Southern England holiday, suggestions

Swanage and the Isle of Purbeck, it's gorgeous down there.

Avebury.

Earthworks and stone circles surrounding village centre and cross roads. Activity Centre, Museum, Church and Manor House in the foreground.

Talking of Ley Lines, the St Michael line. Or Pilgrims way could be a rough guide for an adventure.

Who moved Dorchester?

My goodness thank you all for your suggestion. I have some homework to do.............. I did not realise there was so much military history to explore in this area (in addition to the usual big ticket items). Fascinating to find out.

Clive B, cheers for the tip. I was aware Stonehenge was changed to a strict "view at a distance " site now, I only wanted to say  that I have seen it in all honesty. But someone said you can view it as you drive down the motorway. I'll take that option now and press on with your kind suggestion. 

That would be a mistake in my view - you can get really close to Stonehenge, even though you can't touch it. It's an imposing site, and wonderful in winter when it's much more atmospheric. Glancing at it from the A303 is not remotely the same. Avebury is very nice, and it would be good to see both. But if it's a case of one or the other, take Stonehenge. 

In December, I think I'd take Avebury. It has a pub!

Avebury is wonderful (and just down the road from me), but Stonehenge's new(ish) visitor's centre is absolutely brilliant and the vastest of improvements on what preceded it. Ignore their shuttle buses that take you the fairly short distance from the visitor's centre to the henge itself and walk it instead. As long as it's not too wet - not guaranteed in December, to be sure - it really enhances the experience.

The Red Lion pub at the centre of Avebury is big and, true, there aren't many pubs at the centre of neolithic stone circles, but we often find it's very crowded and it can take an age to get served if you want food. It might be better in early December when it's quieter. If you just want beer it's fine.

If you're in the mood for another walk:

• Park at Silbury Hill for free and marvel why humans built such a structure without any evident use
• Then walk to West Kennet Long Barrow: about 10 minutes' walk and, at at least 5000 years old, the oldest human-built structure in England
• Then stroll north to Avebury: about 30 minutes' walk
• Pint or several in the Red Lion
• Walk south-west to Beckhampton (about 20 minutes) for more beer in the Waggon & Horses pub which inspired a scene in Dickens
• Walk, in what might now be a fairly wobbly line, back to your car at Silbury Hill (about 5 minutes) and either get your designated driver to take you onward, or wait until you've sobered up

Mark

Ebor posted:   ........................

• Then stroll north to Avebury: about 30 minutes' walk
• Pint or several in the Red Lion

............  & while you're at Avebury,  before you go to the Red Lion,  you can't help but notice the pub is in the middle of the largest stone circle & henge in Europe.  Although not the dramatic spectacle of Stonehenge,  its construction is contemporary with the early stages of Stonehenge from around 3000 BC.

I used to live on the lsle of Wight, apart from Cowes, not great in December. 

Yeovil is to be avoided at all costs.

Otherwise some great suggestions and recommendations.

I happen to live near Dunster, in Somerset,  Dunster has a stunning medieval Castle which is looked after by the National Trust, and a number of superb pubs and hotels... also not far from the costal Town of Lynton and Lynmouth, famous for its beauty and it's rather sad history.

Best book for at least a month, with all the suggestions given..

The Waggon & Horses as mentioned above near to Avebury.

We had a superb lunch there last Wednesday

Lockeridge. The place from which the stones for Avebury were (probably) gathered.

Avebury is on the Lay-line from St Micheal's Mount as noted above. I believe it is also on the longest line in the UK running from somewhere near Bournemouth (South coast) up to somewhere near Cape Wrath(North of Scotland).

Definitely worth a visit, but as HH says, don't miss out Stonehenge, but do take the time to walk around the stones, you can get fairly close.

The place will be crowded c. 21st December with the mid-winter solstice !!

You can get fairly close.

Not to be missed !

If you know who to ask...............they'll bring one to your back yard for a test=drive !!!

Hope you find time to squeeze in a visit to the Factory

If you want something different, try Dungeness in Kent.  Believe it or not it is a dessert.  Off the beaten track, wonderfully photogenic and there is a lovely pub called The Pilot Inn where I can highly recommend the food.  There are also a few vineyards nearby where they make fantastic English Sparkling Wine, some of which have won awards.

Don Atkinson posted:

The Waggon & Horses as mentioned above near to Avebury.

We had a superb lunch there last Wednesday

It's imperative that you take a pint of Wadworth's 6X at this pub! It is brewed in Devizes, 12 miles away and is served here direct from the barrel. It is a truly magnificent ale.

Don Atkinson posted:

Hope you find time to squeeze in a visit to the Factory

No less than four Galaxie 23s! I always admire the aerials whenever I've been to HQ. 

Of course, if you're in the Pompey/Soton area there's Beaulieu Motor Museum to visit...

steve

Not far from Bath...

In Bristol, the Clifton Suspension Bridge, the SS Great Britain and Bristol harbour-front are also worth a visit.

For a village with a pub Wellow (& The Fox and Hounds) is in a very pretty little area 5 miles south of Bath.

If you have access to a car Cheddar Gorge is also quite close.

Just north of Salisbury is the neolithic hill fort of Old Sarum, and the original site of the Salisbury settlement.

Eight miles east of Bath is Bradford-on-Avon, a pretty little town on the river (and canal and railway) with two medieval bridges crossing the river, and with two tithe barns (ecclesiastical and secular) the larger of which is open to the public.

In bath itself, in addition to the museums, the Georgian stuff (Circus, Royal Crescent, Pump Room, Assembly Rooms etc), the Roman Bath (still functional although you can't get into it), there is also a very good eatery: Brasserie Blanc: Superb food and surprisingly not too expensive; the table d'hote lunch menu is particularly good value.

I may even be able to meet you in Bath, Bradford, Wellow or Bristol (and yes I do have a car).

And all this is less than 90 minutes drive away from the Avebury and Stonehenge neolithic complexes.

How very kind of you Huge, I shall keep this in mind. Did not know the Roman Bath was limited in viewing if I was to see it. I love historic sites, so much choice 

The Roman bath is open 09:00-17:00 7 days a week, I just meant that you're not allowed to actually get into the water (however you can drink it in the Georgian pump room above).