New Scientist | Human origins in prehistoric southwest England

Immerse yourself in the early human periods of the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages on this gentle walking tour through southwest England. Visit several National Trust, English Heritage and UNESCO listed sites including Stonehenge, Cerne Abbas, Avebury Circle and Maiden Castle.

Southwest England's diverse Neolithic and Early Bronze Age archaeology has huge significance in the study of human origins. The earliest known humans arrived in these lands around 900,000 years ago, from this period, the topography underwent huge climactic, societal, political, technological and geological changes. The henges, hillforts and burial sites as well as the artefacts discovered by archaeologists have offered fascinating insight into the lives of the people of prehistoric England.

Each day you will explore beautiful landscapes as you walk around 3-4 hours discovering the region accompanied by experts who will bring the landscapes to life.

This tour is led by a Blue Badge accredited guide Sophie Campbell, in addition the group will be joined by former New Scientist Editor-in-Chief, Emily Wilson for two days to explore Cerne Abbas. In addition, enjoy talks from the directors of the Wiltshire and Salisbury museums about their archaeology collections.

Travel back to a landscape that has played witness to every aspect of Britain's history.

Itinerary

DAY 1: ARRIVE AT DEVIZES AND MEET THE GROUP

Check into the Bear Hotel in the charming market town of Devizes.

In the evening, meet Sophie, your tour leader throughout this tour, former New Scientist Editor-in-Chief, Emily Wilson, and your fellow guests for a welcome drink at the hotel.

Afterwards, Emily will give an informal talk about tomorrows visit to Cerne Abbas followed by dinner at the hotel.

DAY 2: CERNE ABBAS AND MAIDEN CASTLE

Around 8 am you will travel to Cerne Abbas by coach. During the journey Emily will talk about her time living in the village, and the numerous examples of Iron Age tools on the local hilltops that she has found. On arrival at the village Emily will then lead you on a guided walk (of under 6 miles) around the pre-historic landscape.

Cerne Abbas is known for the Cerne Giant geoglyph, an ancient naked figure 180 feet tall and sculpted into the chalk hillside. It’s origin and age is unclear although one recent study has suggested an age of about 1,000 years. Whilst the village grew up around a Benedictine Abbey that was founded in 987 AD, there is evidence of Iron Age settlement above the giant. Cerne’s chalk stream and ancient springs have fuelled a highly successful brewing trade in past centuries.

At one point, there were 15 breweries in the village. Today the village only has one brewery, but that one brewery has won multiple awards, and you can sample its beers during the tour. There will also be a lunch at one of Cerne’s famous inns. Continue on to Maiden Castle.

You will have an ‘in-character’ guided tour of Madien Castle, one of the largest and most complex Iron Age hillforts in Europe. Mostly built in the 1st century BC, it has huge multiple ramparts and is the size of 50 football pitches. Excavations have revealed evidence of occupation during the Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman periods.Maiden Castle for ‘of one of the largest and most complex Iron Age hillforts in Europe. Mostly built in the 1st century BC, it has huge multiple ramparts and is the size of 50 football pitches. Excavations have revealed evidence of occupation during the Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman periods.Maiden Castle forof one of the largest and most complex Iron Age hillforts in Europe. Mostly built in the 1st century BC, it has huge multiple ramparts and is the size of 50 football pitches. Excavations have revealed evidence of occupation during the Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman periods.

In the late afternoon, you will return to the hotel and enjoy dinner together at the hotel. A well-loved feature of our tours is a group dinner at the end of the day, with guests passionately discussing the sites explored that day.

DAY 3: EARTH MOUNDS, AVEBURY STONE CIRCLE, KEILLER MUSEUM AND WILTSHIRE MUSEUM

After breakfast, you will drive to the Neolithic long-barrow Adam’s Grave, a trapezoidal earth mound covering burial chambers. From here you will walk towards Avebury stopping at West Kennet long barrow. It is one of the largest in Britain, built around 3400 BC and visitors can explore inside its five chambers. Afterwards, you will walk to view Silbury Hill, the largest artificial mound in Europe. Completed around 2400 BC, it contains no burial chambers or remains and hence its original purpose remains unknown. The walk is around 10 miles and will take around 3 hours. For those that do not feel confident walking this distance, there will be the option to transfer from Adam's Grave to West Kennet long Barrow by coach, and then onto Silbury Hill, meeting up with the group in Avebury.

Today’s sites are part of the UNESCO Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site and in the afternoon, you will reach Avebury henge and stone circles. The henge is a huge circular bank and ditch encircling Avebury village. Inside is the largest stone circle in Britain dating back to some time between 2850 BC and 22 BC.

