Most visitors come to the Avebury area for the stone circle and leave without seeing the two monuments that make the landscape truly extraordinary. Silbury Hill rises beside the A4 like a flat-topped green pyramid, a manmade mound of chalk and soil about thirty metres high that was raised around 4,400 years ago. Nobody knows what it was for. It holds no burial, as far as excavation has shown, and the sheer labour involved, several million hours of digging and carrying, makes it one of the most puzzling prehistoric works in Europe. You cannot climb it, because the mound is fragile, but a viewing area beside the road gives a clear look at its shape and its setting beside the young River Kennet. A short walk away, across the fields, West Kennet Long Barrow is the other half of the story. This is a chambered tomb about a hundred metres long, built roughly 5,600 years ago and used for generations. A path climbs gently from the road to the crest of the ridge, and at the far end huge sarsen stones guard an entrance that leads into stone-walled chambers, where you can stand in the dark and picture the burials that were once placed here. Both sites are looked after by English Heritage, they are free to visit, and they are open to walkers at any time.
Why they matter
Avebury, Silbury and West Kennet belong to the same World Heritage Site, and seeing all three makes sense of a landscape in which tombs, mounds, avenues and circles were built over more than a thousand years. Silbury Hill was constructed in stages, beginning as a small gravel mound and growing into the giant it became, and the long barrow is older still.
Standing on the barrow you can look across to Silbury and, on a clear day, understand why people chose the ridge for their dead. The valley below is also the source of the River Kennet, and the springs nearby were almost certainly part of the ritual picture.
Making the walk
The usual approach is from a roadside parking area on the A4 near Silbury Hill, and the path from there to the barrow takes about fifteen minutes each way across fields, with a gentle but steady climb at the end. The ground is uneven and can be wet or muddy in winter, so sturdy shoes matter. Some people continue to the village of Avebury, about a mile and a half away, by the path along the Kennet, which turns a short stop into a rewarding half-day of walking.
Inside the chambers it is dark and the roof is low, so bring a small torch and take care on the entrance steps. Please leave the stones undisturbed, resist the urge to leave offerings, and keep to the paths to protect the grassland.
Fitting it into your trip
This is one of the best free things to do in the area, and it pairs naturally with Avebury, where the National Trust runs the village, the museum and the manor. If you are visiting from Salisbury, the drive takes a little over an hour, so most people combine it with the stone circle in a single day, or add it to a guided tour that already includes Avebury.
Silbury is best seen in the low light of morning or evening, when the flanks of the mound pick up shadow. There are no facilities at the barrow, so bring water, and bring waterproofs outside high summer, because the ridge is open to the wind.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided visit. A view of Silbury Hill from the roadside viewing area, then a short uphill walk across fields to the long barrow, where you can enter the stone chambers.
Best time
Morning or late afternoon for soft light on the mound; dry weather makes the field path far easier.
How long
About an hour for both sites on foot, longer if you continue to Avebury along the river.
Tips
Wear sturdy shoes, carry a small torch for the chambers, and do not try to climb Silbury Hill.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Anyone who has seen the stone circle at Avebury and wants the deeper story of the landscape.
- Families
- Children enjoy the climb to the barrow and the dark chambers, but the field path can be muddy and there are no facilities.
- Couples
- A walk to the barrow in the evening light, with Silbury Hill glowing across the valley.
- Pair with
- Avebury stone circle and village, which is a short walk or drive away.
- Time needed
- One to two hours, or half a day with the walk to Avebury.
Good questions
Can you climb Silbury Hill?+
No, the mound is fragile and visitors are not allowed on it. A roadside viewing area gives a clear view of the hill and its setting.
Is West Kennet Long Barrow free?+
Yes, it is free to visit and open to walkers at any time. It is cared for by English Heritage and has no visitor facilities.
How long is the walk to the long barrow?+
From the roadside parking area near Silbury Hill it takes about fifteen minutes each way, across fields with a gentle climb at the end.
Can you go inside the barrow?+
Yes, you can enter the stone chambers from the east end. It is dark and low inside, so a small torch helps, and you should take care on the entrance.
How far is it from Avebury?+
Silbury Hill is about a mile and a half from Avebury village, and the long barrow is a little further on foot. Many visitors walk between them along the river.
