Christmas in Wessex

Summary

Based in Salisbury, enjoy Christmas with us as we explore the archaeology of Wessex. The chalk downs of this ancient kingdom have been a focus for monumental building and funerary ritual for more than five millennia. Henges, burial mounds of all shapes and sizes, causewayed camps, early field systems and ‘cursus’ monuments are scattered everywhere, forming a landscape full of clues and interest, but unintelligible to the untrained eye. Our archaeological excursions include a day among the stone circle in Avebury as well as visits to Silbury Hill, West Kennet Long Barrow, and – on the morning of Christmas Eve – we visit the world-famous monument of Stonehenge. We also explore medieval Salisbury, paying a visit to its splendid cathedral and then it’s on to the Christmas market in nearby Winchester. On Boxing Day, we spend time in the countryside at Cranborne Chase, where we take a walking tour of the archaeological monuments of the area.

Tour highlights:

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• Spend time at the Christmas market in Winchester soaking up the festive spirit
• A full day to explore the archaeological remains at Avebury and the related artefacts in the local museum
• Enjoy a relaxed walking tour on Boxing day in the Cranborne Chase landscape exploring the diverse archaeology
• Wander the landscape around Stonehenge and admire the well-known stone circle from the Neolithic period