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West Cranmore Round Barrows
Date Added: 20th Mar 2023
Site Type: Barrow Cemetery
Country: England (Somerset)
Visited: Yes on 19th Mar 2023
West Cranmore Round Barrows submitted by TheCaptain on 20th Mar 2023. Seen from the carriage of the East Somerset steam railway. Two large round barrows in a field, with fairly distinct ditches around them.
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Log Text: Seen from the carriage of the East Somerset steam railway near Merryfield Lane halt. Two large round barrows in a field, with fairly distinct ditches around them. There is remains of a third much ploughed out barrow. Looks like badgers are starting to dig away at one of the two large barrows.
Selworthy Beacon cairns
Date Added: 27th Aug 2024
Site Type: Barrow Cemetery
Country: England (Somerset)
Visited: Yes on 25th Aug 2024. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 4
Selworthy Beacon cairns submitted by TheCaptain on 27th Aug 2024. Several cairns and tumuli are marked at the top ridge of Selwrthy Beacon. Upon visiting in August 2024, most were obscured below the colourful heather and gorse, but several lumps and bumps could be nade out.
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Log Text: Several barrows, cairns and tumuli marked at the top ridge of Selwrthy Beacon. Upon visiting in August 2024, most were obscured below the colourful heather and gorse on the top of this fabulous hill, but several lumps and bumps could be nade out. There is a road and car park up to the top of the beacon, but it is much better appreciated if you make the walk up from Bossington, Selworthy or around the coast path. Tremendous views all around from the top of the beacon with Wales and the Bristol Channel to the north, the fabulous north Somerset coast beyond Porlock to the west, and the heights of Exmoor to the south.
Twinhoe
Date Added: 31st Aug 2024
Site Type: Stone Circle
Country: England (Somerset)
Visited: Yes on 29th Aug 2024. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5
Twinhoe submitted by MythicAl on 12th Aug 2024. Ancient stone circle embedded into wall around small green at Mid Twinhoe
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Log Text: I had to come and have a look at this. I can't be sure what this is. There are twelve large upright stones arranged equispaced in a semicircular wall around a green. This all looks like a fairly new construction to me, but were the larger stones there previously? The old country lane here makes a nice curve around the corner, and not the usual right angle. And just what is the green area within, not used for gardens or cropped fields?
Stoney Littleton
Date Added: 2nd Sep 2024
Site Type: Chambered Cairn
Country: England (Somerset)
Visited: Yes on 29th Aug 2024. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 4 Access 4
Stoney Littleton submitted by TheCaptain on 18th Mar 2005. Stoney Littleton barrow viewed from the west.
Its a cracking little barrow, with the most wonderful passage and chambers inside, and the powers that be have even left a decent sized area around it free of any farming activity. A lovely sunny day, but some of the walk to the barrow was horrendously muddy.
The fields around the barrow had recently been ploughed, a crop of beet of some sort having been the last grown. While walking back after my visit, I found a bit of the lovely golden colou...
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Log Text: I parked in the area by the wooden bridge to the southwest of Wellow, but the bridge had been fenced off with notices stating that it is dangerous. An alternate route is posted, taking the dangerous narrow lane to the west before crossing the river on a concrete farm bridge, then over an electric fence back along the far side of the river through a field with a rampant ram in it, before we are back to the normal way up to the barrow. Lovely to see it again after all this time, and in clear sunlight. I do not recommend crawling inside with bare knees, a bad back and without a torch, but it had to be done, didn't it.
Giant's Caves
Date Added: 6th Mar 2022
Site Type: Chambered Cairn
Country: England (Wiltshire)
Visited: Yes on 13th Apr 2004. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4
Giant's Caves submitted by thecaptain on 16th Apr 2004. Giant’s Caves, Chambered Tomb, Luckington, Wiltshire, ST820830
Within this central part of the barrow can be seen the remains of four chambers, constructed using large rock slabs. These chambers are approximately 3 to 4 metres long and 1 to 1½ metres in width, and strangely would not have been located at the bottom ground level of the mound, but at a slightly higher level.
This is the southeast chamber.
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Log Text: This fantastic long barrow, which lies on an east west axis, is in a field just to the north of a little stream on the edge of the Badminton estate. The initial impression is that it is fairly ruinous, and has become overgrown with trees and undergrowth, but closer inspection reveals that there is much left here. Although the ends of the barrow appear to have been removed at sometime in the past, the remaining central part show what a large structure this once was. Within this central part of the barrow can clearly be seen the remains of four chambers, constructed using large rock slabs, which either opened onto a central corridor, or to the sides of the barrow, although they would have been blocked off with stone slabs. These chambers are approximately 4 metres long and 1 to 1½ metres in width, and strangely would not have been located at the bottom ground level of the mound, but at a slightly higher level.
Lanhill
Date Added: 6th Mar 2022
Site Type: Long Barrow
Country: England (Wiltshire)
Visited: Yes on 13th Apr 2004. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4
Lanhill submitted by thecaptain on 16th Apr 2004. Lanhill, Chambered Tomb, near Chippenham, Wiltshire, ST877747
At the centre of the southern side is a rock lined chamber, about 2½ m in length by 1½ metres in width, which has obviously been restored, as the roof is now supported on steel bars. The opening to the chamber has a curved, dry stone walled forecourt, and there is a blocking stone across the opening.
