What to Do on a Wiltshire Cottage Holiday

High on the chalk downland of Salisbury Plain andBritain, with no less than thirteen being in Wiltshire.
justifiably a World Heritage Site, Stonehenge isMost of them are chalk hill carvings, and the downs
composed of earthworks surrounding a circularof central Wiltshire make it an ideal place for such
setting of large standing stones and sits at thefigures. The biggest and oldest is at Westbury near
centre of the densest complex of Neolithic andWarminster. It is also one of the best situated, being
Bronze Age monuments in England, including severalhigh on a very steep slope offering a panoramic view
hundred burial mounds, many accessible by road orof the surrounding countryside.
footpath.The recently reopened Kennet & Avon canal
Further north on the Marlborough Downs is Avebury,bisects the county linking the Thames and the Bristol
the site of a large henge and several stone circles,Channel, weaving through spectacular scenery on its
one of the finest and largest Neolithic monuments inway. Caen Hill Locks is a flight of 16 locks and part of
Europe. A thoroughly recommended walk whena longer 29-lock flight over a two mile stretch in
enjoying a cottage holiday in Wiltshire is fromDevizes.
Avebury, past Silbury Hill - a man-made chalk mound -Dyrham Park was used as the setting for the film
and onto the West Kennett Long Barrow, one of theRemains of the Day starring Anthony Hopkins and
largest burial tombs in Britain.Emma Thompson. The setting is nothing short of
In the south of the county is the city of Salisbury,stupendous - as you drop down into this secluded
notable for its medieval cathedral, probably the finestvalley near Chippenham, the imposing house of
in Britain and with the highest spire.honey-coloured stone reveals itself in dramatic
To the north west towards Warminster is thefashion. But Dyrham Park is really all about the trees:
enchantingly beautiful Wylye Valley, a picturesquevenerable horse chestnuts, beech and cedar tower
valley dotted with small, chocolate-box villagesabove the house along with ancient mulberries, pine
composed of thatched Wiltshire cottages and invitingand holm oak.
pubs. Nearby is Stourhead, among the best examplesTowards Bath on the canal is Bradford on Avon. This
of landscape gardening in Britain. Often referred to asbustling market town, in contrast to other parts of
'Paradise', Stourhead is an exquisite example of anthe county, is built in the honey-coloured stone of
English landscaped garden. The garden is dotted withthe Cotswolds. If you're seeking this influence in the
Classical temples including the Pantheon and thelocation of your holiday cottage Wiltshire Cotswold
Temple of Apollo, which provide a dramatic backdropvillages lying to the north include Lacock, Corsham
to the majestic lake, secluded valley and magnificentand the town of Malmesbury. It is England's oldest
treesborough, situated on a hill circled by the River Avon,
Further north another superb garden can be found atand is often called the 'Queen of Hilltop Towns'.
Bowood House. The house is a Grade I listedIts skyline is dominated by the imposing Norman
Georgian country house set in one of CapabilityAbbey where the Abbey Gardens feature planting
Brown's finest parks. Close to Stourhead is Longleat aranging from daffodils, crocus, tulips and iris in spring
more commercial stately home including the UK'sthrough the county's largest private collection of
original Safari Park, treasures and heirlooms withinroses, double herbaceous borders that rival Monet's,
Longleat House, a hedge maze, safari boats, Kingto fabulous autumn colour from specimen trees and
Arthur's Mirror Maze and the Longleat Railway.shrubs spread between formal gardens dotted with
Wiltshire is the county for white horses. There are,fish ponds and a wilder section that cascades into a
or were, at least twenty-four of these hill figures invalley cut through by a tributary of the River Avon.