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West Kennet long barrow, 800m south-east of Silbury Hill

1 ha

Plan your visit

BirdsWildlifeAncient
Free entryDogs welcome1 ha

Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🐦64+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Goldfinch and Jackdaw
  • Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
  • 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Best for

7 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Free

Birds — Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Tree Sparrow +61 more · last seen 2025; Ancient woodland — owls, woodpeckers, warblers

Wildlife

Strong match

Free

Birds — Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Tree Sparrow +61 more · last seen 2025; Ancient woodland

Ancient woodland

Strong match

Free

Ancient woodland — continuous woodland since before 1600

Insect spotting

Strong match

Free

Insects — Small White, Meadow Brown, Small Heath +30 more · last seen 2025

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Free

Plants — Wood Avens, Hawthorn, Common Poppy +58 more · last seen 2026

Heritage

Strong match

Free

Historic site

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

9 signed routes nearby · 4 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
The RidgewayWalking route140 km
Named routeRef RWLength 140 kmNational walking route
Avebury Ridgeway WalkWalking route8 km

Starting at the heart of the Avebury World Heritage Site, this walk takes you through the remains of the largest stone circle in the world and along the West Kennet Avenue into beautiful, rolling chalk downland.

Named routeLength 8 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Wessex RidgewayWalking route
Named routeRef WRRegional walking route
White Horse TrailWalking route
Named routeRef WHTRegional walking route
Kennet and Avon Canal TrailWalking route140 km

Rivers linked by a canal. The name refers to the entire navigable length. From Bristol the way is the Avon. The canal is from Bath to Newbury. From there to Reading the way is the Kennet. 53 locks to Summit Pound (150 m asl) and 54 down to Reading.

Named routeRef K&ALength 140 kmRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

22 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Mercian WayCycling route
Named routeRef 45National Cycle Network
Route 403Cycling route
Named routeRef 403National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route280 m
Named routeRef 403Length 280 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route378 m
Named routeRef 403Length 378 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route746 m
Named routeRef 403Length 746 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route693 m
Named routeRef 403Length 693 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
🚵

Mountain biking

2 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Wessex Ridgeway TrailMountain bike route
Named routeListed length 207km
King Alfred's WayMountain bike route

King Alfreds Way is 350km (220 miles) off road route designed to be ridden clockwise. It starts & ends in Winchester. It is suitable for gravel or cross-country bikes.

Named routeRegional cycle route
🐴

Horse riding

1 public path nearby

Public paths

No named routes yet. Public paths are shown on the map.

Wildlife to spot

Photos

21 photos from nearby open sources

West Kennet Long Barrow viewed from the top of Silbury Hill

West Kennet Long Barrow viewed from the top of Silbury Hill

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