フィーフィールドでののおすすめウォーキング＆ハイキングルート

The "Valley of Stones" in Wiltshire is a stretch of Fyfield Down National Nature Reserve, renowned for its concentration of Sarsen stones. These huge, naturally-occurring sandstone boulders were formed millions of years ago and later scattered across the chalk landscape. Locally, they are known as the "Grey Wethers" because from a distance, they resemble a flock of sheep. Significantly, this valley was the primary quarry source for the massive sarsen stones used to construct the megalithic monuments at Avebury and possibly Stonehenge.

Devil's Den stone monument is a Neolithic dolmen (burial chamber) located in Wiltshire, near Marlborough, not Sturminster Newton. The structure features a massive 17-ton capstone resting on two upright sarsen stones. Local folklore claims that if water is poured into the hollows on the capstone, the Devil himself will come during the night to drink it. It was largely reconstructed in 1921 after the chamber collapsed.

Milk Hill is the highest point in Wiltshire and is part of the Pewsey Downs, a rolling set of chalk grassland hills between Devizes and Pewsey which are prominent in the landscape and almost invite the passer by to park up and take a stroll along the ridge. At just over 1,000 feet, they are high enough to offer fantastic views of the Pewsey Vale and beyond but low enough to make walking over them not too strenuous.

Adam’s Grave on Walker's Hill in Alton, the most dramatically located Neolithic long barrow in Wiltshire and the site of battles in 592 and 715. The area surrounding Walker's Hill is pitted and speckled with barrows and ditches of many sizes and shapes.

A wonderful sweep of chalk downland located to the north of the Pewsey Vale and in the North Wessex Downs National Landscape. The reserve covers three hills and includes Alton Barnes White Horse cut into the chalk hillside. There are great opportunities for wildlife and landscape photography with views stretching across the Vale of Pewsey to Salisbury Plain. Pewsey Downs National Nature Reserve is also part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), recognising the range of chalk grassland plants and the associated butterflies (28 species). While you are there, also look out for the Sarsen stones, known locally as ‘Grey Weathers’.

The horse is 166ft high and 160ft in length. The disproportionate height is to prevent foreshortening when viewed from a distance. Over the years, elements of certain features of the horse have altered, and overall the horse is probably now slightly smaller than its original size. It requires regular periodic scouring and cleaning to prevent it being reclaimed by nature. The Alton Barnes White Horse is one of eight surviving White Horses in Wiltshire, the most recent being the horse carved on Roundway Hill, north of Devizes, to celebrate the Millennium. Robert Pile, or a namesake, was also responsible for the Pewsey White Horse carved in 1785; the original carving of this horse was lost and it was replaced by a new horse in 1938. None of the Wiltshire White Horses predates the 18th century. Most of them seem either to have celebrated an event or simply to have been the whim of a local landowner. The origin of the symbol of a white horse which has become totemic of Wiltshire is obscure. Perhaps inspiration came from the prehistoric White Horse at Uffington, Oxfordshire, which dates back to around 1,000 BC and is the only ancient White Horse in the United Kingdom, but the Uffington horse is not only much larger – 360ft in length – but its fluent elongated design is quite different from the more modern Wiltshire horses.

Wooded area within the Fyfield Downs. Be careful on your choice of footwear. It's muddy, really muddy.... and slippy. Have fun!!

Possibly a fallen standing stone, the Polisher is a very rare example of a stone used to polish stone axes. Associated with the nearby beaker settlement, the stone clearly shows the grooves and smooth dished area where axes were highly finished, perhaps to become high status ceremonial gifts. It is claimed to be a particularly fine example of a grinding bench for shaping, whetting, and polishing stone axe-heads, and to compare with many Neolithic and Bronze Age examples in France

The Valley of Stones in Wiltshire is a landscape of sarsen stones, a type of hard grey sandstone, that's known for its Neolithic monuments. Those bizarre rocks are locally known as 'Grey Wethers' because they are often mistaken for a flock of sheep in misty weather. But their other name has an even more fascinating origin! These geological features are officially known as Sarsen Stones. Most likely deriving from Wiltshire vernacular for 'Saracen'. Historians think Knight Templars named them as such because they were alien to the soft chalk of the North Wessex Downs. But the name has a more sinister meaning. It stems from the Crusades against Islamic rule, during which they called Muslims Saracens. This word was also used for anything that was 'foreign'. 'Grey Wethers' were used for building in the Neolithic Age! And thus, it is time to fall into the prehistoric rabbit hole as deep as 6000 years! According to The National Trust information board, these stones were used to erect Stonehedge and Avebury!

In a field on Fyfield Down, 1 mile east of Marlborough, Wiltshire, stands the prehistoric burial chamber known as The Devil’s Den or Clatford Bottom Stone, a Neolithic monument from 5,000 years ago that is also known as a Dolmen (stone table). Get up here on a clear day, nice and early, and you'll witness the most amazing sunrise.

Great route over meadow fields and Neolithic archeological site. Good conditions over well drained fields.

The West Woods for four weeks from mid April are a purple haze of English bluebells. Look out for the gnarly 500m long beech avenue a highlight at any time of the year, but particularly in winter.

Great area with a myriad of beautiful walks including to the famed Alton White Horse.

Decent size car park with access to a myriad of beautiful walks including Milk Hill Wiltshire’s highest top.

Great view of the Alton Horse and a great viewpoint overall.

Milk Hill 294m, Pewsey Down, Wiltshire (County High Top). A longish but easy walk over undulating hills to get Milk Hill, the county top for Wiltshire. Thought I would do Tan Hill as well to bag a trig point. Turns out there was no summit marker on Milk Hill or a Trig Point on Tan Hill. Still, a lovely walk and well worth doing. Took Walkers Hill as well which is a great historic tomb. Route Statistics: Easy undulating trails with minimal ascent really. 9.2km done in 2hrs with 250m of height gain.

Named after the Devil, who is said to drink water from the rocky hollows of the massive capstone, the Devil's Den is a dolmen burial chamber and part of a neolithic passage grave on Fyfield Hill, just outside the pretty Wiltshire town of Marlborough. The former entrance now comprises two standing stones, a capstone and two fallen stones. This section was reconstructed in 1921, when the burial chamber was recorded as being around 70 metres (230 ft) long, with the capstone weighing some 17 tons.

Moderate trail with a Nice Spot in the Forest to stop for Coffee or Lunch.

Moderate trail and lovely small forest to explore.

Amazing trail with Amazing history to explore.