22 replies to this topic

[BuckyE]

Dear Friends,
Sorry to have been away so long. Family business has taken up a lot of our extra time lately, but things are quieting down.
Loie and I will be in Avebury for a short week beginning the 16th of September, 2004. (This fall!) We have booked our private Stonehenge visit, and will be equipped with the Ridgeway section of Cope. (We bought one of the "disintegrating" copies just so that we can carry the relevant sections into the field. Tricky, huh?) We plan to stick very close to Avebury and its surroundings: to investigate Cope's alleged "neolithic landscape." Of course we will also be studying our Burl guides to stones in Britian and Brittany, because after Avebury we pop across the channel for two weeks in Brittany: one near Carnac and one north, on the Pink Granite Coast.
We wonder if anyone would like to meet, either to act as guide, or just to say hello and allow us to buy a round?
In all three locations,  Loie has booked us self-catering houses. We will be joined by friends in all three, but depending on the houses we might have an extra bed or sofa available for an over-nighter!
If there is any chance, even the slimmest, that we could meet fellow Stone Pagers it would be a thrill and an honor.
Yours,
Bucky

[Nigel]

Hi Bucky,
I'd be delighted to meet up. Can't act as much of a guide as my legs aren't too good, but I suspect there are several others here who'll be up for it. And there are some fascinating characters in the pub who are founts of unpublished knowledge. You might even get to see something VERY special that isn't in the books yet!....

[Jimit]

Seconded! Any excuse to go to Avebury and meet someone new  
Have you been before?

[Loie]

Hello, all. This is Loie, the other half of "Bucky and Loie." As I am the general trip planner, here is a minor correction to Bucky's post. We arrive on Tuesday, September 14 (London, around 10 AM or so, local time). September 16 sticks in B's mind, I think, because that morning we plan to visit Stonehenge. We have rented a house in Burcombe, and plan to leave for Brittany on Sunday, September 19.

I lurk occasionally on the SP; I look forward to our visit and, with good fortune, making some new friends.

Regards, Loie

[BuckyE]

Oh gosh, I didn't mean to imply that we expected to be led around--that WOULD be an imposition! No no, you are too kind even to think of it. I merely meant that we would welcome any suggestions for itineraries from you, Nigel, or any other Stonepagers. You can send us out in the morning and we'll report back at the chosen pub.

Jim, no, neither of us has been to Avebury or its immediate environs. Loie has seen Stonehenge, some years ago.
Our friends Mary and Ed Hauer--who I think HAVE been to Avebury--will be with us in Burcombe, and we'll all be reading our Cope and Burl (both his guides and his book on Avebury) before we go, making our own stab at itineraries. But, for the purposes of this thread, consider us newbies;  babes needing expert guidance.

Loie and I have dabbled in visiting megalithic sites--although not on the scale or with the assiduity of you other Stonepagers--and want, on this trip, to look more closely at the landscape surrounding Avebury and Stonehenge, not just the individual sites themselves. Thus, we'll want to investigate the Ridgeway and any available avenues between the monuments. Suggestions along those lines will be appreciated, especially names and phone numbers for owners of private property we might need to traverse. It is this "landscape" aspect of our trip that led me to ask for "guides." Of course we can work up itineraries on our own, but we have found that advice from those who have experience in an area is unbeatable. So, all you SPers, put your thinking caps on, and tell us your ideas for a dream visit to Wiltshire, circa 2,000 BCE!

And don't forget France! Who wants to pop over to France?

We will chat more as the dates approach, and perhaps exchange email addresses and phone numbers.

Yours with many thanks,
Bucky

[wunjot]

My husband and I have only recently returned from a fortnight's holiday in Avebury. We arrived at Beltane and it was wonderful watching all the celebrations.

We stayed at Teacher's Cottage in the village, using it as a base whilst we walked the Ridgeway and visited the various sites in the area, such as Windmill Hill, West Kennet Longbarrow, Wayland's Smithy, Stonehenge etc. My husband has placed a link to our pictures on his website - www.gyroleum.co.uk They might give you a flavour of what's in the area (I'll warn you he does have a strange sense of humour).

I felt my two weeks in and around Wiltshire were a very spiritual and uplifting time - in particular when we visited Wayland's Smithy I felt almost overwhelmed with joy.

If you plan on exploring any part of the Ridgeway, I'd recommend a book by Alan Charles called Exploring the Ridgeway. It divides the path up into fourteen circular walks and only costs UKP5.95. It's available from Amazon. There is also a good website at www.nationaltrails.gov.uk/ridgewayframeset.htm

I hope you have a wonderful time whatever you choose to do.

