Thousands rush to Stonehenge for the Summer and Winter Solstice but there is a great six and a half mile walk you can do at any time which takes in the main sights and includes plenty of information boards. 

To get to the start, leave the A303 at the Countess Roundabout southbound onto the A345 towards Amesbury. Immediately you will cross the River Avon and then on the left there are a few parking spaces at the entrance to Lord’s Walk and on the right a layby.

Start walking north back towards the roundabout on the righthand side. The footway leads to an underpass under the A303. On the other side (0.25 miles) continue northward on Countess Road North. At 0.46 miles cross the road to take a vehicular track signposted Stonehenge 3.5 miles. Keep to the vehicular track where it bends left (0.63 miles) after passing a pylon.

The track reaches Long Barrow Ridge. At 1.45 miles follow the track to the right and in 100 metres go left on a grassy track through a side gate (1.54). This is Old King Barrows. This route turns left (1.62) and Stonehenge comes into sight. Keep going straight on until reaching the A303. 

On the left are the King Barrows and another display board (1.89). Immediately before a field gate and the A303, go right through a pedestrian gate (2.14).

(Image: Richard Kenchington) Follow a track on the field side of the A303. The path descends into Stonehenge Bottom where the A303 bears away to the left. Go through a pedestrian gate (2.56) and climb with a fence on the left. 

Stonehenge comes into view. Stop when you are close to the Heel Stone (2.83) miles. You are now on The Avenue. With your back to Stonehenge, walk away from it keeping the Heel Stone in the middle of Stonehenge. Keep looking back to check.

Bear right through a pedestrian gate (3.19). Continue in the same direction towards the gap between two woods on the ridge where the pedestrian gate and display board used earlier take you back onto the outward route (3.61). Go left and right later on the grassy track to get back to the vehicular track (3.96). Now go left along the vehicular track with woods on the left and another barrow. On reaching a cross roads of tracks (4.20) before going right, view the display board slightly off route. 

After going right, the route is along an enclosed bridleway with fields to the right and houses to the left. Where the bridleway bends left and joins another path, go right along the course of a disused railway (4.58). As it bends to the right look for a pedestrian gate off to the left (4.75). Do not go through it but take a narrow path by it on the left. Keep to it as it keeps to the fence and the field on the right. Keep straight on when it comes out onto a vehicular track (4.87). On reaching Fargo Road, go right (4.98) along it.

(Image: Richard Kenchington) After the last house, go left through a pedestrian gate into a field (5.10). Keep to the wooded boundary (5.21), then turn right to cross the field with the object of returning to Fargo Road at the far righthand end of the field through a pedestrian gate (5.40). Directly opposite is another gate enabling you to inspect Woodhenge and read about its history.

Follow Fargo Road around the north and east sides of Woodhenge and where it goes left fork right (5.54) through concrete blocks onto a bit of the old road now a bridleway. This leads out onto Countess Road North (5.63) here go right and follow it back to the car (6.53).

Find a map of the route at explore.osmaps.com/route/27096446

Written for the Daily Echo by Richard Kenchington, Hampshire Area Walking Environment Officer of the Ramblers’ Association.