Gray day mystique at Stonehenge
Sometimes gray days just add to the atmosphere. At least it did the day we left London to see Stonehenge, one of those places we had read about for years but really didn’t know if we’d see in our lifetime. As you can imagine, we were in awe of this site to see.
Stonehenge, located in Wiltshire, is about two and a half hours from London, giving us time to drive past Eton College and Windsor Castle. The Visitor Center at Stonehenge, filled with information, artifacts, and visuals, drew us in immediately with a theatre-in-the-round experience showing the stone formations in various seasons. We stood “in the round” facing the ever-changing visuals, feeling as if we were there on snow days, sunny days, and even during summer solstice when the sun appears over the heel stone.
Sun coming through an opening at Stonehenge, from a video at the Visitor Center.
Of course, the mystique draws everyone in. Theories notwithstanding, Stonehenge can be appreciated for what you see as much as for what it must have meant to the people building it some 5,000 years ago. Volumes have been written about the purpose of Stonehenge, how the stones were found and moved to the site, and how the formation was constructed. But even with all the research, mysteries remain.
Video shown at Stonehenge Visitor Center capturing a snowy day
Outside the Visitor Center, an assemblage of Neolithic thatched huts offers a glimpse of the tools and construction you might see during the New Stone Age.
Neolithic huts on display at Stonehenge
And in the attempt to answer the question of how heavy bluestones were transported from the Presili Hills in Wales almost 200 miles away, an exhibit of an oblong boulder perched atop massive timbers provides insight on “how they did it.”
Demonstration of how stones might have been moved to site of Stonehenge
After spending time at the Visitor Center, we were ready for our pilgrmage up the long, winding walkway to what loomed large in the distance: Stonehenge. People stopped all along the way to point and take pictures. And we did the same.
The distance from the Visitor Center to the site added to the mystique at Stonehenge
Around 2500 B. C., sarsen stones (the larger ones) and bluestones were brought to the site and arranged in two concentric circles. A horseshoe formation of five trilitons (two large stones topped by a lintel) stood inside the circle. Only three are standing today. Time has taken its toll on the stones and the formations, but the basic structure remains.
Mysterious Stonehenge
People stood near the roped-off site, quietly observing all angles of Stonehenge. Some hugged their loved ones. Others stood with families and friends. Some found a quiet spot to stare at the formation alone.
People react differently to Stonehenge.
We stood without talking, taking pictures and pointing at what we saw. And we moved slowly around the circular path to check out this place we were finally seeing with our own eyes from various perspectives.
A closer look at Stonehenge
With our telephoto, we zoomed in and out, trying to get close-up shots of weathering and nature’s forces on the stones.
A walk around reveals another view of Stonehenge
In fields nearby, sheep grazed while cars and tourists rolled in to the area.
The drive to Stonehenge through rolling countryside
The bottom line is this: Stonehenge deserves to be seen. There are many circles in the United Kingdom — some used for burial grounds, others for worship. Some for both. But if you can only visit one, make it Stonehenge.
Crowds stand in awe around the formation known as Stonehenge.
Whether you’re drawn to construction, artistry, mystery, or religion, you’re sure to find something to admire. And the visual of this spot, this formation, this moment when you see it . . . will stay with you forever.
Greeting Stonehenge one on one.
The mystery remains.
Stonehenge is an English Heritage site. For more information, visit their website.
For more posts on our travels in England, click here.
Woolly Muses
Stone Henge was my first ‘out of London’ place to visit in 1976. Fascinating place.
Oh, the Places We See
You may have gone at a time when you could roam among the stones, as some of my readers said they did. I wish we could have seen them then — and now! Wonder if there have been changes in the aging, coloration, etc. It’s a fascinating place, all right.
anotherday2paradise
Beautiful photos of this iconic place. I remember going there as a child and playing among the huge stones.
Oh, the Places We See
You are indeed fortunate to have a childhood memory like that. We weren’t allowed to go near those stones! So, hold tight to what you remember! Thanks for commenting.
anotherday2paradise
I’ve been a couple of times since it’s been cordoned. It’s just not the same at all, and the crowds were horrendous.
tappjeanne
makes me feel like I’m there, Rusha – great job with the photos and the commentary
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks, Jeanne. It’s a place we’ve wanted to see for years. And we just stood there and stared! Really fascinating.
K.Z.
wow! i would so love to visit that place someday.
Oh, the Places We See
Please do. It’s one of the places we’ve always heard about but just didn’t get around to seeing. Hope your spring is getting springier and your travel bug is flaring up!
K.Z.
yes, i really hope i get to travel a lot this year. have a lovely season! 🙂
Green Global Trek
Amazing place, amazing photos. Thanks for sharing. Hope to experience this magnificent place one day!
Oh, the Places We See
This really is one for the books! I’m so glad we finally made it. You gotta get there.
hilarycustancegreen
In my childhood there were no fences and no Visitor Centre at Stonehenge. We lived not far away and we visited when we felt like it, so these feel like special old friends. I remember, as a college student, going with sleeping bags and spending the night among the stones – very exciting.
Oh, the Places We See
How very, very fascinating. This reminds me of visiting the Colosseum. When we visited 42 years ago, we could roam inside. Now, I hear that you have to be content to walk the rim. I would have loved moving in closer to see the stones. And to sleep beside them? Well, that would be a memory for a lifetime. Thanks for posting this.
jolynnpowers
Stonehenge is on my bucket list and hope to see it sooner then later. The photos are beautiful!
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks so much for taking a look. We, too, had always wanted to visit Stonehenge. It’s worth a trip even though you have to keep your distance.
sandivanwinkle
Rusha – Thank you for sharing. I haven’t talked with you for a while. We’re all so busy, no? I have a trip to Scotland/England with students in June 2018. We have Stonehenge on our agenda. Fingers-crossed that the students all go and things are calm for our travels. We will be studying art, design, and literature during our 10 days. We are excited.
Oh, the Places We See
Sandi, I’m so excited that you will be going to Stonehenge. I have no idea what took me so long to get there, but I feel as though I’ve see one of the world’s great sites. Thanks for sharing the post with students. There’s a lot to see there!
grammywritesblog
I, too, love the mystery of that place!
Oh, the Places We See
You just get caught up in the mystery — and maybe it’s best that it’s never solved. One of those things that keep you thinking all your life about the people who constructed it and why. Thanks for posting!
miniontour
I go quite often living relatively close, beautiful quite spot on most occasions. I also added a page to my website I thought you might like?
https://redmini.co/stonehenge/
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks for the link. All pics are good at Stonehenge. Would love to get closer, but understand why we can’t. Thanks for taking a look!
Sue
Ah, good old Stonehenge! I was fortunate to visit as a child and walk amongst the stones
Oh, the Places We See
You are indeed fortunate. Do you know when they roped off the area around Stonehenge? I would have enjoyed roaming around and through the formations.
Sue
I have no idea, but it could have been the late 70s or early 80s…..
Jodi
Amazing and mysterious and beautiful!
Oh, the Places We See
You are so right, Jodi. This is an amazing place. So glad we finally got to see it!
ralietravels
We were exceptionaly fortunate to visit in 1976 before rock concerts and crowds required it to be fenced off and one could still walk among the stellae. But we stopped again in 2015 and enjoyed it just as much because now there is the museum and explanatory material — and the stones are amazing still.
miniontour
Sounds like like fun, I hope we get to see some of that work? Good luck and enjoy!!