Winterbourne Stoke Down

Downs, Moorland in Wiltshire

England

Winterbourne Stoke Down

Shuttle Buses, Stonehenge Coach Park Stonehenge itself is 2 kms away from the Visitor Centre and parking areas. There are buses to ferry visitors around but on a quiet January weekday it isn&#039;t very busy and these two are not being used today. — Shuttle Buses, Stonehenge Coach Park Credit: Des Blenkinsopp

Winterbourne Stoke Down is a prominent natural feature located in Wiltshire, England. It is part of the larger Salisbury Plain and stretches over an area of approximately 5 square kilometers. The down is characterized by its rolling hills, open grasslands, and scattered shrubs, making it a significant landscape within the region.

The down is situated in close proximity to the village of Winterbourne Stoke, from which it derives its name. It is accessible to visitors and locals alike, offering ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, and birdwatching. The down's diverse flora and fauna attract nature enthusiasts, with species such as skylarks, meadow pipits, and various butterflies being commonly spotted in the area.

Winterbourne Stoke Down is also known for its archaeological significance. The down is home to several ancient burial mounds and barrows, showcasing its long history of human occupation. These archaeological sites provide valuable insights into the area's past, further adding to its cultural importance.

Due to its location on Salisbury Plain, Winterbourne Stoke Down experiences a typical English climate, with mild summers and cool winters. The down is often subject to strong winds due to its exposed position, adding an element of wildness to the landscape.

Overall, Winterbourne Stoke Down is a captivating natural and historical site, offering visitors a chance to explore the beauty of the Wiltshire countryside while immersing themselves in its rich cultural heritage.

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Winterbourne Stoke Down Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.180639/-1.8588031 or Grid Reference SU0942. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Shuttle Buses, Stonehenge Coach Park

Stonehenge itself is 2 kms away from the Visitor Centre and parking areas. There are buses to ferry visitors around but on a quiet January weekday it isn't very busy and these two are not being used today.

Des Blenkinsopp

Crossing at the Coach Park

A midweek afternoon in January and the big parking area for tour buses is almost deserted.

Des Blenkinsopp

Stonehenge Visitor Centre Driveway

The way in and out for cars at the Stonehenge Visitor Centre which is situated 2 kms away from the stones themselves. Separate parking for coaches is beyond the trees in the distance.

Des Blenkinsopp

Old Milestone by the A360, Airman's Corner, Winterbourne Stoke parish

Metal plate attached to stone post by the A360, in parish of WINTERBOURNE STOKE (SALISBURY District), Airman's Corner; 25m South of junction, moved when junction was re-made (was at SU 097 429), on West side of road. Salisbury plate, erected by the Fisherton, Wilton, Heytesbury, Willoughby Hedge & Redhone turnpike trust in the 19th century. Inscription reads:- SALISBURY 9 DEVIZES 14 Milestone Society National ID: WI_DZSA14.

Spike Johnson

A Wiltshire Gate

I don't know how the name came about, but these moveable barriers are often called Wiltshire Gates. This one is in its home county on National Trust access land near to Stonehenge. Buildings at Greenland Farm are just visible on the horizon.

Des Blenkinsopp

Edge of the Access Land

The fields all around Stonehenge are full of other prehistoric sites. Burial mounds and ceremonial avenues are preserved in an open grassland setting by the National Trust, with visitor access permitted. Elsewhere is just ordinary farmland. A very open landscape with only a few trees.

Des Blenkinsopp

Stonehenge Visitor Centre

Opened in 2013 on a site some 2 kms away from the stones, the centre replaces a much humbler collection of buildings including a tunnel which were right beside the henge itself.

Des Blenkinsopp

The Old A344

Formerly a main road forming the long side of a triangle of roads around Stonehenge, the A344, which was only ever 3 kms long, was closed in June 2013 as part of a big Stonehenge enhancement project. The Mayor of nearby Amesbury was one of the last people to use it. Link

Most of the western end has been retained for use by the bus service, seen here, between the henge and the visitor centre. It's also used by visitors who want to do the 2 km walk rather than go on the bus. A brief Wikipedia summary is on Link

Des Blenkinsopp

Stonehenge Landscape

The National Trust manages 827 hectares of mostly chalk grassland with some small woods around the main site of Stonehenge. Rich in plant and animal species, the site also contains many of the large number of prehistoric remains which surround the Henge.

Des Blenkinsopp

The Airman's Cross

"On 5 July 1912, two pioneering airmen lost their lives in an aeroplane crash near the new visitor centre at Stonehenge. On the path near the centre is Airman’s Cross, erected in their memory. Captain Eustace Loraine and Staff-Sergeant Richard Wilson were flying a Nieuport monoplane from Larkhill airfield, north of Stonehenge, on a training flight. They were executing a steep turn when the aircraft crashed. The two men were the first members of the newly formed Royal Flying Corps to lose their lives while flying on duty." - English Heritage The cross was for many years on a roundabout up by the lamp posts visible on the horizon.

Des Blenkinsopp

Fence along The Cursus

The fence follows the line of The Cursus, a low level Neolithic linear earthwork presumed to have been made for some sort of ceremonial purpose. The field on the other side is part of the National Trust's access land surrounding Stonehenge. There is not a lot to see there. For a view in the opposite direction see SU1143 : Northern edge of The Cursus

Des Blenkinsopp

Dew Pond near Stonehenge

Once a common sight on dry downland pastures, you can still find dew ponds from time to time. Clay lined to collect rainfall, they were often the only source of drinking water for livestock.

Des Blenkinsopp

Fargo Plantation

Part of the National Trust's Stonehenge Landscape site. This area is not very well wooded, and what trees there are tend to be confined into small plantations like this one.

Des Blenkinsopp

Tumulus in Fargo Plantation

There are dozens of these Bronze Age burial mounds all around Stonehenge, which is why the whole area is a protected landscape in the care of the National Trust.

Des Blenkinsopp

Tumulus and Gate

There are dozens of these burial mounds all around Stonehenge. They come in various shapes and sizes. These two are some of the larger ones and are fenced off in their own enclosure.

Des Blenkinsopp

Stone Age Housing at the Visitor Centre

Based on excavations at habitation sites nearby, these are a recreation of what archaeologists believe were the type of houses lived in by the people who built Stonehenge.

Des Blenkinsopp

Bus To The Stones

One of the buses which take visitors on the 2 km trip between Stonehenge and the Visitor Centre. Quite a few people go on foot, especially on a nice day like this, hence the walkway along the roadside. The buses are the only regular traffic along what used to be the A344, a former main road which has now been closed.

Des Blenkinsopp

Memorial to an Aviator

A short distance away from a similar memorial outside the Stonehenge Visitor Centre to two pioneer airmen who crashed near there in 1912, this roadside cross is in memory of Major Alexander William Hewetson who was killed whilst flying on the 17th July 1913.

Des Blenkinsopp

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Winterbourne Stoke Down is located at Grid Ref: SU0942 (Lat: 51.180639, Lng: -1.8588031)

Unitary Authority: Wiltshire

Police Authority: Wiltshire