Stonehenge

I went off on another adventure in the Campervan today. I tried to book something late last night but was surprised to find that several campsites were fully booked! The weather is good and the kids have gone back to school so I guess plenty of people had the same idea as I did! I had thought about going to Cheddar Gorge but will have to save that for another time. I decided to go back to Salisbury as there was plenty I didn’t get to see when I visited a few weeks ago, but booked to stay at the campsite closer to town.

Stonehenge is only 9 miles outside of Salisbury so I stopped there on the way. When I was there the last time - at least 20 years ago - they had just stopped people walking in amongst the stones and there was a brand new visitors centre right next to it and you had to go through a tunnel under the main road to get to the stones. Now there is brand NEW visitors centre much further away with a bus shuttle service, or you can walk the whole way (2km) or part way. They have also rerouted one of the main roads, though the stones are still possible to see from one road as you drive by.

Some people think these changes have spoiled it and that it’s over commercialised. But I like it. There’s plenty of information while still allowing tourists to get close to the stones without damaging them. It was busy even on a Monday in September and yet I still got plenty of pictures without too many people spoiling the view. There are actually special limited tours which allow you to walk in amongst the stones. Maybe I’ll do that next time!

I took the shuttle from the visitors centre but got off half way to walk among some barrows and then enjoyed seeing the stones looming on the horizon as I walked the rest of the way. I enjoyed the visit very much and I must go back again soon. I think I’d like to visit again on a cold crisp day in January!

I played around with this photo a bit and like the effect - ‘dramatic warm’. There are two more as extras, one almost ‘original’ and one ‘noir’.