Here’s a post I wrote on 15 January 2015 shortly before the birth of my youngest granddaughter. Sadly I have not yet been able to visit to meet her brother who was born in August 2020.
A quick weekend visit to Wiltshire to visit family gave me the opportunity to finally revisit Stonehenge after many, many years. I was one of the fortunate people who was able to run around the stones back in the 1960s. Since 1978 the stones have been fenced off and the experience of viewing them through wire did not appeal to me, even though I have passed the site often on my way to the South-West.
The whole site has been much improved by the removal of the old A344, a major road that ran up the north edge of the stones. You now approach from the west, either on foot or using the shuttle bus, and make your way clockwise around the monument which allows you to see all the stones above ground.
What you see probably originates from around 2500 BC and took 800 years to build. Obviously the site has changed over the centuries, but it seems that the larger sarsen stones were constructed then and do not appear to have been moved, whereas the smaller bluestones may have been rearranged several times.
Stonehenge has an ‘axis’ – an alignment that runs north-east to south-west up the final straight line of the Avenue. This alignment works for the summer and winter solstices and there is growing evidence that the winter solstice was the most important.
It was a cold, raw windy winter’s day, but at least the sun shone casting black shadows over the bright-green grass and providing a striking contrast to the darkening clouds forming overhead.
I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves and if you are ever in the area I do recommend a visit to this extraordinary site. Barrows and monuments in the landscape can be explored on foot over the uneven grass.
This post is a contribution to Fandango’s Flashback Friday. Have you got a post you wrote in the past on this particular day? The world might be glad to see it – either for the first time – or again if they’re long-time loyal readers.
TRAVEL WORDS 
We took our daughters to Stonehenge on our first UK trip in 1999. It was one of those “I can’t believe I’m actually here” places and we enjoyed our visit very much.
The site is even better now and it is still magical.
Absolutely fabulous, Jude. I have never been there, but would love to go. You really were lucky that no crowds were there that day. The skies and light are marvelous in these shots. So atmospheric.
Well it was winter and it was bitterly cold and there were some people, especially Japanese, but I managed to get photos without them by walking all around the circumference.
It’s an amazing site, but it is a shame that you can’t get right up close to them now – though I do understand why. I always enjoy when it comes into view when we are on the road, driving to Cornwall.
You got some great pictures. We were there for one winter solstice, so were allowed in, but it was obviously very busy. Something about the size of the stones and the idea of moving them into place triggers me to feel uneasy there. It’s wonderful site though, for all that.
How do you make the post ‘new’ for Flashback Friday? Do you copy it and repost?
I do copy the post and repost it, reblog doesn’t really work regarding the comments. Plus I can edit the old post a bit.
Only met our grandson, Teddy once and two other family babies not at all. It’s too much isn’t it?
Well hello Mrs C – lovely to hear from you again. It’s a shame because we will never get those newborn baby cuddles. Hope everyone is well in your family.
yes all ok thank heavens but boy oh boy this one mother of a test! Best to you and yours.
I’m only about 20 miles from there are have visited three times in 20 years – it’s a popular place to go when *we* have visitors.
The first time I visited, I was able to walk through the stones. I remember as being very special – there definitely a spirit living amongst the stones. I also visited a small National Trust village that is built within a henge but I can’t recall the name at the moment. Maybe something like Avebery?
Yes, Avebury circle – not so far away from Stonehenge and you can still walk around the stones there.