Stonehenge Early Morning Inner Access Questions

[devarae]

Hello! I'm in the midst of planning a trip to Bath and the Cotswolds in late July (details are in another thread) but have a specific question about Stonehenge.

I've gotten the special "Inner Circle Access" tickets for my husband and I to go very early on Saturday the 28th and be able to walk in the inner circle for up to an hour. Our timeslot is at 6:15AM. We'd have preferred a later time but this was the only one still available on the days we are there, and I really would like to experience the stones close up. I am an early riser anyways and my husband says he will take a nap later...

So, two questions:

1) We'll be driving there from our rental in West Overton. According to Google Maps, that's a 45 minute drive, so I am hoping that if we leave at 5AM from our rental that will give us enough time. Does that seem reasonable? Would it be a good idea to drive down to that area the day before (maybe to see Old Sarum)

2) Our tickets give us access to the exhibitions and other facilities at the site on the day of our visit, but they won't be open until 9:30 (so we'd have about two hours to wait). Do you think it would be worthwhile to find something to do in between and then come back to see the visitor center when it opens? Maybe if the weather is nice walk around the outer portions of the site? Or just skip the visitor center and move on to other activities...?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Deva

 

[Anne]

I haven't any useful answers but wanted to say how much we LOVED our visit to Stonehenge a few years ago. I typically loathe getting up super early, but I'm very glad we booked the inner circle access. It was a powerful experience for me, to stand among the stones and be able to touch them. We went on an overnight trip from Southwold (Suffolk) to Bath, and also visited the stunning Winchester Cathedral (its 12 c illuminated bible is exquisite.) Normally I'm not one for such long day trips, but this one was worth it.

Enjoy your visit!!

 

[devarae]

Thanks, Anne! It is good to know that you had such a positive experience!

 

[Eleanor]

I remember visiting Stonehenge back in the 1960s when you were allowed to wander freely among the stones.

It is so good that they now have arrangements to let you do this again. At that time of the morning it will be magical...

A 5am start should be ample time to reach Stonehenge - but make sure you have added in extra time to park and reach the visitor’s centre. I’m not sure how far it is to walk to it. It might be worth checking how long you need to allow for this. How soon before 6.15 do you need to arrive?

Personally I would rather book accommodation a bit closer to Stonehenge, but then I’ve always been paranoid about getting somewhere in plenty of time... (We used to annoy daughter when she was little as we would arrive for a ferry hours before we were due to sail and then sit in the car waiting for the gates to the ferry car park to open.)

I’ve not been to the Visitor Centre since the new supa-doopa one opened, so can’t comment as to whether it is worth visiting. Certainly spend time wandering around the whole site. If it is a cold morning you may be glad to find somewhere for breakfast, but again I’m afraid I can’t help here.

Are you planning to visit Avebury as well as Stonehenge? This is about 25 miles north of Stonehenge and could help fill up those two hours. You can wander round the village and among the stones. Close by is also West Kennet Long Barrow which is open daylight hours.

 

[devarae]

Thank you Eleanor! I am similarly paranoid about timing but unfortunately in this case we'd already booked our apartment before I even realized this early morning Inner Circle Access was a thing. Maybe we'll leave at 4:45AM just to be sure! They do say to get there 15 minutes early to check in so we should aim to get there at 6 I guess. From what I can tell the new Visitor Center is right by the parking lot, and you take a shuttle from there to Stonehenge itself, .25 miles away or so.

We're actually planning to visit Avebury and the West Kennet Long Barrow the day previous, as they are right up near where we are staying on the 26 and 27th. I am thinking of trying to do the circular walk that visits both, something like this: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/avebury/trails/west-kennett-round

I guess we can see how we are feeling and what the weather is like on the morning after our visit to Stonehenge and decide whether to hike around the area until the Visitor Center opens, or just move on. We eventually need to make it up to near Burford in the Cotswolds that night for the next stage of our vacation. I was contemplating trying to visit Kelmscott on the way there.

 

[Eleanor]

I'd seen details of the walk and it does look worth doing.

We visited Kelscott a few years ago and really liked the house with its William Morris connections. It also had very good cakes in the cafe.

 

[devarae]

We visited Kelscott a few years ago and really liked the house with its William Morris connections. It also had very good cakes in the cafe.

Good cakes will always get my attention!

 

[Eleanor]

When you are in Burford, go into Huffkins the bakers and try their lardy cake. It is a local speciality and very good, especially when eaten warm. I dread to think what the calorific value is though.... They also have a cafe attached.