Alvy: Travel To Salisbury, England

TRAVEL TRIP (AUGUST 2011)

One short trip that I did not clarify during my visit to Bath was I took a tour to see Stonehenge in Salisbury. I am always a person who is fascinated by ancient wondrous. I adore all of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in Wiltshire, England, about 3 km west of Amesbury and 13 km north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is the remains of a ring of standing stones set within earthworks. It is in the middle of the most dense complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, including several hundred burial mounds. Archaeologists believe it was constructed from 3000 BC to 2000 BC. The surrounding circular earth bank and ditch, which constitute the earliest phase of the monument, have been dated to about 3100 BC. Radiocarbon dating in 2008 suggested that the first bluestones were raised between 2400 and 2200 BC. Another theory suggests the bluestones may have been raised at the site as early as 3000 BC. The site and its surroundings were added to the UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1986 in a co-listing with Avebury Henge. It is a national legally protected Scheduled Ancient Monument. Stonehenge is owned by the Crown and managed by English Heritage, while the surrounding land is owned by the National Trust. Archaeological evidence found by the Stonehenge Riverside Project in 2008 indicates that Stonehenge could have been a burial ground from its earliest beginnings. The dating of cremated remains indicate that deposits contain human bone from as early as 3000 BC, when the ditch and bank were first dug. Such deposits continued at Stonehenge for at least another 500 years.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonehenge

TRANSPORTATION

Basically my travel style is always try to use public transports as much as I can. Somehow, as per my study to get to Stonehenge by public transport will be more complicated and tiring. Amesbury and Salisbury are both small towns on the countryside of south England. And Stonehenge is located outside of these towns circuit. Therefore I decided to use tour for this trip. Please check this link: https://www.scarpertours.com/tour/stonehenge

ACCOMMODATION

For my opinion, to spend even just for a night in Amesbury or Salisbury is not worth. Unless you are really looking for a countryside experience and quiet life during your holiday. I believe to overnight at Bath and visit Stonehenge for couple of hours is more reasonable option in here. Bath has definitely more things to offer for exploration and experience.

PLACES OF INTEREST

If you are still interested to see Amesbury or Salisbury, you can walk around these towns and explore probably in just half a day after visiting Stonehenge (that is to assume if you come to Stonehenge by yourself i.e. public transport etc).

If you use a tour like me, usually it is common for the guide to fetch you from Bath and will take you back to this town after the visit. Along the way, the guide will also drive you to see some of the other interesting elements before reaching Stonehenge. Mine was the same.

The journey was about 3 hour returns. On the way I got the chance to see Chalk Hill Carvings, Celtic Hill Forts, Thatched Cottages, Burial Mound and Crop Circles. They were all amazing. I kept on wondering throughout the journey how magnificent people in the old days were as they managed to build all these exceptional creations. The story and facts about the Stonehenge too are very impressive. We were given an audio guide throughout our visit.

The big question that you will always read regarding visit to Stonehenge was 'Is it worth to go through all these, or spend more money for tour?'

Some people regrets their decision, but for travelers like me who love ancient history and civilization, we don't feel it's a "waste to spend for piles of rocks and stones" as what have been claimed by certain individuals.

It is worth every penny for the journey.