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Log Text: This very nice long barrow, which lies on an east west axis, is in a field just to the south of the A420 a couple of miles east of Chippenham. The remains of the barrow still seem largely intact, and it is several metres high along its central axis. At the centre of the southern side is a rock lined chamber, about 2½ m in length by 1½ metres in width, 1m height, which has obviously been restored, as the roof is now supported on steel bars. The opening to the chamber has a curved, dry stone walled forecourt, and there is a blocking stone across the opening. Apparently, other chambers were found along the northern side of the barrow, and the remains of many skeletons were found in them.
Ridgeway
Date Added: 18th Sep 2010
Site Type: Ancient Trackway
Country: England (Wiltshire)
Visited: Yes on 28th Feb 2005
Ridgeway submitted by TheCaptain on 28th Feb 2005. The Ridgeway near to Waylands Smithy after sunset, February 2005, showing just what a terrible state it has been turned into. Thankfully it was all frozen, and so walking along it wasnt too problematical.
Those who insist on driving their 4WD vehicles all over everything say they are not destroying things, and that walkers, mountain bikers and horses cause as much destruction.
I'll let the viewer be the judge.
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Log Text: None
Silbury Hill
Date Added: 18th Sep 2010
Site Type: Artificial Mound
Country: England (Wiltshire)
Visited: Yes on 4th Jun 2007
Silbury Hill submitted by TheCaptain on 4th Jun 2007. Silbury Hill, Sunday June 3rd 2007, with its repair team at the foot.
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Log Text: None
Devils Den
Date Added: 8th Oct 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: England (Wiltshire)
Visited: Yes on 16th Sep 2007. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4
Devils Den submitted by thecaptain on 18th Sep 2007. The view of Devil's Den in its landscape.
As seen from the pathway down from the ridge from the northeast.
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Log Text: As I was driving westwards along the A4 Sunday afternoon, I decided to stop in at the Devils Den for a look round, having not been there for many years - the stony delights a bit further west usually taking my attention. Knowing it is difficult to park on the A4 in order to walk up the track from Clatford Bottom, I decided to take the little road to the north, I believe towards Manstone farm, where there is a fairly large car park near to the racing stables. From there it is a pleasant walk along the ridge before dropping down into the valley where the Devils Den resides, with some nice views over the site as a whole to be had on the way (it always strikes me what a strange place this is for such a monument, low down in the valley like it is).
Unfortunately, when down on the overgrown trackway along the sarsen scattered valley bottom, there was no way into the field of the dolmen, with fences, nettles and much scrub preventing access to its field. Even getting to a point quite close by is not recommended in shorts - quite a painful experience ! I can only assume that the landowners are perhaps letting a fairly large strip of land become completely overgrown in order to deter people from clambering over the fences to go for a closer look.
Lugbury
Date Added: 6th Mar 2022
Site Type: Chambered Tomb
Country: England (Wiltshire)
Visited: Yes on 13th Apr 2004. My rating: Access 4
Lugbury submitted by thecaptain on 18th Sep 2007. What a disappointment this 60 metre length long barrow has become, with its remaining large stone portal structure completely overgrown.
The rest of the barrow doesn't fare much better, with large tree trunks and other stuff just dumped on it, while it also looks like it has been ploughed up to a bit closer than I remember.
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Log Text: This large long barrow, which lies on an east west axis, is in a field just to the west of the Fosse Way. The remains of the barrow can clearly still be made out, and although the mound is now mostly gone, it is still clearly raised above the level of the field. The main remains of this tomb are however a large chamber at the eastern end, consisting of two large (2m) upright stones, with a fallen capstone leaning on them from behind. This capstone has a strange notch in it, which is now at the ground edge, nearer to the northern upright. It is said that this barrow once had four side chambers, which were found to have the remains of many skeletons in them.
Fox Covert NW
Date Added: 28th Aug 2023
Site Type: Chambered Tomb
Country: England (Wiltshire)
Visited: Yes on 9th Sep 2007
Fox Covert NW submitted by TheCaptain on 18th Sep 2007. Overgrown Long Barrow which has been cut in two by a hedge.
The eastern part of the barrow in the eastern field has now been completely ploughed out. The part in the western field is now about 30 metres in length, about 20 metres wide and up to 2 metres in height.
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Log Text: A badly damaged overgrown Long Barrow with possible Chambered Tomb in a field, which has been cut in two by a hedge. The eastern part of the barrow in the eastern field has now been completely ploughed out. The part in the western field is now about 30 metres in length, about 20 metres wide and up to 2 metres in height. There are one or two big stones, which are almost certainly field clearance, dumped on top, otherwise there were no noticeable features that I could see. There are a few other tumuli marked on maps in neighbouring fields, but as far as I could see, these have no all been completely ploughed out, including the Tormarton 1 (Gloucestershire) long barrow in the field just to the north of the lane here.
