The Avenue, Avebury. Photo by Sophie Morse.
I’ve been a little surprised that there aren’t more photo panoramas of stone circles, their shape being optimal for the 360-degree view. The stones at Avebury in Wiltshire are too widely situated to be seen effectively from a single viewpoint so the view above shows the West Kennet Avenue that leads towards the circles. The same photographer also has a view of the entrance to the West Kennet Long Barrow.
Silbury Hill, Avebury. Photo by Matthew Kaye.
Close to Avebury village is Silbury Hill, one of the largest artificial mounds in the world and—since its purpose is still contested—a good contender for Britain’s most mysterious creation. The hill and Avebury stones (not to mention Stonehenge) are only the most spectacular landmarks in a remarkable county that’s scored all over with prehistoric remains. It’s this area of England—Wiltshire and Somerset—I always regard as the true ancient heart of the country, not London which was founded by Roman invaders thousands of years after these structures were raised.
Elsewhere on { feuilleton }
• The panoramas archive
The only comparalbe thing we have here in OZ would be http://www.360cities.net/image/uluru-kata-tjuta-national-park-northern-territory-australia#-714.16,13.48,70.0
Shame they don’t have a 360 degree from the top of Ayers Rock aka Uluru. It’s quite a view.
And here’s where I grew up
http://www.360cities.net/image/bondi-beach-from-iceburgs-sydney-australia#67.00,1.50,75.0
And here’s where I am right now as I post this. Not very busy at work obviously.
http://www.360cities.net/map#lat=-33.86657&lng=151.2135&zoom=19
Uluru isn’t really an apt comparison since that’s a natural formation given sacred status. All the Wiltshire monuments are human creations so a closer analogue would be Aboriginal wall carvings or similar.
Bondi Beach in winter looks a lot less dreary than British seaside towns out of season.
Those pictures are just absolutely stunning. England just moved up my travel list.