Natural monuments around Preshute are found within the North Wessex Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, characterized by chalk downland, ancient woodlands, and unique chalk stream ecosystems. The area features significant geological formations like sarsen stones and offers extensive chalk grassland. Preshute provides opportunities to explore landscapes shaped by geological processes and ancient human history.
Last updated: May 3, 2026
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Devil's Den stone monument is a Neolithic dolmen (burial chamber) located in Wiltshire, near Marlborough, not Sturminster Newton. The structure features a massive 17-ton capstone resting on two upright sarsen stones. Local folklore claims that if water is poured into the hollows on the capstone, the Devil himself will come during the night to drink it. It was largely reconstructed in 1921 after the chamber collapsed.
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Sidbury Hill, or Sidbury Camp, is the site of an Iron Age bivallate hillfort on the eastern edge of Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. The site is sub-triangular in shape, approximately 17 acres in area, and is constructed on the site of a Neolithic settlement. The hill offers excellent defensive slopes on all sides, which have been supplemented by the double ditch and rampart earthworks. The settlement and hillfort were partially excavated in the 19th century and the 1950s; there were finds of pottery and other artefacts. A Neolithic settlement site was discovered during the excavation in the 1950s, being of a section of the south-east rampart of the hillfort. A number of flint flakes and tools were recovered. The site is a scheduled national monument. Trees planted in the 1960s were removed from 2002 and the area was allowed to revert to the natural chalk downland. Access to the site is difficult as it is on, or near, Ministry of Defence land, and there are many tank tracks and occasional artillery firing in the area. There are also numerous ditches, barrows, trackways, field systems, and tumuli in the area. Due to erosion issues climbing on the barrow is now forbidden. Such a shame, but understandable.
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A well preserved bell barrow, the mound of which measures 22m in diameter and stands up to 2.8m high. The mound is surrounded by a berm up to 5m in diameter and a ditch 0.7m deep and up to 6.2m wide. One of these two bell barrows produced a sherd of Bronze Age pottery and a fragment of a polished greenstone axe, both found by Owen Meyrick. A bell barrow, the mound of which measures 24m in diameter and stands 2.7m high. The berm and ditch which surround this barrow have been levelled by cultivation on three sides but survive as buried features on the fourth. From measurements on the western side it can be seen that the berm is c.3m wide and that the ditch is c.5m wide.
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Who wouldn't want to walk into a neolithic burial chamber? anybody? no? didn't think so!!! It was amazing!!! The monument includes six prominent Bronze Age round barrows which form part of a larger round barrow cemetery north-east of West Kennett Farm and west of the Ridgeway track on Overton Hill. This is the site of a round barrow which, despite being ploughed level, will contain archaeological information; the old ground surface beneath the mound and the surrounding quarry ditch, from which material was quarried during construction of the monument, will survive as buried features. The area of the mound has a diameter of 33m; the surrounding ditch is c.2m wide. A bowl barrow, the mound of which measures 41.5m in diameter and stands up to 1.2m high. The mound is surrounded by a ditch which has become infilled over the years but which survives as a buried feature c.3m wide. This barrow has been partially excavated on two occasions, in 1857 by Thurnham and again in 1882 by W & H Cunnington. The primary cremation burial was not located but two secondary cremations were recovered. One was located north- west of the centre of the mound and was accompanied by a flint scraper and a serrated flint flake; the other was situated east of the centre and contained pottery sherds of two vessels, a beaker and an urn, as well as a piece of antler and several bone pins. A bowl barrow, the mound of which measures 42m in diameter and stands up to 0.7m high. The barrow has been partially excavated on two occasions, in 1857 by Thurnham and in 1882 by Ponting. These revealed that the barrow mound contained a crouched skeleton in a grave partly lined and roofed with sarsens. This was covered by a sarsen cairn, itself ringed by a double circle of sarsen stones c.1m outside the edge of the cairn. There was no evidence of a ditch around this barrow. Other finds included a later crouched skeleton covered with sarsen stones, the skeleton of a child, three large urns full of burnt bones and the perforated head of a bone pin. A well preserved bell barrow, the mound of which measures 26m in diameter and stands up to 3m high. The mound is surrounded by a gently sloping berm or platform c.3m wide and a ditch 0.5m deep and up to 6.4m wide.
