Sunday, 8 June 2025

Donnington Castle and Avebury



Last.weekend we had an overnight break to Berkshire... only a fairly short drive of a couple of hours, and we were back home the next day, but it felt like having a complete break away.  We stayed at a lovely Butcombe Brewery pub... I can highly recommend them as a group... really nice food and beer and very dog friendly which is key for us.

We were staying near Donnington Castle so stopped there after we'd checked out.





The main gatehouse is all that was left after the castle was demolished after the Civil War siege but it's still very impressive.  You can also make out the remains of the siege works




Obviously the Civil War looms large around Newbury, but there's something very unnerving having this chap staring at you when you're trying to eat breakfast...



Next stop was Silbury Hill: sensibly you can't get too close to it, but there's a nearby car park and viewing point.  It dates back to 2460-2350CE and is huge and, at 30m high, is really striking.  And also baffling as no one knows what it was for (aliens, obviously!)



We then carried on a couple of miles to Avebury which, along with Callanish, is probably my favourite ancient site.  The henge and stone circle is huge and encloses the very pretty village.





Again... what was it for?  Probably aliens... or of course this terror from my childhood...



We resisted the new age tat in the shops and eventually headed for home with our energy levels recharged by the leylines and the cosmic energy or maybe it was the bottle of cider and a takeaway that we had when we got home...



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4 comments:

  1. Anonymous9 June 2025 at 06:08

    Most interesting photos.i was at Avebury years ago and was impressed. There is a great museum there. The defence system round Donnington Castle in the reconstruction is fascinating and cries out to be modelled on a table top…
    Alan Tradgardland

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  2. Anonymous9 June 2025 at 07:20

    I live in Newbury and can see Donnington Castle in the distance most days. I see ‘The Hill’ each year when I drive to Attack Devizes. I must make the trip to Avebury, maybe his year. Simon

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  3. Anonymous9 June 2025 at 07:22

    Oh and I too am still haunted by Children of the Stones. I think it was the music, Simon

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  4. Springinsfeld9 June 2025 at 07:45

    I remember doing a couple of good reenactments at Donnington and drinking in The Three Horseshoes, if that's still there. I'm not too far from Avebury so a regular visitor. They do a great fry up in the new village cafe situated in the Village Hall.

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