Im sure Avebury would have been genuinely atmospheric and tingly before the national trust got their hands on it.
We arrived a couple of weeks ago for a walk and was told the only place we could park was in the national trust car park which cost £5 and was complete with ice cream van and nt membership stand.
We set off on a lovely walk and went to 9 barrow down i think its called which was beautiful and very atmospheric, and only about 3 other people around. We walked a circular route, taking in a couple of fairy rings (is that the right name? Clumps of spooky trees on a hill?), along the avenue of stones (why did they put a bit of road through a section of it??) and into Avebury itself.
Whilst at 9 barrow down i did have a bit of a strange experience, but in avebury itself i didnt feel a thing. I did however feel annoyed at the amount of people, signs, gates, ropes, handy leaflets, gravelled pathway back to the expensive car park etc etc. Although i arrived with no expectations of experiencing anything, i felt sure i would get a 'feeling' about the magic of the place. I left feeling disappointed.
So i have 2 main questions:
1. Has the national trusts sanitising of the site for the benefit of tourists taken all the mystery and magic away from the place; and
2. Has anyone had a similar experience there, or experienced somthing that would prove me wrong?
Id be very interested to hear other peoples thoughts and opinions on this interesting place.
Snook
Soi have 2 questions
We arrived a couple of weeks ago for a walk and was told the only place we could park was in the national trust car park which cost £5 and was complete with ice cream van and nt membership stand.
We set off on a lovely walk and went to 9 barrow down i think its called which was beautiful and very atmospheric, and only about 3 other people around. We walked a circular route, taking in a couple of fairy rings (is that the right name? Clumps of spooky trees on a hill?), along the avenue of stones (why did they put a bit of road through a section of it??) and into Avebury itself.
Whilst at 9 barrow down i did have a bit of a strange experience, but in avebury itself i didnt feel a thing. I did however feel annoyed at the amount of people, signs, gates, ropes, handy leaflets, gravelled pathway back to the expensive car park etc etc. Although i arrived with no expectations of experiencing anything, i felt sure i would get a 'feeling' about the magic of the place. I left feeling disappointed.
So i have 2 main questions:
1. Has the national trusts sanitising of the site for the benefit of tourists taken all the mystery and magic away from the place; and
2. Has anyone had a similar experience there, or experienced somthing that would prove me wrong?
Id be very interested to hear other peoples thoughts and opinions on this interesting place.
Snook
Soi have 2 questions