Hackpen Hill to Avebury Walk

4.2 miles (6.7 km)

This walk follows The Ridgeway and the Wessex Ridgeway from Hackpen Hill to the historic Avebury Stones.
You start the walk from the Hackpen Hill car park next to the white horse figure. Carved into the chalk hillside in 1838, this iconic hill figure is best viewed from the valley below, but standing above it offers an incredible vantage point over the rolling fields toward the Cotswolds.... From here you head south along The Ridgeway National Trail, passing Berwick Bassett Down before coming to Overton Down.
Here you pick up the Wessex Ridgeway and follow it west to reach the stones. As you approach the village, you pass the massive Neolithic bank and ditch of the Avebury Stone Circle, the largest prehistoric stone circle in the world. The trail leads you directly into the centre of this ancient monument, where the stones stand amongst the village houses and the historic Red Lion pub. It's about a 4 mile walk along a gradually descending trail.
Wildlife enthusiasts will find plenty to observe on the open downland. The area is a stronghold for birds of prey, with red kites and kestrels frequently seen hovering over the slopes. In the spring and summer, the chalk grassland comes alive with wildflowers, attracting rare butterfly species such as the Adonis Blue and Chalk Hill Blue.