All photos related to this blog entry can be found at Grant & Julie

Stone Henge - quite a famous pile of rocks

Once apon a time, in the exotic Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, Grant and Jules were visiting the mystical Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. Strolling through the magnificent structures, some restored and some in ruins a voice, a loud voice, with the accent of North America could be heard bellowing across the great plaza "God damn it Harold, you dragged me half way across the world to look at a pile of rocks!"This scene has stuck with us for many years and here we find ourselves again, half way around the world searching for piles of rocks.

And what piles of rocks we have found!

Saying goodbye to Bonny, Mike and the kids was hard... especially after a fantastic roast lamb lunch, however, the road beckoned and they understand the desire to travel.

Navigating our way out of Greater London was an easy affair with a manual GPS (the sequence of roads, junctions and towns written on a piece of paper). The directions took us to our first pile of rocks. Stonehenge.

More is known about how much they don't know about Stonehenge than what they do know.

They know it is old - construction commenced around 2600 BC.

They know it is made of rocks - the Sarsen sandstone is stones were mined from Marlborough Downs and the bluestone was mined from the Preseli Hills in Wales.

Evidence of flint minded in Suffolk has also been discovered.

They know it is in a henge and in a circle - hence the ditch around it and it's circular appearance.

Many varied theories, myths and legend attempt to shed some light on the henge and circle's significance and erection. Archaeologists believe that Stonehenge was a place of worship dedicated to the Sun and Moon, it is, however, an iconic English tourist destination with over a million visitors a year, and deservedly so.

No longer are you allowed to wander amongst the stones, but are kept barricaded at a safe distance (safe from prying greasy fingers and souvenir hunters). This being so, it is still a very personal experience. Some people feel energy forces, other awe at how stone age and early metal age peoples could construct such a feat of engineering.

Old Sarum

Whilst in the local area we took a tour of another pile of rocks, Old Sarum, originally an Iron Age Fort, near Salisbury. On the site of this fort a palace was built for Henry I (b. 1068 - d. 1135). In 1219 The Palace Cathedral was demolished and the materials were recycled to build the enormous Salisbury Cathedral. People living near Old Sarum moved and settled in the area surrounding the new cathedral. Eventually the palace fell out of use and was dismantled by Henry VIII, just leaving a pile of rocks, evidence of the deep moat and the outer fortifications.

Continuing westward on our journey we rode through the charming village of Avebury, which is partly encompassed by a henge and three stone circles larger and between 200 and 300 years older than Stonehenge.

Avebury Stone Circle

It was constructed approximately around 2850 before our common era and appears to be dedicated to human themes (birth - life - death cycles). Today it remains a magnet to visitors and Pagans alike.

In the 1930's Alexander Kellier, marmalade heir, purchased 950 acres of land in Avebury to excavate and restore the circles. Where stones had been removed (often by local farmers to construct dwellings and fences) markers were placed. His passion and works in the area form the basis of much of today's understanding of Neolithic Wiltshire.

Whilst in Avebury we heartily recommend a visit to the Tea Rooms for Cream Tea.... it is here that we have became addicted to scones, jam and clotted cream.

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Handy traveller hint... If you are going to hit some of the big English Heritage sites invest in one of their memberships, it will save you pounds of pounds, you can also gain free or reduced rates on National Trust and other affiliated sites too.