Avebury
- Thread starter Voley
- Start date
Voley
🐭
Hmmm ... 
I'm a bit disappointed, tbh.
Avebury's become a real tourist attraction and I'm not sure it's helped the place much. I've had this with National Trust places before - I know they do loads of good conservation stuff and what-have-you but the facilities they usually put in (car parks, gift shops etc) attract a lot more people to the place. Can't argue too much - I was one of these people, after all, but there were literally hundreds of people all over the stone circle, people climbing on the stones etc. Didn't do much for the atmosphere. Same goes for the fucking great road that goes right through the centre of the stone circle - what bright spark had that idea? Maybe I'm a spoiled, really. When I go to a stone circle in Cornwall, I quite often have the place to myself.
Strange organisation, the National Trust. I can't quite work out whether they're a good thing or a bad thing.
Anyhow, the pub I stayed in was nice; friendly people, decent beer. And the countryside around Avebury was really beautiful.
I'm a bit disappointed, tbh.
Avebury's become a real tourist attraction and I'm not sure it's helped the place much. I've had this with National Trust places before - I know they do loads of good conservation stuff and what-have-you but the facilities they usually put in (car parks, gift shops etc) attract a lot more people to the place. Can't argue too much - I was one of these people, after all, but there were literally hundreds of people all over the stone circle, people climbing on the stones etc. Didn't do much for the atmosphere. Same goes for the fucking great road that goes right through the centre of the stone circle - what bright spark had that idea? Maybe I'm a spoiled, really. When I go to a stone circle in Cornwall, I quite often have the place to myself.
Strange organisation, the National Trust. I can't quite work out whether they're a good thing or a bad thing.
Anyhow, the pub I stayed in was nice; friendly people, decent beer. And the countryside around Avebury was really beautiful.
wiskey
Albatross Admirer
We realised it was bank holiday saturday and it would be packed so we didn't go, we went for a walk up white horse hill instead and watched the hangliders below us! and for dinner at the lock inn in BoA.
I think you have to choose your moment with avebury now. 5am is probably ok.
I think you have to choose your moment with avebury now. 5am is probably ok.
felixthecat
are we there yet?
Hmmm ...
I'm a bit disappointed, tbh.
Avebury's become a real tourist attraction and I'm not sure it's helped the place much. I've had this with National Trust places before - I know they do loads of good conservation stuff and what-have-you but the facilities they usually put in (car parks, gift shops etc) attract a lot more people to the place. Can't argue too much - I was one of these people, after all, but there were literally hundreds of people all over the stone circle, people climbing on the stones etc. Didn't do much for the atmosphere. Same goes for the fucking great road that goes right through the centre of the stone circle - what bright spark had that idea? Maybe I'm a spoiled, really. When I go to a stone circle in Cornwall, I quite often have the place to myself.
Strange organisation, the National Trust. I can't quite work out whether they're a good thing or a bad thing.
Anyhow, the pub I stayed in was nice; friendly people, decent beer. And the countryside around Avebury was really beautiful.
Did you see the new crop circles? And the crop tractor and trailer? Well, it wasn't a circle - it was most definitely a tractor and trailer. Towards the Calne side of Avebury - went past it yesterday.
felixthecat
are we there yet?
Voley
🐭
@ wiskey: I think that's right.
I went there early this morning and it was a lot quieter and nicer. Weather was shite, though, so I cut me trip short and came home.
Landlady of the pub reckoned it's still nice and quiet in November. She wasn't overly enamoured with the National Trust, either, interestingly. 'All a bit too formal', she reckoned. I can see where she's coming from.
I went there early this morning and it was a lot quieter and nicer. Weather was shite, though, so I cut me trip short and came home.
Landlady of the pub reckoned it's still nice and quiet in November. She wasn't overly enamoured with the National Trust, either, interestingly. 'All a bit too formal', she reckoned. I can see where she's coming from.
marty21
One on one? You're crazy.
it is a lovely drive!!!
Voley
🐭
wiskey
Albatross Admirer
Missed you by a few hours - we had lunch at the Lock Inn
Hehe, we got there about 5, I did wonder if we'd bump into you
I like it, its fun watching everyone crash their rented canal boats into the side
Back in the 17th century they used to break up the stones and use them to build houses. The houses in the village are all made from stones taken from the circle and around.
It's amazing but, before about 100 years ago, people had no respect at all for ancient monuments. In the victorian era they started putting ladders up at stonehenge and people sat on top having a picnic. But at least that was the start of people being interested in ancient monuments - after a while even the victorians realised "hang on, we need to protect these monuments or they'll be gone".
But it's true worldwide - the sphinx and the pyramids were in a state of disrepair too.
Avebury is quite amazing when you think about it. The ditch that goes around the outside of the big circle - just the ditch, never mind the erecting of the stones - would have taken a large group of men, working several hours a day every day, 100 years to dig.
And it's not like these neolithic people had much leisure time really considering the amount of work they had to do to find and grow food and stay alive.
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