Fairlawn House
Fairlawn House is a fine Georgian Grade II listed townhouse offering a warm and friendly welcome and lovely food in the town of Amesbury close to Stonehenge.
Highlights
Avebury Henge: the world’s largest megalithic stone circle
Avebury: Silbury Hill & West Kennett Long Barrow
Iron Age hill forts of Barbury Castle & Old Sarum
Stonehenge, one of the most famous prehistoric sites in the world
The medieval city of Salisbury with its famous cathedral
Wiltshire’s beautiful rolling chalk downland & valley
Let 's discover the full itinerary!
Day 1: Arrival
Arrive in Swindon and transfer to your hotel in Chiseldon in Wiltshire.
Day 2: Chiseldon - Avebury
Your first day on our Great Stones Trail walk takes you through Chiseldon following an old railway line before heading up over Burderop Down to Barbury Castle. You then head south visiting the Hackpen Hill White Horse via the Ridgeway and then the Wessex Ridgeway to arrive at the monumental stone circle of Avebury, the world's largest megalithic stone circle.
Overnight: Avebury, Walk: 18km, +250m
Day 3: Avebury - Bottlesford
The second day's walk takes in the associated prehistoric sites at Avebury of the West Kennet Avenue, Silbury Hill, and the West Kennett Long Barrow with an option to visit The Sanctuary before climbing the chalk downs to walk a part of the Wansdyke, a series of early medieval defensive linear earthworks. You then follow a section of the White Horse Trail passed the Alton Barnes White Horse before descending to a stretch of the Kennet and Avon Canal to your accommodation for the evening in a country pub.
Overnight: Bottleford, Walk: 18km, +250m
Day 4: Bottlesford - Amesbury
Your historical walking trail walk takes you from the Vale of Pewsey to Salisbury Plain on the edge of the military training area. You then traverse down to the River Avon which you follow via a multitude of villages southwards to the town of Amesbury, in the midst of the world-famous Stonehenge landscape.
Overnight: Amesbury, Walk: 24km, +200m - shorter option available
Day 5: Amesbury - Great Wishford
Today you'll have the chance to visit a collection of prehistoric sites which are unrivalled in the UK. Visit the world-famous Stonehenge with its enigmatic stones, as well as other sites such as Woodhenge close by and a plethora of other pre-historic mounds and earthworks. After walking across open downland you'll pass through the pretty village of Stapleford with its thatch cottages to reach the Wylye Valley.
Overnight: Great Wishford, Walk: 17-21km, +300m
Day 6: Great Wishford - Salisbury via Old Sarum
Your walking trail takes you from the Wylye Valley into the delightful Woodford Valley where you are back beside the River Avon, where there’s an option to explore further. You then traverse south to the Iron Age Hill fort of Old Sarum, later used as a fortress by William the Conqueror and the original site of Salisbury. Return to the River Avon to head into the beautiful medieval city of Salisbury.
Overnight: Salisbury, Walk: 19km, +250m.
Day 7: Departure
The 7-night walking holiday ends after breakfast or book an extra night to explore the historic city of Salisbury with its magnificent early gothic cathedral and cloisters, medieval streets, and fine squares.
At a glance
1 April - 31 October
From £720 per person (based on 2 sharing),
Self-Guided
6 nights / 5 days walking
Linear Trail
Distance: 17-24km per day
Ascent: 200-300m per day
Small B&Bs, family run hotels & inns
Bed and breakfast
Other self-guided walking holidays in Wiltshire
Other walking holidays in South West Britain
Great Stones Trail, Southern England
This self-guided walking holiday in southern England is a journey through Wiltshire’s prehistoric landscapes. On route from Chiseldon to the medieval city of Salisbury, you will visit the greatest of England’s prehistoric sites, Avebury and Stonehenge, as well as the hill forts of Barbury Castle and Old Sarum. Aside from Neolithic stone circles and Iron Age hill forts, you will pass ancient churches in picturesque villages, walk alongside picturesque rivers and waterways, and have far-reaching views from the rolling chalk downland.
