2009

2009 03 APR
Stonehenge Print
Friday, 03 April 2009

Stonehenge

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A303 seen through the stones.
For anyone who travels to the West Country there will almost certainly come a time when you travel along the A303 and go past Stonehenge.  I know we have done in the past, but I’ve never stopped to have a closer look, so as we were heading off for a few days away in Dorset we did just what hordes of other people do and stopped.


Now I knew these days that you aren’t actually allowed to get that close to the stones themselves, but I hadn’t expected it to be quite like it is. A walkway takes you all around the area where the stones are and, being English Heritage members, our cards allowed us access without paying the £6.60 to walk around the field with all the other tourists. It really must be the number one destination for those touring the country to stop at. Recently I saw an article about improving the facilities there and I can see why now as there is very little there apart from a small shop and somewhere to buy snacks, which were very nice I have to say. But for a world heritage site like this you do feel it could be so much better.


Close up of the stones
I did wonder as we are not allowed to get close to the stones themselves whether you actually get a true sense of the atmosphere of the place. Photographically however it would be impossible to get any pictures without anyone else in them if the number of people there were actually close to the stones. If I hadn’t got my 300mm lens with me I would never have got any close ups so I’m glad I took it with me. I guess English Heritage has to strike a balance between protecting the stones and allowing us to see the area the best way we can and if you really want to get closer to the stones then it is possible to book a visit out of normal visiting times by contacting English Heritage which I think would really be worth doing.  I must admit to feeling really annoyed by the graffiti I could see even from the distance we were away. I’ve no idea what possessed whoever it was that painted an anti nuclear sign on one of the larger upright stones.

There was one man there protesting: a Druid who was representing the Council of British Druid Orders.  His point was that English Heritage should remove the fence that stops you getting access to the stones and also against the fact that the very busy A303 runs very close to the site too. I really can see his point and I get the feeling that it will always be impossible to please everyone who wants to spend some time there.  You also can’t help the feeling that increasing access to the site will also increase the damage to the stones. 

Close up using a long lens
Peaceful protest




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can’t fail to be amazed by the monument that has evolved over many thousands of years to what we see today. Just how it was built and its true significance will always remain something of a mystery but the fact that the key stones are aligned with major solar and lunar events including Solstices and Equinoxes will always draw people there at those times of the year and I’m glad we took the time to stop and take a closer look.

 

 

Newer & Older Articles

Dorset coast walk to Durdle Door and beyond. on 4 April 2009.
First Bluebell of the year at East Blean Woods on 29 March 2009.

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