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This is the site of the largest stone circle in Europe. From Swindon head towards Devizes on the A4361 and when you come to Avebury drive through the town and park in the carpark just outside where it is short walk to the sites. The route suggested in Burl is quite effective and this starts near the National Trust shop and Avebury museum at the NW quadrant of the circle. The circle is 335m
across with 98 stones remaining ranging in height from 2.1-5.5m (7-18ft).
Inside the circle are two smaller circles. The stones are sandstone and
many have weathered faces but nearly all have their smooth edges facing
inwards. (One faces outwards in the SW section which may have been
re-erected incorrectly) The walk around the site makes for a pleasant hour
or two especially if you take in the avenue. We visited in mid-December
and were lucky with bright but very cold weather and very few visitors.
The Swindon Stone From the museum go up the steps to the stones forming the NW quadrant. Walk along the edge of the circle to the huge portal stone called the Swindon Stone beside the road marking the northern causeway entrance to the circle. This is one of the few stones on the site that has never fallen and weighs about 64 tonnes. |
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The Cove Just beyond the gate is the cove, this was fenced in for restoration when we visited. The cove was originally formed of three stones and may have been aligned with the moon’s most northerly rising point. Two huge stones remain.
The remaining stones of the northern circle Few stones are visible in this sector now, this quadrant once contained most of the inner northern circle made up of 27 stones but now only 4 remain beside a house. To the east of the cove and remaining northern circle stones is a huge fallen slab at the edge of the bank along the lane. |
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Return to the road running through the town and just before it bends to the left go through a gate to enter the SE quadrant. Click on the links below for a tour of the rest of Avebury |
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Dec 01 |
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