Click on thumbnail to view full size picture of sarsens on Fyfield Down

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FYFIELD DOWN TO TEMPLE FARM

General :- This 8.5 mile route starts at English Nature's Fyfield Down Nature Reserve car park. An information board explains the geology in detail. This area is unique, sarsen stones are not found scattered over the ground like this anywhere else in Europe. There's a quiet peaceful air about the valley, its a nice place but it's hard to explain why. It's equally hard to believe the stones got there naturally. Sarsen is the Celtic word for "stranger", and the Celts were right, the stones don't seem to belong there, its almost as if a giant hand spread them across the valley. 50 million years ago this area had a tropical climate. It's hard silica crust, called Silicrete, broke into pieces when the earth cooled to artic conditions and glaciers ripped through the valley, breaking its crust into the rocks you see today. So much for global warming! If you want to learn about English Nature have a look at their website on www.english-nature.org.uk

This is an easy walk that's good for any time of year. The return journey goes through a very wealthy farming area and the last part skirts around the Manton House racehorse stables where you can often see the horses out on the gallops. There is no pub on this walk.

How to get there:- Go east on the M4 from Marlborough for 1 mile. just as you leave the last house there is a narrow road to the right at SU 1694 6881 signposted "House & Hollow". Go up this road for 1 mile to a small car park on the left at Wp start.