Mad Max

Today we went on the "Stonehenge and Avebury stone circles full day tour" with the Mad Max Tours group. It was great and our tour guide, Charles, was far and away better than the one we had in Scotland the last time we took a driving tour. The agenda was: Castle Combe, Avebury, Lacock, and finally Stonehenge.

When it comes to quaint and picturesque villages I don't know that Castle Combe can be beat. There is a little creek that runs through town, and a tiny church called St. Andrews which was founded in the 13th century. It is only one street that forks at the old medieval market cross where the poorer people would trade goods. Apparently the scene in War Horse where the horse gets traded (I haven't actually seen the movie) was filmed in Castle Combe. Also, Stardust and the original Dr. Dolittle were filmed in Castle Combe. Anyway, enough talking, here are some photos.

going into town

500 year old door
the U.S. is 235 years old

market cross

St. Andrew's church

We spent about 30 minutes in Castle Combe; 15 minutes walking up the street and 15 minutes back to the van. From here we drove to Avebury and on the way we passed Silbury Hill. This is Silbury Hill:

taken through the front of the tour van

Silbury Hill was built 4,800 years ago. Underneath the mound of earth is a pyramid made of chalk. Why it was built, nobody knows. 

Now, on to Avebury. An interesting fact about Avebury - Stonehenge could fit inside ONE of Avebury's smaller inner stone circles. Another fact, Avebury is over 1,000 years older than Stonehenge. The only thing about Avebury is the stones are much more spread out so you can't capture it all in one photo. So here are a few:

Tommy trying to get close to the little lamb

there is a ditch and a hill all around the stone circle

It was very windy, cold and wet while we were in Avebury. After Avebury we drove to Lacock (pronounced Laycock). On the way to Lacock we passed the Cherhill White Horse. This was carved into the chalk hillside almost 300 years ago.

The village of Lacock is over 1,000 years old and used to be a prosperous wool town. While we were here we ate lunch at The George Inn, a pub that has had a license since 1362.

remnants of lunch

Some more photos of Lacock:

Harry Potter's parents house in a couple of movies

the town of Meriton in the proper version of Pride and Prejudice

After Lacock we went to Stonehenge. It was also very windy and cold there but we were able to tough it out to get some photos. 

Ok, enough photo overload. Tomorrow we are going to the Roman Baths! Goodnight!