somerset, wiltshire and phoney white horse

Somerset one track lanes, which were even scarier than Lincolnshire one track roads

The glorious bathroom, down the path, at Robin Hood's Hut, Goathurst, Somerset

The umbrello at the front of the hut, built just as a place to enjoy the view

First view of our Hut, at the edge of a dense forest, and as isolated as it appears

The handsome & historic village of Dunster, also possessing a magnificent castle & pack pony bridge among other charms

The Bakelite Museum - thought I was back at the Salt Mines, though they really don't make them like this any more, more's the pity

More luxury units at the Bakelite Museum. The Museum owner buys and renovates these marvellous old vans. If he had been in I honestly think I would have tried to buy the grey caravan, it was so lovely, but luckily he was giving a Bakelite lecture at a University somewhere! He also makes 'The Pod' lightweight touring caravan, another one for my shopping list.

The phoney white horse - once cut from the turf, but now permanently covered and drained

Stonehenge (of course) which was not as touristy as I expected, and certainly awed me.

The best until last - The village of Avebury, I need to go back here for at least two days and explore all the mysteries of barrows, mounds, ditches and of course stones. Absolutely fantastic, mystical, unexplainable, and a tribute to the achievements of man armed with an antler horn pick and shovel. I loved it.

Back from my holidays, and ready to roll at the salt mines! Had a gorgeous time touring Somerset & Wiltshire. Absolutely breathtaking neolithic stuff, long barrows, standing stones, ditched enclosures etc which make me feel all funny inside... The white horse we stopped to inspect at very close quarters turned out to have an added storm drain at the low point of the belly, and a white cement screed all over as a permanent surface. What a con. As it is supposed to be cut from the living turf into the white chalk beneath, this seems to be an easy way to maintain it. There were even stop taps around the thing for washing the concrete down I presume. Not quite what was envisaged. The cement shuttering was visible from some distance away, and was the reason we stopped for close inspection - it all looked a bit funny, We stayed in a Landmark Trust property known as Robin Hood's Hut, in complete and glorious isolation in the middle of a forest, one mile down a mud track through a padlocked 5 bar gate. Really spooky at night). A tiny bit nerve racking going outside to the toilet in the middle of the night (really, the smallest room was in a shed down the path) but as there was underfloor heating and a fabulous view from the window it made the detached bathroom a benefit rather than a problem).

Visited Longleat, walking tour of Bath, the Bakelite Museum at Williton, the beautiful village of Dunster, the staggering area that is Avebury, and of course those other standing stones no-one has heard of. It was a busy few days, topped off by dinner with Mr B of the BlackLOG. Sadly Mrs B's nose pressed to the grindstone and she trapped in the big city earning an honest penny. She was much missed. Fantastic dinner and a really nice Pub, (thanks again Mr B) and the final leg of homeward journey completed just after midnight. Glad to be back in own bed (always more comfy after a holiday), and now waiting for my own first visitors at the Salt Mines. My boys actually tidied up ready for parental return, and proved to have cared for the horse, dog, cats, chickens et al very well indeed. The youth of today, always providing surprises! Some photos added, in no particular order, enjoy...