Winterbourne Stoke
Date Added: 18th Sep 2010
Site Type: Barrow Cemetery
Country: England (Wiltshire)
Visited: Yes on 6th Sep 2008
Winterbourne Stoke submitted by thecaptain on 6th Sep 2008. Other than the large bowl barrow in this picture, much harder to make out is the pond barrow in the foreground of this picture.
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Log Text: None
Oliver's Castle
Date Added: 8th Oct 2020
Site Type: Hillfort
Country: England (Wiltshire)
Visited: Yes on 3rd Jun 2002. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3
Oliver's Castle submitted by Thorgrim on 31st Aug 2003. Accessible by footpath from Bromham or Roundway, this Iron Age promontory fort of 1.2 hectares is at SU 001646.
It has a single ditch and bank with post holes for gates in the eastern entrance.
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Log Text: Part of a days off road cycling from Devizes. Lovely place, people flying radio controlled planes and gliders from up there. Horrifically muddy on the way down from the hills to the north.
The Polisher (Fyfield Down)
Date Added: 28th Oct 2019
Site Type: Polissoir
Country: England (Wiltshire)
Visited: Yes on 18th Sep 2019. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 5 Access 3
The Polisher (Fyfield Down) submitted by TheCaptain on 24th Sep 2019. At long last, I have been to visit this fabulous stone.
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Log Text: At long last, I have been to visit this fabulous stone. On this beautiful September fay, I sat and had lunch with the Polisher. I must have been here best part of an hour, watching the Red Kites circling, and didn't see another soul. It's really moving sat here, just where people would have been sat 5000 years ago.
Winterbourne Monkton
Date Added: 2nd Oct 2020
Site Type: Chambered Tomb
Country: England (Wiltshire)
Visited: Yes on 18th Sep 2019. My rating: Access 4
Winterbourne Monkton submitted by TheCaptain on 22nd Sep 2019. Large sarsen stone in the churchyard thought to be removed from the Neolithic Millbarrow
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Log Text: Large sarsen stone in the churchyard thought to be removed from the Neolithic Millbarrow
West Kennet Avenue polisher
Date Added: 2nd Oct 2020
Site Type: Polissoir
Country: England (Wiltshire)
Visited: Yes on 18th Sep 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4
West Kennet Avenue polisher submitted by TheCaptain on 30th Sep 2019. Down near the bottom of the stone, facing the fence and road, can be seen one fairly large polishing dish and some smaller grooves, perhaps arrow sharpening grooves.
The polishing surfaces are unfortunately in the shadows of this lovely sunny evening.
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Log Text: One of the West Kennet Avenue stones on the eastern side near to the road about mid way along the remaining avenue, has evidence of being used as a polisher stone. Down near the bottom of the stone, facing the fence and road, can be seen one fairly large polishing dish and some smaller grooves, perhaps arrow sharpening grooves. As the polishing bowl would have probably been used flat so that water could be kept in the bowl to aid the polishing process, this would suggest that the stone was raised at a later date to become part of the Avenue.
Longstones Barrow
Date Added: 2nd Oct 2020
Site Type: Long Barrow
Country: England (Wiltshire)
Visited: Yes on 18th Sep 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4
Longstones Barrow submitted by SumDoood on 6th Sep 2019. 040919: From the WSW.
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Log Text: Remains of a big longbarrow just to the north of Beckhampton roundabout, roughly in line with the Avebury western Avenue. I wonder how much this has been altered over the years, as the land around it is slightly raised making a much longer shape, perhaps double the remaining length. It also looks like the northeastern end has a horned courtyard entrance feature, but this is well within the yaised ground, and also looks too good to be original, as it is not slumped down enough to my eyes. Looking at historical records, and it is stated that "the mound has been severely mutilated and its terminals ploughed", and had been "much damaged by the digging chalk out of it and perhaps stones"
Longstone Cove
Date Added: 2nd Oct 2020
Site Type: Standing Stones
Country: England (Wiltshire)
Visited: Yes on 18th Sep 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4
Longstone Cove submitted by Humbucker on 5th Jan 2019. Longstones Cove basking in the sunlight on one of the last bright days of late Autumn 2018. The Ridgeway looms if the background.
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Log Text: Legs working well after the first chiro session. Back to Avebury and walked around the henge and stones before a pint in the Red Lion. Still fairly early and legs feeling good, so walked down the route of the Beckhampton Avenue to Adam and Eve and a huge longbarrow before going back To Avebury and the car.
Stonehenge.
Date Added: 29th Oct 2019
Site Type: Stone Circle
Country: England (Wiltshire)
Visited: Yes on 1st Jun 2011
Stonehenge. submitted by TheCaptain on 1st Jun 2011. Stopping off for a rest (and no doubt a picnic) at Stonehenge, while travelling back up the A303 from summer holiday in Cornwall, 1969.
Spot the young Stonehunter!
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Log Text: None
Milk Hill Bowl Barrow
Date Added: 29th Oct 2019
Site Type: Round Barrow(s)
Country: England (Wiltshire)
Visited: Yes on 19th Jul 2011
Milk Hill Bowl Barrow submitted by TheCaptain on 19th Jul 2011. Seen here on a long lens, from the Barge Inn
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Log Text: None