周辺の天然記念物・トップ8

Outstanding views and the perfect place for a midride picnic or chill.

A must do off road tour

Cley Hill stands proud of the surrounding flatlands at 244 m high. There is a trig point, awesome views and steep sided trails to run. It's an important area of chalk downland managed by the National Trust for the plants and insects which live here. Cley Hill is also famous for UFO sightings and crop circles, so keep an eye out :-)

Easy running with lovely views up to the escarpment and white horse.

The Iron Age hillfort at Bratton Camp was first carved into the chalk downland over 2000 years ago. The earthworks would have protected a settlement of round houses, granaries, storehouses and workshops. Its strategic position would have afforded residents a far-reaching view and advance warning of any potential attackers. But Bratton's human history stretches back even further than the Iron Age. Three thousand years earlier, a Neolithic long barrow existed here, and 19th century excavations unearthed human skeletons and evidence of cremations. Today, this area of chalk grassland is rich in wildlife, including many important plants that provide a habitat for insects, including the rare Adonis Blue butterfly and the scarce forester moth. Visible from many miles around, Westbury White Horse, which lies just below Bratton Camp, was probably originally cut in the late 1600s to commemorate the Battle of Ethandun, which is thought to have taken place at Bratton Camp in AD 878.

Lovely wide gravel bridleway with somewhat distracting views of the white horse and the Wilts lowlands that I had one of my worst crashes on. Deceptively smooth chunky gravel surface good for medium gravel or touring tyres. Nothing really wrong with the path excepting a few potholes and larger stones, but those potholes can make panniers bounce up and, if unsecured, said panniers can bounce into the path of one's front wheel tossing the obliviously joyful bike tourist over their handlebars and into said hard chunky gravel. One can rag their fully loaded bike down as many unsuitable trails as they please, as long as the load is secure. edit; the potholes are much bigger now.

There are over 1,200 hillforts in England, most of which occupy fantastic viewpoints and Bratton Camp hillfort is no different. In fact, it has a truly extraordinary vistas from its earthen ramparts. The camp sits just on the ridge between Westbury and Bratton, and immediately above the Westbury White Horse. There's a long barrow within the castle's fortifications estimated to be around 5,000 years old.

Middle Hill, nicknamed locally as ‘piggy in the middle’, is a conical chalk hill that stands between Battlesbury Hill to the northwest and Scratchbury to the southeast. This row of hills is on the southwestern edge of Salisbury Plain overlooks the Wylye valley. Atop the hill you find an ancient and sizable bowl barrow.

nice little gravel lane at bottom of Westbury White Horse, avoids the main road

Great short walk for all the family. Amazing views of Somerset and Wiltshire.

A great detour on road or touring bikes away from the main road. Great views over to the white horse mural.