Euro14 Day 23: Wandering in Wiltshire

Temperature: Min 12°C; Max 24°C.
Weather: Partly sunny.

Today we were making a big loop around Wiltshire to take in a few spots. First up was the Westbury White Horse – at Westbury.
Westbury White Horse from the outlook
The countryside, geology and therefore building styles changed. In the Cotswolds it was golden stone buildings and the high downs with villages tucked in the valleys along rivers. As we traveled into Wiltshire, there were flint and block or brick buildings and rolling plains. There’s still a lot of work for thatchers though!
Fields near Salisbury
Flint and block fence
Flint and brick
Master Thatchers
MorMor wanted to check out a fabric store, so we dropped her and MorFar in the centre of Salisbury. I loved Salisbury last time I visited, but Eskil needed a playground – so we found one in a suburb.
Eskil and Scott in Salisbury
Eskil pushing Daddy
It was a beautiful, sunny day – and Salisbury was BUSY so we picked up MorMor and MorFar and didn’t stop to see any more.
Poultry Cross
We had a quick leg-stretch and camera-workout stop at Upavon. We were just driving through, and it was too lovely to pass.
Lots of work for a thatcher here
Thatcher
Eskil was inspired to sing – on top of a rock that was placed there for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. (Kinda an insult – it was just some big rock? At least Eskil enjoyed climbing and singing on it!)
Singing atop a rock
We then stumbled upon another white horse, this one at Alton Barnes.
Alton Barnes White Horse
We took small roads zipping through farms and villages – and avoiding Stonehenge, which would be insanely busy on such a beautiful day at this time of year. For some ancient monument action, we headed to Avebury stone circle, Silbury Hill, and West Kennet Long Barrow. I even found a couple virtual geocaches!
Avebury stone circle
Sheep amongst the stones
Even more sheep
West Kennet Avenue, outside Avebury
MorMor and MorFar stayed in the car, but we enjoyed the walk to West Kennet Long Barrow. It was a beautiful spot – and lovely to look out over the countryside.
Walk to West Kennet Long Barrow
grain
Poppies and grain
Eskil Inside West Kennet Long Barrow
View from West Kennet Long Barrow
Scott and Eskil at West Kennet Long Barrow
Cows and Silbury Hill
It was a long day of travelling, so we enjoyed the beer garden at our new hotel in Hungerford (even if we didn’t enjoy the ‘service’).
Enjoying the beer garden on a warm summer evening

More photos can be viewed at https://www.flickr.com/photos/cragg-ohlsson/archives/date-taken/2014/07/10/.