The Mayflower City
Explore the prehistoric archaeology of Wiltshire and Dorset
Southern England abounds with the evidence of the ancient peoples of Britain. The great monuments at Stonehenge and Avebury are globally renowned and there is so much more to discover hidden in the surrounding landscapes and superb museums of Wiltshire and Dorset. Join this tour to learn what archaeology has revealed about the prehistoric landscape and the astounding technical and cultural accomplishments of our ancestors.
On this tour you could:
Visit Stonehenge: a World Heritage Site and the most unique prehistoric monument in Britain.
Discover Durrington Walls and Woodhenge where we believe Stonehenge's celebrants lived and feasted during the great solstice festivals.
Explore, on foot, the Stonehenge landscape, covered in a remarkable number of lesser known and recently discovered prehistoric earthworks. Why was this area so significant to ancient peoples? What is the meaning of the structures they created?
Visit the world-class prehistoric collections at Salisbury or Devizes Museums where major finds such as the Amesbury Archer and the Bush Barrow grave goods are on display.
Extend your tour to Avebury, the largest neolithic stone circle in Europe and part of the World Heritage Site. Explore the stone circle, Silbury Hilland West Kennet Long Barrow.
Savour some ancient flavours with a glass of mead in a local pub or end the day in style with a traditional Dorset tea.
Other options:
Head south into Cranbourne Chase, the birthplace of modern archaeology, to search out the ancient monuments that underlie the modern landscape.
Travel south to the coast at Hengistbury Head where traders and migrants from Europe crossed to Britain as depicted in Edward Rutherford's 'Sarum'.
Booking Options
The Mayflower City
Practicalities
DURATION:
8 HOURS or EXTEND TO 2 DAYS
TRANSPORT TYPE:
Time and local insight to select the best sites and visits for your tour.
Local food and drink venues to suit your tastes.
Links to coach and car services or help with trains and public transport for travellers wishing to minimise their carbon footprint.