Afterwards, travel to the nearby Alexander Keiller Museum, where you will be able to see notable archaeological finds from today’s sites. It is housed in traditional stables and barns containing artifacts, coins and bones plus details on the excavations of the area. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon.

After relaxing back at the hotel, you will take a short walk to the Wiltshire Museum for a private visit and introduction from the museum director. Here you will explore over 500,000 years of Wiltshire’s story and the collection includes more finds from around Stonehenge including tools and decorative objects. You will then enjoy a farewell dinner hosted within the museum.

DAY 4: STONEHENGE, OLD SARUM AND SALISBURY MUSEUM

Departing after an early breakfast, you will start walking from about 3 miles east of Stonehenge. This will allow you to visit several interesting sites including Woodhenge, Cuckoo Stone and the Cursus Barrows before the majesty of Stonehenge slowly reveals itself.

As one of the most famous landmarks in Britain, it attracts a lot of visitors but we are aiming to get you there by 9:30 when it opens, to appreciate its beauty without the crowds. Access to the site is thru timed tickets, which we will already have booked for you. The visitor’s centre is also worth a visit with an exhibition, outdoor gallery and reconstructed Neolithic houses. You will have plenty of time to explore the site before departing for lunch at the Bridge Inn, a whitewashed riverside pub.

After lunch, you will enjoy a two-hour walk to Old Sarum, a huge earthwork Iron Age Fort that eventually became a Norman castle. Indications of pre-historic settlement have been found from 3000 BC. It is thought to be at the intersection of two ancient trade routes and the Hampshire Avon river.

From here, you will take a short walk to Salisbury Museum, where the Director of the Wessex Gallery of Archaeology will give a short introduction. The museum covers the story of Salisbury from pre-historic times and includes artifacts from Stonehenge.

In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with the group at the hotel.

DAY 5: DEPART DEVIZES

After a final leisurely breakfast together it’s time to depart. Checkout is at 11 am but if you wish to stay a few more nights to enjoy the area, we can arrange this for you.

ADDITIONAL DAYS BEFORE AND AFTER

For an additional fee, you are welcome to arrive a few days early or stay a few more days and enjoy the beautiful countryside around Wiltshire and Devon.

QUESTIONS

If you have any questions regarding this tour, please contact us at [email protected] with your questions.

Highlights

• Delightful walking tours around several pre-historic sites
• UNESCO Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site
• Cerne Abbas with New Scientist’s Editor-in-Chief Emily Wilson
• Plus pre-eminent earthworks of Maiden Castle and Old Sarum
• Talks from the directors of the Salisbury and Wiltshire museums

Meet the Experts

Sophie Campbell is a travel journalist and accredited Blue Badge Guide. She writes regularly for The Daily Telegraph and also contributes to The Financial Times and Conde Naste Traveller. As a guide, she offers walking tours and lectures in person and online for international clients around London and the UK. She has also presented on BBC’s The Travel Show.

Emily Wilson is the former Editor-in-Chief of New Scientist magazine. She lives in Cerne Abbas, and in her spare time, she explores the Dorset countryside hunting for prehistoric stone tools. Her first novel, set in ancient Sumer, the world’s first known civilisation, will be published in August 2023.

What’s Included

• Four nights’ accommodation based in a double room on a bed and breakfast basis
• Accompanied by New Scientist former Editor-in-Chief, Emily Wilson on days 1 and 2.
• Four Dinners with wine and two lunches
• Full touring itinerary as detailed
• Entry to all sites & attractions
• Tour manager throughout the tour
• Free parking at the Bear Hotel

What’s Not Included

• Travel insurance
• Transport to the hotel for the start of the tour
• Meals other than those stated
• Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls
• Porterage and Gratuities
• Single supplement £150 per person
• Twin room supplement £50 per person

Pace and Physicality

This tour contains hiking on most days of up to two-and-a-half-hours at a time. Mostly on established tracks but there will be some rough terrain and hills. Therefore, guests should have a good level of fitness and manual desterity. The walking will be at a relaxed pace but is not suitable for guests with mobility issues. Comfortable walking shoes or boots are recommended along with wet weather clothing that can be easily carried.

On some of the walking legs, there may be a coach journey available for guests who do not wish to take part in the full walk. This will be at the discretion of the tour leader and subject to local conditions.

Accommodation

Dating back to 1559, this charming hotel located in the market town of Devizes has welcoming log fires in its traditional pub and offers hearty food. Steeped in history and surrounded by beautiful countryside. It also has free parking if you are driving to the tour. As it is a traditional coaching inn, it is small and cosy with uneven surface. What is lacks in sophistication it more than makes up for in atmosphere.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

SN10 1HS, The Bear Hotel, Devizes, United Kingdom