Avebury henge and stone circles are some of the great marvels of prehistoric Britain. Built and altered during the Neolithic period, 2850 BC to 2200 BC, the henge is a huge circular bank and ditch, encircling an area that includes part of Avebury village itself. The Avebury monument is a part of a larger prehistoric landscape that you can see on your Great Stones walking holiday including West Kennet Long Barrow, West Kennet Avenue, Silbury Hill and The Sanctuary.
On your walking trail you can also see 2 of the nine white horse hill figures located in Wiltshire. The first is Hackpen Hill White Horse, supposedly cut into the chalk downland by a local parish clerk in 1838 to commemorate the coronation of Queen Victoria and then Alton Barnes White Horse, dating from 1812 it is 51m high and 49m wide, the second largest of Wiltshire's famous chalk figures.
The prehistoric stones at Stonehenge are at the centre of the most dense complex of Neolithic and Bronze age monuments in England, including several hundred burial mounds. Your route takes you onto the plains surrounding Stonehenge. You’ll pass a number of historic sites on route. Your final approach follows the Avenue (no longer on the ground) which was the track used between the River Avon and Stonehenge, two ceremonial sites. After visiting the stones, you'll visit the pre-historic hill-top fort of Old Sarum, later used as the site of the first city of Salisbury.
Your walk ends in the historic city of Salisbury with its cathedral, a masterpiece of early English architecture, boasting the highest spire in the UK.
Holiday Profile
- 6 nights, 5 days independent walking between guest houses
- Option of extra nights in Salisbury at the end of your walking holiday
Dates
Every day of the week subject to availability from 1 April to 31 October
Walking Profile & Grade
A moderate walking holiday with each day's walk averaging 20km and maximum daily ascent being 300m. The walk follows many different types of paths, tracks and small country lanes. Occasionaly the walking trail is steeper when ascending or descending the chalk escarpments, but in general the walking is gentle in nature.
This walking holiday is graded moderate. You should have some experience of day walking and be in reasonable health. See more information about walking grades.
Accommodation & Meals
6 nights B&B in a variety of small quality guest houses with ensuite accommodation. A mixture of inns or pubs, bed & breakfasts, and small hotels. They are located in delightful historic properties. 3 packed lunches are provided by your guest houses, where places to eat or buy provisions is limited. Evening meals are taken in your guest house or in local pubs and restaurants where you'll have a choice of local cuisine.
Where is our Great Stones Trail walking holiday?
When to Travel
Our self-guided walking holiday in Wiltshire is available from 1 April to the end of October. Rainfall in the south of England is below the UK average. July has the lowest level of rainfall on average of any month, as well as the warmest temperatures. As some parts of the walk follow ridgetops and hills, you may be exposed to windy conditions, which may help to keep it fresher in warmer weather but may make it feel cold in poor weather. Here is more detail concerning the walking seasons.
Spring
The climate is generally mild in spring, especially from April onwards with a good number of sunny clear days, interspersed with cooler and wet weather. During April and May the average daytime temperatures are between 12°C and 17°C.
Summer
Most days in summer range from mild to warm with the possibility of some rare hotter days. There may be overcast and humid conditions in the summer and the risk of storms is highest in the summer. From June to August the average daytime temperatures are between 18°C and 22°C.
Autumn
The climate can vary from some pleasantly mild days, particularly at the start of September to cooler days in October. Visitors can see some wonderful autumn colours in the gardens open to the public along the trail. From September to end of October the average daytime temperatures drop from 18°C to 14°C.
Navigation, Walking Notes & Maps
This walking holiday for the most part follows clear paths, tracks, and minor roads. Some sections follow recognised long-distance walking trails which are clearly signposted, whilst others follow local trails which are less well-signed and less frequently used. Although we have selected the best trails in any specific area, some can be muddy or unclear for short sections, so it is important to carefully follow the walking instructions. Our walking notes are very detailed and include intermediate distances for sections of the trail. They also include information about the sites which can be explored along the route. We supply one walking guide per person on this holiday.
Travel Options
Transfers included from Swindon to your first accommodation in Chiseldon
To Get to Swindon
By Train
Swindon is served by trains from Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads, Cardiff Central, Cheltenham Spa via Gloucester, Swansea and the rest of South Wales.