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In a field on Fyfield Down, 1 mile east of Marlborough, Wiltshire, stands the prehistoric burial chamber known as The Devil’s Den or Clatford Bottom Stone, a Neolithic monument from 5,000 years ago that is also known as a Dolmen (stone table). Get up here on a clear day, nice and early, and you'll witness the most amazing sunrise.
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Got to be honest Farid mate this has given me the biggest laugh ever on Kamoot. Not like it's going to be there the next time!!!
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Preshute is rich in diverse natural features. You can explore the dramatic geological landscape of Clatford Bottom, densely strewn with ancient sarsen stones. The area also boasts the unique ecosystem of the River Kennet, a high-quality lowland chalk stream, and the expansive chalk downland of the Marlborough Downs within the North Wessex Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Yes, West Woods, located southwest of Marlborough, is a beautiful former ancient woodland site. It features handsome beech woods and is particularly stunning in spring when bluebells carpet the forest floor. The woods also contain archaeological elements like a Neolithic long barrow.
Preshute and its surroundings are home to several significant historical sites. You can visit the Neolithic henge monument of Avebury Stone Circle, the impressive Silbury Hill (Europe's largest artificial mound), and the ancient West Kennet Long Barrow, a Neolithic burial chamber you can enter. Additionally, the Devil's Den Dolmen, a Neolithic passage grave, is also nearby.
The sarsen stones at Clatford Bottom are significant geological formations, massive sandstone blocks formed millions of years ago. This area is notable for its 'periglacial rock-stream' of these stones and is identified as the most likely source for the monumental sarsens used to construct Stonehenge. Exploring them offers a connection to both deep geological time and ancient human history.
The area around Preshute offers various outdoor activities. You can find numerous hiking trails, including easy walks through West Woods or more challenging routes like the 'Devil's Den Dolmen – Valley of Stones loop'. For cycling enthusiasts, there are options for gravel biking and road cycling routes, such as the 'Wiltshire Cycleway Loop'. Discover more hiking routes around Preshute.
Yes, several sites are suitable for families. Avebury Stone Circle is family-friendly, allowing visitors to get close to and touch the ancient stones. Easy walks can be found in West Woods, especially enjoyable during the bluebell season. The River Kennet also provides serene walks for nature observation.
The best time to visit depends on your interests. Spring is particularly recommended for West Woods, when the forest floor is covered in a spectacular display of bluebells. Generally, the area offers beauty year-round, with the chalk downland and ancient sites providing different experiences across the seasons.
Yes, you can go inside the chambers of West Kennet Long Barrow, a Neolithic burial chamber older than Stonehenge. It is dark inside, so bringing a torch is recommended to view the surrounding rocks.
The River Kennet is a vital lowland chalk stream known for its high-quality water, fed by groundwater springs. It supports a diverse array of aquatic plants and invertebrates, including nationally scarce species. The section between Marlborough and Woolhampton Bridge is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), highlighting its significant ecological value and making it ideal for nature observation.
Visitors particularly enjoy the unique blend of natural beauty and deep history. The ability to get up close and even touch the stones at Avebury Stone Circle is a highlight. The tranquil escape offered by ancient woodlands like West Woods, especially during bluebell season, and the historical exploration of sites like West Kennet Long Barrow are also highly appreciated.
Yes, the Cherhill White Horse is located near Preshute. It is the second oldest white horse in Wiltshire, cut in 1780, and offers breathtaking views over the picturesque countryside from its vantage point.
Many of the natural areas and public rights of way around Preshute, including the Marlborough Downs and parts of West Woods, are suitable for dog walking. However, it's always advisable to keep dogs on a lead, especially near livestock or sensitive wildlife areas, and to check specific site regulations before visiting.


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