West Kennet Long Barrow, Silbury Hill & crop circles at Avebury

It is estimated that West Kennet was built around 3,700 BC. West Kennet is a typical long barrow, as time passed by the Neolithic people built smaller, round barrows. Most of the barrows you see around Stonehenge are much smaller round barrows for example.

Around 2200BC the tomb was sealed with chalk rubble, and the gigantic Sarsen boulders that now guard the entrance were put in place. The same stones as at neighbouring Avebury henge.

During excavation it was revealed that almost 50 people of varied age groups were buried within the tomb. The tomb is completely free access and can be entered at any time.

The mound itself - of which the burial chamber is only a small part - stretches for 100 metres in an East - West orientation. The earth used in its construction was taken from two trenches dug alongside the mound, although these have long since become filled with weathered material.

The chamber, which extends 10 metres into the mound, consists of five separate chambers, two on either side of a narrow passage, which then opens up into a further chamber at the far end.

Practical information

Arguably West Kennet offers one of the most intimate experiences of any ancient site - you are allowed to enter the actual chambers of the barrow, but best to bring a torch with you if you want to see anything.

West Kennet Long Barrow is completely free to enter; it is in private ownership but under English Heritage and National Trust management.

From the top of the mound there are good views of Silbury Hill, the East Kennet Barrow, the Sanctuary and Windmill Hill.

Free parking is available in the lay-by signposted on the A4.

Assistance dogs only.

There is an information board outside West Kennet Long Barrow giving you rudimentary information about the monument.

In recent times more and more visitors are drawn to the Avebury area in summer months hoping to find a crop circle or two.

Avebury is on the edge of an area called the Warminster Triangle. Strange sounds, celestial lights, crop circles, electromagnetic effects, ghosts, black dogs, folklore, energy lines, ancient sites, UFO landings, humanoids, invisible walkers, geophysical strata are all part of this.

Crop circles seem to be the aspect that has most captured the imagination of the general public.

You will see crop circles in the area during the summer months only. There are specialist web sites that track down the latest discoveries.

The area around Avebury has proved a rich hunting ground in recent years.

Crop circles are patterns created by the flattening of crops, commonly wheat, barley, and oil seed rape in the Avebury area. The patterns can be very intricate and seemingly appear from nowhere with no witnesses.

Theories of how they are formed differ wildly, clearly some may be man-made. Theories stretch across the spectrum and of course there are some who put forward a connection to UFOs and such like.

More scientific explanations tend to suggest it's a natural phenomenon, perhaps connected with the natural magnetism of the Earth. This would tend to tie up with the area having a dense grid of natural ley lines which are magnetic in nature.

If you go to Avebury, you can't be guaranteed a crop circle. Best to ask around in Avebury Village. Remember, nearly all the crop circles will be on private farm land.