By Air
The nearest airport is Bristol, however, Swindon is better served by train or coach from London
By Bus
Swindon can be reached by National Express coaches from London Victoria in 2 hrs.
Return from Salisbury
Salisbury is served by mainline station. Routes from London are via Waterloo station & take about 1hr 30min. National Express operates services to Salisbury from throughout the UK including London.
Note: Please check concerning the availability of a holiday before booking any flights or trains. If you need further information or would like to discuss any aspect of your travel arrangements, please contact us, we’re here to help you.
Price
- 6 nights, 5 days walking - From £720
- Prices are per person and based on 2 sharing a room
What's included in the price
- 6 night's accommodation on a B&B basis
- 3 lunches
- Transfer from Swindon to your first accommodation in Chiseldon
- Transport of luggage between guest houses
- Detailed walking notes with information about the local sites
- OS walking maps
What's not included in the price
- 2 lunches and all evening meals
- Drinks (except at breakfast)
- Transport to Swindon and from Salisbury
- Travel Insurance
- Any entrance fees
Payment
- A deposit payment of 30% or at least £250 or 250€ per person must be made to confirm your booking. The balance of payments is due 8 weeks before the holiday date. If the holiday date is less than 8 weeks away at the time of booking, then the full price should be paid.
6 nights B&B in a variety of small quality guest houses with ensuite accommodation. Mixture of inns or pubs, bed & breakfasts, and small hotels. They are located in delightful historic properties, mainly in villages, but some in beautiful locations in the countryside. The B&B's are generally 4-star AA-rated. Lunches are picnic meals, often provided by your guest house, with three included in your holiday price. Evening meals are not included and will be taken either in local pubs and restaurants or in your guest house. There will be plenty of local specialties to try and of course English local real ales. A couple of examples of the types of guest houses we use are shown below.
The Seven Stars Inn
The Seven Stars Inn is a 18th-century thatched pub in the heart of the beautiful Pewsey Vale with original wooden beams and open fires.
Extra Nights
Extra nights are possible at any of the stopovers during the holiday. If you wish to have more time to explore the historic city of Salisbury, then we would recommend an extra night so that you can meander the historic streets at your leisure, as well as having the time to walk around the meadows that surround the city. The centre-piece of Salisbury is it's Cathedral which contains the best preserved of the four surviving copies of the Magna Carta - an English Charter first published in 1215 - the first document forced onto an English King by a group of his subjects (the barons) in an attempt to limit his powers by law and protect their privileges. There is also a large mechanical clock installed in Salisbury cathedral in 1386 - the oldest surviving mechanical clock in Great Britain.
The city of Salisbury was laid out in a grid pattern and it soon developed rapidly, and by the 14th century was the foremost town in Wiltshire. The city walls surround the Close and were built in the 14th century. Salisbury is a charming and relatively small city with some delightful alleyways with the cathedral sitting proudly in impressive grounds at its centre.
Combining walking holidays
Our Wessex walking holiday can be combined with any of our walking holidays in southern England such as the Dorset Jurassic Coast, just an hour's drive away or our Wonders of Wessex walk which heads west from Salisbury through beautiful countryside to the historic hilltop town of Shaftesbury. The start of our Wonders of Wessex walk does include some of the same trail as the end of our Great Stones Trail, so we would make changes so that you don't cover the same ground twice.
Tailor-Made Trips
Here is a selection of tailor-made trips to inspire you when considering your next holiday in southern Britain.
A Quintessential English Coastal Getaway
Embark on an extraordinary journey, weaving through the captivating tapestry of England's coastal wonders and historical treasures. From the treasures of the UNESCO listed Dorset coast to the beautiful remote Scilly Isles located beyond the tip of Cornwall your coastal adventure will be a rural escape sandwiched between the cultural delights of London and the Cotswolds.
An Unforgettable Adventure Through the English Countryside
Imagine a 10-day English adventure packed with historic castles, charming villages, and a dose of that classic British charm. This trip has a bit of everything for everyone. Get ready for a down-to-earth exploration that's all about enjoying England's diverse landscapes and soaking in its unique culture. It's going to be 10 days of awesome discoveries and shared experiences – the kind of trip that sticks with you long after you've unpacked your bags.