🗿 (Halloween Special) Hiking Avebury UNESCO World Heritage Site

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Join us on one of the UK's spookiest walks to get into the Halloween spirit! 🎃👻🍁 The ancient sites have one of the highest rates of paranormal reports, among the top 10, with 390 recorded sightings. Close by is the Red Lion pub, where you can warm up after the hike with a pint, but be warned: the pub is said to be home to at least four ghosts!

📸 Avebury featured on one of the first episodes of The Most Haunted TV show, check it out!
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2blg31

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Travel back in time with us 6,000 years! This weekend we're off to Avebury UNESCO World Heritage Site to hike one of the greatest surviving concentrations of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in Western Europe! Listed together with Stonehenge as a single UNESCO World Heritage Site, Avebury presents a much more intimate experience compared to Stonehenge as you can see the stones up close and actually touch them, and it's completely free! Avebury stone circle is older and far, far larger than Stonehenge!

On this hike, we'll pass the world-famous Avebury stone circle – the world’s largest known stone ring, the West Kennet Avenue of standing stones, the West Kennet Long Barrow – one of the most impressive and longest in the British Isles burial mounds, and mysterious Silbury Hill – the largest man-made prehistoric mound in Europe. Most of our route will follow the ancient Ridgeway trail, often described as Britain’s oldest road, having been used by travellers, armies and herdsmen for nearly 5,000 years.

This trip is suitable for BEGINNERS – a great way to experience hiking before joining our more difficult hikes! 🤩

HIKE HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit the world-famous Avebury stone circle – the world’s largest known stone ring and (fun fact!) the only stone ring in the world to contain a pub inside it! Built around 2,600 BC, the stone circle measures 330 metres across and is 16 times larger than Stonehenge.
• Walk along the West Kennet Avenue – a ceremonial avenue of standing stones, nowadays about 800 metres long, that used to connect the stone circle at Avebury to the Sanctuary.
• See Silbury Hill – the largest man-made prehistoric mound in Europe, at around 37 metres in height, 30 metres in width across its top and about 500 metres around its base. It was built around 2,400 BC.
• Discover West Kennet Long Barrow. Built around 3,650 BC, it is one of the largest and most impressive Neolithic chambers in Britain.
• Have a drink at the Red Lion pub - one of the most haunted pubs in Britain!
• Enjoy fantastic panoramic views from the high grounds of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
• Hike along the Ridgeway National Trail, following Britain's oldest road.

DISTANCE & DIFFICULTY

Distance: 10 miles (16km).
Ascent: 160m.
Difficulty: Easy.

ITINERARY

07:45 Meet outside Hotel Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, W6 8DR (a five-minute walk from Hammersmith Station)
08:00 Sharp departure
10:00-16:00 Hike from Barbury Castle Iron Age hill fort to Avebury stone circle
16:00-16:45 Drinks and refreshments inside Avebury stone circle, at the Red Lion pub (one of most haunted pubs in Britain!)
16:45 Departure
19:00 London, Hammersmith

TRANSPORT

As on most of our trips, we'll travel in a comfortable 16-seater minibus.

FOOD

We'll stop for a snack lunch halfway through the hike. Please bring a packed lunch with you.

SAFETY

This hike is led by an experienced, Outdoor First Aid qualified hike leader.

BOOKING

Please RSVP and pay by bank transfer to the account below, leaving your Meetup name and the name of the trip as a reference (e.g. John Avebury):

Business Account Name: London Social Hiking Limited
Sort Code: 20-17-20
Account Number: 63116514

We'll let you know by changing your status to ‘Paid’ as soon as the payment is cleared. You can check your status next to your name in the attendees list of the event. Please allow up to 24 hours for the payment to arrive.

THE PRICE OF £78 INCLUDES

• Transport throughout the trip
• Experienced, professional PSV minibus driver
• Guiding on all hiking routes by an experienced and qualified Mountain Leader
• Professional event organisation
• Group first aid kit with qualified first aiders
• Admin fee
• 20% VAT

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

• Personal insurance (for cancellation, accident, health, emergency evacuation and loss, theft of or damage to baggage and personal effects, and personal trekking insurance)
• Food

HOW TO CONTACT US

For all enquiries, please PM Anna (the main organiser) via Meetup. Alternatively, you can email us at info@lshiking.co.uk We'll usually get back to you within 4 hours.

Your guide will be Milena (07869815577, only for use during the hike). Please get in touch if you have any difficulty locating the meeting point or need help during the trip.

WHAT TO BRING

• Suitable hiking shoes with ankle support
• Waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers (if there is a chance of rain)
• Packed lunch
• Water (min 1L)
• Walking poles (optional)
• Gaiters (optional)

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REFUND POLICY

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