Your holiday summary
| Holiday type |
Special interest |
|---|---|
| Country |
United Kingdom |
| Travel type |
Make your own way |
| Price range | From £279 |
| Travel partner | Travel Editions |
| Duration | 2 nights |
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Need help with your booking? 0330 333 6761 |
Discovering the Origins of Wessex
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Discover the past in the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex
Special Event highlights: Excavations at the Roman town of Silchester, Danebury Iron Age hillfort, the research excavation of a large Neolithic town at the henge at Durrington Walls, a guided tour highlighting new theories at Stonehenge.
The counties of Wiltshire and Hampshire contain some of the finest visible remains of the Prehistoric, Roman and Medieval periods including the iconic sites of Stonehenge, Avebury, Danebury Iron Age hill fort, the Roman town of Silchester, the Roman villa at Littlecote and the magnificent Salisbury Cathedral. Your hosts and guides on this wonderful weekend are archaeologists Bob Clarke and Mike Stone. Bob Clarke for the past ten years has worked as an archaeologist at Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, he has also written several books including the recently published 'Prehistoric Wiltshire: An Illustrated Guide'. Mike Stone has spent most of his archaeological career working in Wiltshire specialising in the Roman period, he is currently Vice-Chair of the Association for Roman Archaeology and spent some time working on the excavations at Littlecote.
Special Event highlights: Excavations at the Roman town of Silchester, Danebury Iron Age hillfort, the research excavation of a large Neolithic town at the henge at Durrington Walls, a guided tour highlighting new theories at Stonehenge.
The counties of Wiltshire and Hampshire contain some of the finest visible remains of the Prehistoric, Roman and Medieval periods including the iconic sites of Stonehenge, Avebury, Danebury Iron Age hill fort, the Roman town of Silchester, the Roman villa at Littlecote and the magnificent Salisbury Cathedral. Your hosts and guides on this wonderful weekend are archaeologists Bob Clarke and Mike Stone. Bob Clarke for the past ten years has worked as an archaeologist at Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, he has also written several books including the recently published 'Prehistoric Wiltshire: An Illustrated Guide'. Mike Stone has spent most of his archaeological career working in Wiltshire specialising in the Roman period, he is currently Vice-Chair of the Association for Roman Archaeology and spent some time working on the excavations at Littlecote.
Included
- Two nights' accommodation with full breakfast at the 4-star Hilton Newbury Centre
- Welcome reception
- Friday three course private dinner with wine
- Saturday three course dinner in the hotel restaurant
- All guided tours, admissions and coach transfers
- Tour manager throughout
Not included
- Single room supplement
- Extra nights
- Holiday insurance
- Meals other than those stated
- Items of a personal nature such as drinks, telephone calls, laundry etc
- Porterage and gratuities
Friday evening
An illustrated talk by Bob Clarke "An Introduction to the Prehistoric landscapes of Wessex" followed by a three course private dinner with wine.
Saturday
Travel to Danebury Iron Age hillfort to view the ramparts and interior which were excavated over a 25-year period and have provided a unique insight into everyday life of the Iron Age people of Wessex. Then travel to Andover to view the Museum of the Iron Age where most of the objects from the excavation are displayed and stored. After lunch (not included) we travel to the Roman town of Silchester to view the excavations by the University of Reading. The research project is now in its fifteenth year and you will be able to view and hear from the site directors about the Iron Age levels of the Atrebatic Oppidum which is beneath the Roman town. Saturday evening: Illustrated talk by Mike Stone "Roman towns and villas in Wessex" followed by dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Sunday
Today we visit the Henge at Durrington Walls, which has recently been the site of a research excavation uncovering the remains of a large Neolithic town with buildings and a causeway down towards the river. We then travel the short distance to Stonehenge for a guided tour highlighting new ideas based on excavations within and around the circle over the last few years. Then onto Avebury for lunch (not included) followed by a guided tour around the huge henge monument, and a visit to the Alexander Keiller Museum. Then we go over to view Silbury Hill, and hear about the new information gathered at the site after a collapsed excavation shaft triggered much surveying and remedial work. Finally, we climb the hill to visit the West Kennet Neolithic long barrow. Return to the hotel approximately 17.00pm.
Monday
(optional extra) To Salisbury to visit the archaeological galleries relating to Stonehenge and the Pit Rivers collections. After lunch (not included) we visit the nearby Salisbury Cathedral for a guided tour. Rejoining the coach we end our weekend with a visit to Littlecote Park to view the remains of the Roman villa with its spectacular Orpheus mosaic pavement. Return to the hotel for approximately 17.30pm.
NB: Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion Please note: Monday is an optional extra day which includes Sunday night accommodation with dinner, full breakfast and the visits to Salisbury Museum, Salisbury Cathedral, Littlecote Roman villa remains and all coach transfers. This extra night is available at a supplement.
An illustrated talk by Bob Clarke "An Introduction to the Prehistoric landscapes of Wessex" followed by a three course private dinner with wine.
Saturday
Travel to Danebury Iron Age hillfort to view the ramparts and interior which were excavated over a 25-year period and have provided a unique insight into everyday life of the Iron Age people of Wessex. Then travel to Andover to view the Museum of the Iron Age where most of the objects from the excavation are displayed and stored. After lunch (not included) we travel to the Roman town of Silchester to view the excavations by the University of Reading. The research project is now in its fifteenth year and you will be able to view and hear from the site directors about the Iron Age levels of the Atrebatic Oppidum which is beneath the Roman town. Saturday evening: Illustrated talk by Mike Stone "Roman towns and villas in Wessex" followed by dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Sunday
Today we visit the Henge at Durrington Walls, which has recently been the site of a research excavation uncovering the remains of a large Neolithic town with buildings and a causeway down towards the river. We then travel the short distance to Stonehenge for a guided tour highlighting new ideas based on excavations within and around the circle over the last few years. Then onto Avebury for lunch (not included) followed by a guided tour around the huge henge monument, and a visit to the Alexander Keiller Museum. Then we go over to view Silbury Hill, and hear about the new information gathered at the site after a collapsed excavation shaft triggered much surveying and remedial work. Finally, we climb the hill to visit the West Kennet Neolithic long barrow. Return to the hotel approximately 17.00pm.
Monday
(optional extra) To Salisbury to visit the archaeological galleries relating to Stonehenge and the Pit Rivers collections. After lunch (not included) we visit the nearby Salisbury Cathedral for a guided tour. Rejoining the coach we end our weekend with a visit to Littlecote Park to view the remains of the Roman villa with its spectacular Orpheus mosaic pavement. Return to the hotel for approximately 17.30pm.
NB: Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion Please note: Monday is an optional extra day which includes Sunday night accommodation with dinner, full breakfast and the visits to Salisbury Museum, Salisbury Cathedral, Littlecote Roman villa remains and all coach transfers. This extra night is available at a supplement.
Hilton Newbury Centre, Newbury
The 4-star Hilton Newbury Centre Hotel is located close to the historic market town of Newbury and offers a bar, restaurant, and comfortable, spacious bedrooms with private bath/shower, TV and telephone. Hilton Newbury Centre Hotel Website
The 4-star Hilton Newbury Centre Hotel is located close to the historic market town of Newbury and offers a bar, restaurant, and comfortable, spacious bedrooms with private bath/shower, TV and telephone. Hilton Newbury Centre Hotel Website
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