Summer Solstice Walk
21st June 2008
by Steve Braithwaite
We met at 3.30am at the car park near Manton House, four miles west of Marlborough, there being seven of us altogether including one member form South Wales. Tim Gravina led the walk. We set off in light rain which stayed with us for most of the walk. Despite the rain and clouds there was just enough light to set off without torches. We sauntered off along the track towards Overton Down dodging the Sarsen stones and sleeping sheep, and onto the Wessex Ridgeway, towards Avebury. After 20 minutes we realised that we were not the only people out and about so early, when we encountered a lone rambler walking in the other direction. A few minutes later we were overtaken by two cyclists and then a runner!
Arriving in Avebury soon after 4.30am, we wandered around the stones between tents and sleeping bags and groups of people waiting for the sun to rise. The rain stopped for about half an hour. In a field on the SE side of the village we came across a group of about 150 people arranged in a large circle being entertained by two men dressed in white cloaks and antlers. Declining an offer to join in, we got out our flasks and had a refreshment break. When the sun had not appeared at sunrise - about 5.09am, we left them and set off in the rain through the village passing numerous police stationed around the place.
Walking north to Winterbourn Monkton we overtook about 15 ramblers from Bristol who had been walking since 11pm - some of them looking worse for wear. On Monkton Down, Tim led us off the track to a Sarsen stone with narrow groves and a shallow hole - used by Neolithic man to sharpen tools. After a detour to Wick Down Farm we came back to the Ridgeway again and ambled on until we came to a well earned breakfast stop at the café at Barbury Castle. Afterwards we galloped across the Marlborough Downs around Rockley Manor ending up after about 19 miles at the car park just after midday. Soon after the walk ended the rain stopped and the sun came out. We didn't really need to get up so early - but there is always another year!
Many thanks to Tim for leading the walk and for keeping up entertained and awake with his local knowledge.