Best natural monuments around Cherhill include iconic hill figures, ancient earthworks, and prehistoric sites set within the rolling Wiltshire countryside. This region is characterized by its chalk downlands, offering expansive views and a rich historical tapestry. Visitors can explore a variety of natural and man-made monuments that showcase thousands of years of history. The area provides numerous walking routes to experience these significant landmarks and the surrounding 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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Beyond the iconic Cherhill White Horse, you can explore the ancient Avebury Stone Circle, a Neolithic henge monument where you can touch the stones. Another must-see is Silbury Hill, Europe's largest artificial mound, offering amazing views and a sense of ancient mystery. The area also features the imposing Lansdowne Monument and the Iron Age hillfort of Oldbury Castle, often explored together with the White Horse.
The region is rich in history, featuring sites like the Avebury Stone Circle and Silbury Hill, which date back to the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. The Cherhill White Horse is an 18th-century hill figure, one of the oldest in Great Britain, while Oldbury Castle is an Iron Age hillfort with evidence of 2,000-year-old roundhouses. These sites collectively showcase thousands of years of human activity and landscape modification.
Yes, the area offers significant ancient burial sites. You can visit West Kennet Long Barrow, a Neolithic burial chamber older than Stonehenge, where you can go inside the chambers. Another notable site is the Devil's Den Dolmen, a reconstructed Neolithic passage grave on Fyfield Hill.
The natural monuments around Cherhill are set within the rolling Wiltshire countryside, characterized by chalk downlands. You can expect expansive, panoramic views from elevated points like the Cherhill White Horse, Silbury Hill, and the Lansdowne Monument. The chalk grasslands themselves are important ecological sites, supporting diverse wildflowers and habitats.
Yes, the chalk downlands around Cherhill, including areas like Oldbury Castle and the Cherhill White Horse, are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest. These habitats support a rich biodiversity, including various butterfly species, rare and endangered plants, and are popular spots for birdwatching.
Absolutely. The Avebury Stone Circle is particularly family-friendly, allowing visitors to get close to and even touch the ancient stones. Many of the walking routes around the natural monuments, such as the 'Lansdowne Monument – Cherhill White Horse loop from Cherhill' (3.03 km), are rated as easy and suitable for families.
The natural monuments are accessible year-round, but spring and summer offer the best weather for walking and enjoying the vibrant chalk grassland flora. Autumn provides beautiful colors across the landscape. During winter, the views can be stark and dramatic, but paths may be muddy, so appropriate footwear is essential.
The difficulty varies. Many routes, such as the 'Lansdowne Monument – Cherhill White Horse loop from Cherhill' (3.03 km), are rated as easy. However, some trails, especially those covering longer distances or involving ascents to viewpoints like Silbury Hill or the Cherhill White Horse, can be moderate due to slight elevations or uneven terrain. Good footwear is always recommended, especially after rain.
The area around Cherhill is excellent for various outdoor activities. You can enjoy hiking on trails like the 'Cherhill White Horse loop — North Wessex Downs' (9.37 km). There are also numerous road cycling routes, such as the 'Country Roads – Curving Rural Road loop from Calne', and mountain biking trails, including the 'Ridgeway & St Alfred's Way loop from Beckhampton'. You can find more details on these activities in the Hiking around Cherhill, Road Cycling Routes around Cherhill, and MTB Trails around Cherhill guides.
Yes, several routes allow you to explore multiple sites. The Cherhill Downs Walk is a popular option that often connects the Cherhill White Horse, the Lansdowne Monument, and Oldbury Castle. You can find specific routes like the 'Lansdowne Monument – Cherhill White Horse loop from Cherhill' in the Hiking around Cherhill guide.
For the Cherhill White Horse, Lansdowne Monument, and Oldbury Castle, parking is generally available in designated areas near Cherhill Down. For Avebury Stone Circle, there is a National Trust car park in Avebury village. It's advisable to check local signage for specific parking regulations and fees.
While some areas are more easily accessed by car, public transport options exist for certain sites. For example, Avebury Stone Circle is served by local bus routes. However, reaching more remote sites like the Cherhill White Horse or Lansdowne Monument often requires a combination of public transport and walking, or private vehicle.
While the immediate vicinity of some monuments like the Cherhill White Horse is primarily natural landscape, nearby villages such as Cherhill and Avebury offer cafes, pubs, and other eateries. Avebury village, in particular, has options for refreshments right within the stone circle.
Visitors consistently praise the breathtaking views over the picturesque countryside, especially from sites like the Cherhill White Horse. The ability to get up close and even touch the ancient stones at Avebury Stone Circle is also a highlight. The rich history, combined with the opportunity for moderate trails and exploring ancient sites, makes for a highly appreciated experience, as evidenced by over 200 photos and 240 upvotes from the komoot community.


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