Best natural monuments around Broad Hinton are found within the North Wiltshire & Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This region is characterized by rolling chalk downland and expansive views, blending natural splendor with a rich prehistoric landscape. Visitors can explore ancient sites and remnants of human interaction with nature. The area offers a unique combination of historical wonder and natural beauty.
Last updated: May 3, 2026
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Devil's Den stone monument is a Neolithic dolmen (burial chamber) located in Wiltshire, near Marlborough, not Sturminster Newton. The structure features a massive 17-ton capstone resting on two upright sarsen stones. Local folklore claims that if water is poured into the hollows on the capstone, the Devil himself will come during the night to drink it. It was largely reconstructed in 1921 after the chamber collapsed.
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Sidbury Hill, or Sidbury Camp, is the site of an Iron Age bivallate hillfort on the eastern edge of Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. The site is sub-triangular in shape, approximately 17 acres in area, and is constructed on the site of a Neolithic settlement. The hill offers excellent defensive slopes on all sides, which have been supplemented by the double ditch and rampart earthworks. The settlement and hillfort were partially excavated in the 19th century and the 1950s; there were finds of pottery and other artefacts. A Neolithic settlement site was discovered during the excavation in the 1950s, being of a section of the south-east rampart of the hillfort. A number of flint flakes and tools were recovered. The site is a scheduled national monument. Trees planted in the 1960s were removed from 2002 and the area was allowed to revert to the natural chalk downland. Access to the site is difficult as it is on, or near, Ministry of Defence land, and there are many tank tracks and occasional artillery firing in the area. There are also numerous ditches, barrows, trackways, field systems, and tumuli in the area. Due to erosion issues climbing on the barrow is now forbidden. Such a shame, but understandable.
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A well preserved bell barrow, the mound of which measures 22m in diameter and stands up to 2.8m high. The mound is surrounded by a berm up to 5m in diameter and a ditch 0.7m deep and up to 6.2m wide. One of these two bell barrows produced a sherd of Bronze Age pottery and a fragment of a polished greenstone axe, both found by Owen Meyrick. A bell barrow, the mound of which measures 24m in diameter and stands 2.7m high. The berm and ditch which surround this barrow have been levelled by cultivation on three sides but survive as buried features on the fourth. From measurements on the western side it can be seen that the berm is c.3m wide and that the ditch is c.5m wide.
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Who wouldn't want to walk into a neolithic burial chamber? anybody? no? didn't think so!!! It was amazing!!! The monument includes six prominent Bronze Age round barrows which form part of a larger round barrow cemetery north-east of West Kennett Farm and west of the Ridgeway track on Overton Hill. This is the site of a round barrow which, despite being ploughed level, will contain archaeological information; the old ground surface beneath the mound and the surrounding quarry ditch, from which material was quarried during construction of the monument, will survive as buried features. The area of the mound has a diameter of 33m; the surrounding ditch is c.2m wide. A bowl barrow, the mound of which measures 41.5m in diameter and stands up to 1.2m high. The mound is surrounded by a ditch which has become infilled over the years but which survives as a buried feature c.3m wide. This barrow has been partially excavated on two occasions, in 1857 by Thurnham and again in 1882 by W & H Cunnington. The primary cremation burial was not located but two secondary cremations were recovered. One was located north- west of the centre of the mound and was accompanied by a flint scraper and a serrated flint flake; the other was situated east of the centre and contained pottery sherds of two vessels, a beaker and an urn, as well as a piece of antler and several bone pins. A bowl barrow, the mound of which measures 42m in diameter and stands up to 0.7m high. The barrow has been partially excavated on two occasions, in 1857 by Thurnham and in 1882 by Ponting. These revealed that the barrow mound contained a crouched skeleton in a grave partly lined and roofed with sarsens. This was covered by a sarsen cairn, itself ringed by a double circle of sarsen stones c.1m outside the edge of the cairn. There was no evidence of a ditch around this barrow. Other finds included a later crouched skeleton covered with sarsen stones, the skeleton of a child, three large urns full of burnt bones and the perforated head of a bone pin. A well preserved bell barrow, the mound of which measures 26m in diameter and stands up to 3m high. The mound is surrounded by a gently sloping berm or platform c.3m wide and a ditch 0.5m deep and up to 6.4m wide.