[Loie]

Hey folks! Our visit to Avebury is coming up soon! In the previous post, a book by Alan Porter, Exploring the Ridgeway, was recommended. Does anyone know if this book includes any walks at the Avebury end? I would like to buy it, but not if it doesn't include the area in which we will be concentrating our attention.

Thanks for your advice!

Loie (and Bucky)

[Nigel]

Hi Loie, if you can wait till you get there the 2 museums, the Tourist Information Office and the Henge Shop are absolutely stuffed with maps and guides and books. If you can't wait, they might do mail order, I don't know.

Did you know you can rent a cottage inside the circle? (See The National Trust).

[Loie]

Dear Nigel, thanks. We might just do that -- buying books is always part of our traveling! I did consider renting the cottage inside the ring, but Bucky said that seemed wrong to him. So I have rented a self-catering place in Burcombe.

Thanks for the suggestion! Loie

[BuckyE]

Dear Wunjot-Tina,
The pictures of your trip were interesting, as was the commentary. What's the story on deep, deep mud at Wayland Smithy? Thanks for your helpful reply.

In general, to all, what kind of walking conditions are we likely to meet in late September? (A few years back, on the first of our Driving the Stone Age Tours, we found ourselves caught in six or seven different rain conditions in Scotland, ranging from light pricking to torrential downpour. The terrain in places required Wellingtons, which we did not have.) Are we likely to encounter the same in Wiltshire? It wouldn't discourage us, but it would be handy to know in order to prepare!

[BuckyE]

Dear  Friends,
We have our self-ctaering reservation for our stay in Avebury. Here's the address and phone:
The Old Vicarage Cottage, The Old Vicarage
Burcombe
Salisbury
SP2 OEG
01722-741306
Doesn't that sound lovely?
We'd love to meet any and all of you anytime from the afternoon of  September 14, through the evening of September 18. The only itinerary item we have planned is a visit to Stonehenge on the early morning of September 16. We'll be out of there about 8 am, with the rest of the day unplanned so far.
If anyone is still interested and capable of meeting anytime during that 14th through 18th stretch, perhaps it would be well to email me directly at bucky@luckypro.com, or Loie at loie68@hotmail.com. We'll also be glad to check back here if group planning would be easier here. Thanks so much!

[BuckyE]

Jimit wrote:
What are you doing on the 17th (Fri)? I'm self-employed so I could take the day off and show you a few of the sites around Avebury.
If I can suggest a tour....Meet at the Sanctuary where the Ridgeway crosses the A4..a short walk to discover the "Silbury Experience"....short drive to the Avenue and explore......Entry into Avebury, park and explore...pub lunch...walk to Silbury and West Kennet Long Barrow and discover amazing new site! By doing this the whole landscape comes to light slowly but dramatically. Weather here fantastic at the moment so cross your fingers.
Hopefully Nigel will be around but is not much for walking but does a good taxi service  
Jimit

Then Nigel chimed in:
Friday would be ideal for me as well, and I'd probably be up for a lot of that route. Happy to be a taxi as well (and I'll keep to the right side of the road, if you know what I mean!)

And Bucky replies:
Sounds great! With the small proviso that, by Friday, we might not have been able to wait to explore Avebury henge and interior stones, and so could devote a bit more time to the environs, with which we particularly need help (especially the "amazing new site") on Friday. And, that we'd like to add buying you both supper as well as lunch, if you can stay so long.
I've posted our phone number above. Could you call us at Burcombe Wednesday or Thursday evening, or should we just plan to meet at the Sanctuary Friday morning? If the latter, what time is convenient, and where exactly would we meet?
Can't tell you how much we're looking forward to seeing you both. Thanks a million!

[Jimit]

"By doing this the whole landscape comes to light slowly but dramatically. "
Can you curb your impatience   If we meet at the Sanctuary at about 8.30am there would be enough time to do my original tour and see the circle properly.
The Sanctuary is marked on most road maps on the A4 West of Marlborough, park on the South side of the main road.
If you are coming from the Salisbury area, the A345 will take you direct to Marlborough and don't forget to look for Merlins Mount, another huge Neolithic hill like Silbury, just past the large brick arch which spans the road, look to the left.
Phone contacts.....Home...01962868538
                           Mobile...07989056243

[BuckyE]

Dear Jimit,
We'll do our best to remain patient. We'll meet Friday, 8:30 am at the Sanctuary. I'll be the guy with the gray beard and the ponytail. (See avatar.)

[Jimit]

Wish I looked like my avatar, sigh!
Slim guy, wearing white cap to disguise baldness, driving dark green BMW estate.
See you there