Stout footwear, protective clothing to suit the prevailing weather conditions and reasonable mobility will be required.
Meet at 6.30 pm at the upper car park entrance at Stourhead BA12 6QF (ST 779 341)
Distance / terrain: the walk is about 4.5 miles (so should be back at the cars by 9 pm). We will walk down to Stourton (by Stourhead House & gardens) before climbing Whitesheet Hill – a wonderful view and prehistoric sites at sunset (weather permitting).
The walk will descend through the geology from the chalk downland of Whitesheet Hill down to Stourton; the estate cottages and church are built of the underlying Greensand. The Stourhead lakes are on the impermeable Gault Clay below. Here we are in the remnants of the forest of Selwood, hunting ground of medieval kings, The nearby source of the river Stour at Six Wells Bottom has springs rising from the Greensand that feed the series of lakes created by dams in its valley. Ancient drove-ways over the Chalk downlands lead to White Sheet Hill. The Stone Age enclosure, Bronze Age barrows and Iron Age hill-fort are testimony to the attractions of this place, with its wonderful views.
£10 (£8 WANHS members)
Isobel Geddes is a geologist, writer and Blue Badge Guide who regards archaeology and subsequent human history as just the latest stage in the history of our planet. She has introduced people to the local historic sites for a number of years. As well as guiding, she wrote Hidden Depths: Wiltshire’s Geology and Landscapes, published in 2000 by Ex Libris Press. Subsequently she contributed walks for The Cream of South Wiltshire Walks (Hobnob Press, 2002) and wrote a chapter on the geological history of the Marlborough Downs in the English Heritage book The Avebury Landscape – Aspects of the field archaeology of the Marlborough Downs in 2005 (edited by Graham Brown, David Field & David McOmish & published by Oxbow Books). She also produces short geology & landscape guides covering local places of interest.