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Thornham Down prehistoric and medieval landscapes

686 ha

📷 Brian Robert Marshall · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

BirdsWildlifeHeritage
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome686 ha

Getting here

51.26582, -1.86181

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🐦57+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Corn Bunting and Stonechat
  • ✦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

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome

Best for

7 activities

Bird watching

Birds — Corn Bunting, Stonechat, Rook +54 more · last seen 2025

Free

Wildlife

Birds — Corn Bunting, Stonechat, Rook +54 more · last seen 2025; Lowland calcareous grassland priority habitat

Free

Heritage

Historic site with public access

Free

Insect spotting

Chalk and limestone grassland — chalkhill blue, adonis blue and rare moths

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed with public access

Free

Historic gardens

Historic site with public access

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

3 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Sarsen WayWalking route
Named routeRegional walking route
White Horse TrailWalking route
Named routeRef WHTRegional walking route
Pewsey Vale Circular WalkWalking route

The Pewsey Vale Tourism Partnership has launched a new long-distance walking, cycling and riding route with the Vale of Pewsey at its heart.

Named routeRound tripRegional walking route
🚵

Mountain biking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby
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

5 public paths nearby

Public paths

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

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Compton Down, Salisbury Plain

📷 Brian Robert Marshall · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Compton Down, Salisbury Plain

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Weather for this location

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

✦Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated SitesHistoric site4.1 km→✦Orcheston Down Romano-British landscapeHistoric site4.7 km→✦Casterley Camp and associated monumentsHistoric site2.5 km→✦Casterley CampHistoric site2.5 km→✦Compton Farm Romano-British and Early Medieval occupation sites and associated cultivation earthworksHistoric site3 km→✦West Chisenbury SettlementHistoric site4.1 km→