West Kennet Round trail
Discover one of the best preserved long barrows in the country on this circular trail rich in archaeological sites and ancient heritage. Starting at the National Trust Museum Barn you'll pass the stones of Avebury Henge and Bronze Age barrows before following the West Kennet Avenue to the Sanctuary. Finally climb the hill to West Kennet Long Barrow with panoramic views of the Wiltshire countryside.
West Kennet Long Barrow
When you step inside this long barrow you're entering one of Britain's earliest built structures. It's around 5,650 years old and had already stood for over a thousand years by the time the Great Pyramid in Giza was built.
Total steps: 13
Total steps: 13
Start point
Old Farmyard Avebury. Grid reference: SU100700
Step 1
Starting by the Museum Barn, walk out of the Old Farmyard past the café and the shop. Climb the steps ahead of you into the henge and stone circles. Go left following the line of stones until you reach the road. Take the footpath on your right. At the end, cross the road and go through the pedestrian gate.
Step 2
Turn left and follow the fence line to the ditch and henge bank. Then turn right and continue along the edge of the ditch until you see a pedestrian gate.
Step 3
Go through the gate and onto a lane. Turn left and follow this lane for 700 yards. You will pass a series of farm buildings on your right.
Step 4
Immediately after the last building turn right up a track. Walk up this straight track for about 1 mile until you are almost at the top of the hill.
Step 5
When you get to the Bronze Age barrow with beech trees growing on top, look for a pedestrian gate on the right. Go through this gate, follow the path downhill as it weaves past another three barrows and continue on down the hill.
Step 6
At the bottom of the hill you'll see a pedestrian gate. Don't go through, but instead turn left along the bottom of the field, following the fence line until you pass a house. Shortly after you'll see a gap in the boundary.
Step 7
Go through the gap, carefully cross the road and go over a stile on the opposite side of the road. You are now following the course of the West Kennet Avenue. If you look towards the hedgerow on your left you can still see a fallen standing stone. Turn left and cross the field, looking for a gate ahead of you. Go through, cross the minor road, through another gate opposite and into the next field. Continue up the field and through a pedestrian gate.
Step 8
You have now reached the Sanctuary. When you are ready, exit through the pedestrian gate opposite the one you came through, turn right and follow the track. After around 250 yards turn right going downhill along the edge of the field.
Step 9
When you reach the road, turn left, over a bridge and after a few yards you will see a track on your right hand side. Follow this track for around 200 yards and look for a narrow footpath on your right-hand side which passes through a line of trees.
Step 10
At the end of this path go over a stile and into a field, keeping the fence line on your left. Cross another stile, over a lane, take the track ahead and go over another stile. After another 400 yards turn left and join a path leading up the hill.
Step 11
Once at the top you have reached West Kennet Long Barrow. When you are ready, head back down the hill. At the fence line turn left and follow the path. Go through a kissing gate, cross the river and head for the road. You will see Silbury Hill ahead of you. Go through a kissing gate, turn left and when you see a pedestrian gate on the other side of the road, carefully cross the road and go through it.
Step 12
Keeping the hedge line on your left, continue to follow this path, passing Silbury Hill and the Winterbourne Stream on your left.
Step 13
Follow the stream a further 700 yards until you reach a road. Carefully cross the road into the National Trust car park. If you wish you can follow the path from the car park back to the Old Farmyard for refreshments after your walk.
End point
National Trust car park, Avebury. Grid reference: SU 09960 69654
Trail map
More near here
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This walk circles the base of Silbury Hill, affording a real sense of scale of this important prehistoric structure, part of the World Heritage Site of Avebury.
Discover Windmill Hill trail
Follow a trail to the northwest of Avebury World Heritage Site, exploring Neolithic earthworks at Windmill Hill with wildlife and views to enjoy on the route.
Avebury Ridgeway walk
Starting at the heart of the World Heritage Site, this walk takes you through the remains of the largest stone circle in the world and along ancient roads into rolling chalk downland.
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