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In a field on Fyfield Down, 1 mile east of Marlborough, Wiltshire, stands the prehistoric burial chamber known as The Devil’s Den or Clatford Bottom Stone, a Neolithic monument from 5,000 years ago that is also known as a Dolmen (stone table). Get up here on a clear day, nice and early, and you'll witness the most amazing sunrise.
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Got to be honest Farid mate this has given me the biggest laugh ever on Kamoot. Not like it's going to be there the next time!!!
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The area around Broad Hinton, nestled within the North Wiltshire & Wessex Downs AONB, is rich in prehistoric landscapes and historical sites. Among the most popular are the Avebury Stone Circle, a vast Neolithic site encircling part of Avebury village, and Silbury Hill, Europe's largest artificial mound. Visitors also frequently explore West Kennet Long Barrow, an ancient Neolithic burial chamber older than Stonehenge.
Broad Hinton is situated within the North Wiltshire & Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), characterized by rolling chalk downland and expansive views. While many sites are archaeological, they are deeply integrated into this natural landscape. You'll encounter features like the distinctive chalk hills, which are home to iconic chalk hill figures, and the overall scenic backdrop of ancient, human-modified landscapes.
Yes, beyond the major sites, you can discover the Cherhill White Horse, the second oldest chalk hill figure in Wiltshire, offering breathtaking views over the countryside. Another intriguing site is the Devil's Den Dolmen, a neolithic burial chamber with a massive capstone, located near Marlborough.
The area around Broad Hinton offers various outdoor activities. You can find numerous hiking trails, such as the 'Hackpen White Horse & The Ridgeway loop' or routes around Barbury Castle. For mountain biking, options include 'The Ridgeway at Barbury Castle – Avebury Stone Circle loop'. Road cycling enthusiasts can explore routes like 'Hackpen Hill – Wessex Ridgeway loop'. You can find more details on these activities in the dedicated guides for Hiking around Broad Hinton, MTB Trails around Broad Hinton, and Road Cycling Routes around Broad Hinton.
Yes, the Avebury Stone Circle is free to visit. Unlike some other ancient sites, you can get up close and touch the stones, which many visitors find to be a unique and impressive experience. Be aware that the fields can be muddy, so appropriate footwear is recommended.
The North Wiltshire & Wessex Downs AONB, where these sites are located, is beautiful year-round. Spring and summer offer pleasant weather for walking and exploring the open landscapes. Autumn provides stunning views with changing foliage. While winter can be colder, the sites often have fewer crowds, and the stark beauty of the ancient monuments can be particularly striking. Always check local weather conditions before your visit.
Many of the sites, such as the Avebury Stone Circle, are considered family-friendly due to their open spaces and the ability to explore freely. Children often enjoy the scale and mystery of these ancient places. The walks around these monuments are generally accessible, though some paths may be uneven or muddy, so plan accordingly.
Many outdoor areas and trails in the North Wiltshire & Wessex Downs AONB are dog-friendly, provided dogs are kept under control, especially around livestock. Specific rules for each monument may vary, so it's advisable to check individual site guidelines. For example, the Devil's Den Dolmen welcomes cyclists, implying a generally open access policy for visitors with pets.
Given the outdoor nature of these sites, it's recommended to wear comfortable walking shoes, as paths can be uneven or muddy. Layers of clothing are advisable due to changeable weather. For sites like West Kennet Long Barrow, where you can enter chambers, a torch can be useful as it can be dark inside.
Visitors frequently highlight the unique blend of historical wonder and natural beauty. They appreciate the ability to get up close to ancient sites like the Avebury Stone Circle, the impressive scale of Silbury Hill, and the sense of history at West Kennet Long Barrow. The breathtaking views over the picturesque countryside from spots like the Cherhill White Horse are also a major draw.
While popular sites like Avebury can attract visitors, the broader North Wiltshire & Wessex Downs AONB offers extensive networks of footpaths and trails. Exploring routes slightly off the main tourist paths, or visiting during off-peak seasons, can lead to quieter experiences. The area's vastness means you can often find tranquil spots to enjoy the rolling downland and expansive views.


Extend your search for the best caves by checking out these guides of the top ones around Broad Hinton: