13:44:02
After getting the train to Swindon, then a taxi from there, I set myself up for today's walk with a pub lunch at the Red Lion in Avebury.14:16:42
The view across to the stones from the pub.14:37:10
Finally now embarking on my walk, beginning with the pretty streets of Avebury.14:37:57
...and a quick nod to some of the stones at Avebury as I passed.
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The cottages of Avebury were looking especially pretty today.14:40:49
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Out into open countryside now.14:47:34
The first signpost for the Wessex Ridgeway I spotted on today's walk.14:50:46
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All that remains of the Beckhampton Avenue of stones to the west of Avebury.15:00:24
Scabious.15:01:50
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Info on Beckhampton Avenue.
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After crossing the A4.15:22:28
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Looks like somebody had a fire here.15:23:58
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It was really quite hot at this point.
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A tumulus which marked the turning point of the Wessex Ridgeway, from here heading south west towards Cherhill Hill.15:53:52
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Approaching Cherhill Down.15:59:25
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Weirdly alien looking plant.16:02:51
The views from Cherhill Hill.16:04:51
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I think this was a Roman road.16:26:41
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Passing the Baltic Farm enclosure, more prehistoric interest here.16:41:34
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More scabious.
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Large gap in the photos after a fairly gruling trudge in the hot sun across Roundway Down. I permitted myself a break here on Roundway Hill, just outside of Devizes.17:42:32
The view from where I sat.
17:51:07
More views from Roundway Hill as I set off once again.18:07:00
The road heading into Devizes.18:13:44
Oddly a picture of broken palettes on the outskirts of Devizes.18:30:48
Beyond Devizes, I crossed over the Kennet and Avon canal.
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Approaching Etchilhampton Hill.18:52:03
More scabious.
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On the way into the small village of Stert now.19:28:07
Poppies etc.19:31:00
Dismantled railway bridge near Stert - I think this was part of the old Devizes branch line.
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A shady lane.19:40:29
The sun already starting to hang a little low in the sky.19:43:12
A deer in a field.19:46:42
The Wessex Ridgeway crosses the railway tracks here. Always a bit nerve wracking.
19:50:17
Beyond the railway, heading towards Urchfont.19:50:29
I could hear the church bells in Urchfont in the distance, so tried to capture a video of it, but possibly mistimed it.19:59:01
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I think this is part of Peppercombe Wood Nature Reserve on the edge of Urchfont.
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The church in Urchfont, where the bells had been emanating from.20:17:09
Another video of the church in Urchfont.20:20:31
The village pond in Urchfont, where I sat and rested a while.
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Not really sure why I took a picture of this traffic island in Urchfont!20:45:10
Heading up Urchfont Hill.20:48:14
I periodically stopped and turned to see the progress of the sunset.20:49:39
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The sun just about disappearing now.21:00:37
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The Wessex Ridgeway follows the Imber Range Perimiter Path from here, and I had a rather long trudge along it trying to find a spot to bivvy down for the night.21:21:57
The moon in the distance.21:45:20
I eventually found a corner of a field which seemed just about out of the way enough to at least stop and make a late dinner.
21:52:14
Alas though this didn't turn out to be a good spot to bivvy down, so I had to keep on trudging.23:25:50
I walked back down the hill into Market Lavington. A friend had joked that I would end up sleeping in the middle of a roundabout. This one didn't seem particularly suitable.