conqueror and was a Royal residence through Henry 1 to King John. There were two cathedrals built on the site over this period but as usual the church and the monarchy fell out and the bishops built there own cathedral at the present site in Salisbury in the 13 th century and Old Sarum fell into decline. You can still see the outline of the old cathedral - see extra.

Having a very historical week. We've used our English heritage membership more this week than the rest of the 3-4 years we have had it!

Super end to September!