Take a guided walk among the stones

Stonehenge is just one part of a complex ceremonial landscape

Stonehenge is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the world, let alone the country.

It attracts millions of tourists from around the globe every year who marvel at the ancient landmark.

A number of guided walks run by the National Trust can be enjoyed throughout the year.

From Bronze Age burial mounds to ancient ceremonial pathways, the landscape surrounding Britain's most famous prehistoric monuments is full of intriguing archaeology.

Stonehenge's famous stone circle is just one part of a complex ceremonial landscape on Salisbury Plain.

Cursus

Other points of interest include The Cursus. This huge enclosure just north of Stonehenge is thought to be older than the circle itself.

Stretching 1¾ miles long from east to west, its low earthworks form a massive thin oblong. The name 'Cursus' is Latin for 'raceway' - a name given to it by 18th Century antiquarian William Stukeley, who thought it was a Roman chariot track.

Also the Cursus Barrows burial mounds at Stonehenge were excavated by Victorians and found to contain decorated pottery, bronze spearheads, flint arrowheads and glass beads.

This ancient ceremonial pathway, The Avenue, stretches two miles from Stonehenge to the River Avon. Much of its ditch-and-bank-lined track is barely visible above ground, but the earthworks can still be seen approaching the stones.

Bluestonehenge

Walks take place throughout the year and are a great way to complement your visit to the stone circle and learn about the latest discoveries such as Bluestonehenge.

A recent discovery found holes near Stonehenge which indicate that this was also once a stone circle. It was made up of bluestones and brought from the Preseli Mountains of Wales, 150 miles away.

Learn about ancient peoples, hidden histories and the changing landscape by taking a Stonehenge walk with a National Trust guide. Lasting around 1½ hours, walks are free but all donations are welcome.

Walks run at 10.30am Wednesdays and 2.00pm Saturdays. Find out more by visiting the National Trust website or ringing 01980 664780.

National Trust: Stonehenge guided walks