Travel Information

Just seventeen miles from stonehenge in Avebury is an incredibly important collection of prehistoric archeaological finds. Located in the Alexander Keiller Museum in the stables barn are artefacts dug up from world heritage site monuments. these are some of the oldests finds in britian today.The National Trust and the English Heritage act as guardians on behalf of the secretary of state for the DCMS, and make these historical finds available for public view. You will find plenty of information about each of the finds housed here including the people associated with the finds and the museum itself. The museum takes its name from its founder in 1938,Alexander Keiller. Close to the museum is Avebury Henge and the museum contains parts of the monument and avenue of standing stones. Many of the stones were fallen and have been put back in place. Part of the museum was originally a seventeen century thatched threshing barn. There are a number of historic sites in this part of England and all are well worth a visit. If you are traveling in your Wiltshire Motorhome Rental make a detour and include this museum in your trip. For admission prices and more information click the link below. Always check opening times prior to setting out.

Alexander Keiller Museum  
Avebury
Wiltshire
SN8 1RF

Telephone; Customer Services 0870 333 1181

The museum holds one of Britains most important prehistoric archaeological collections.

Alexander Keiller Museum, Avebury
The Alexander Keiller Museum
High Street
Avebury
nr Marlborough
SN8 1RF
Wiltshire
England

This house was restored and became the home of Sir Edward Heath. Sir Edward had the distinction of being Leader of the conservative party for ten years prior to becoming Prime Minister. This Knight of the Garter died in 2005 but prior to this had sat in the House of Commons until 2001. Sir Edward Heath had devoted his life to politics and never married. He had a love of ocean racing and music and these loves are evident in his home. On his death he left five million pounds to a trust to open his house to the public and preserve his papers for historians etc. Arundells also houses his collections of Oriental and European ceramics, and includes paintings by Sir Winston Churchill. He also set up scholarships and awards, leaving behind a rich legacy to remember him by. The house itself is an impressive family home that he renovated in the 1960’s and is now one of the most impressive homes in the locality. From the house a two acre, long, scenic, walled garden stretches down to the river Avon. If you are on holiday near Salisbury in Wiltshire in your Wiltshire Campervan Hire this place may be of interest to you. For more details prior to setting off, click the blue text on the link below.

Arundells
59 Cathedral Close
Salisbury
SP1 2EN

Telephone booking line: 01722 326546

You may well have watched the restoration of this National Trust Manor on television in 2011. It starred in a documentary entitled ‘The Manor Reborn’ and featured experts hard at work restoring this property for public viewing. Spring 2012 should be the public opening time for this historic property and from then on some of you lucky people may have the chance to visit. Part of the house is still lived in but part is open to the public. Close to the stone circle world heritage site there is a great deal to see near by. The museum, the shop and café are already open to the public and now the addition of the formal gardens, the Topiary garden and clipped box gardens make this an interesting place for a stroll. If you are on holiday during Easter with the children they are likely to enjoy the Easter Egg hunt which takes place in Avebury Manor Garden. Accompanying adults are free and there is a small charge per child. Egg hunting in such a lovely place is bound to be fun and a memorable activity for those small children on holiday with you! Travel in your London Motorhome Hire to enjoy the adventures available at the Manor. For more details and to confirm opening and admission prices click the link below.

National Trust Estate Office
Avebury Manor
High Street
Avebury
Wiltshire
SN8 1RF

Telephone: 01672 539250

On Saturday and Sunday July 9th and 10th July 2011, Wiltshire Show and Horse Trials takes place, with plenty for the entire family to see and enjoy. There will be different rural themes on each day.  There will be a Wiltshire Farmer’s Market, rural crafts, the latest tractors and farm equipment, rare breeds and much, much more.  For the more daring amongst you there will be helicopter rides around the estate.  These can be booked on the day at a cost of £35 per adult.  Please look for the signs for the booking office, when you arrive on site. With over 100 trade stands, shopping here will also be a joy. Barbury Castle Horse Trials/Wiltshire County Show has excellent camping facilities on site.  Your Holiday Motorhome hire can be accommodated on their available pitches. The Camping site for your motorhome is open from the morning of Thursday 7th July to the evening of Sunday 10th July. The site provides water facilities, lavatories and rubbish disposal. There are no public telephones. The cost is £85 (please note this is a 4 day package only – we are unable to offer a reduced rate for single nights). Please submit this form and the box office will then contact you to arrange payment.Electrical hook-ups are available, at an additional cost, and can be arranged direct with the electrical supplier when you arrive on site.  Including the Barbury Castle International Horse Trials as part of your holiday in a Wiltshire Motorhome Hire makes an exciting highlight to your trip.

Barbury Castle International Horse Trials
Sharpridge Farm,
Rockley
Marlborough
Wiltshire
SN8 1RS

Tel: 01672 516125

?

9th June 2007
In aid of Macmillan Cancer Support and other local charities, to be held in the parklands of Bowood House. Support this worthwhile cause if you are in the area in the first week of June.

Bowood Dog Show & Country Fair Office
Bowood House
Calne
Wilts
SN11 0LZ
Tel: 07736 147670

A visit to Bowood House is a complete day out for all the family. The house itself is one of the most architecturally famous properties in the UK. It has associations with many of the eminent architects that Britain has had including the Adam Brothers, Henry Keene, CR Cockerell and Sir Charles Barry. Of course the same follows for the gardens which were designed by Capability Brown and are thought by many, to be his finest work. All of this work has been overseen by the owning family the Lansdowne’s who have owned the property for generations and still live in the house today. The site was initially used as a hunting lodge and Henry Keene was employed to make alterations and extend the property. Following this, the Adam brothers were set to work on the interiors while Brown worked on the landscaping. The owning family have, over the generations had illustrious political careers with the 2nd Earl serving as Prime Minister and being created a Marquess for his negotiating peace with America after the War of Independence. The house has many important and valuable collections on display gathered by the family over the decades. These can be seen in the Exhibition rooms and include costumes, porcelain, watercolours, miniatures, jewelry and the Napoleonic collection which came into the family possession through the 4th marchioness whose father was Napoleons aide-de-camp. Once you have had enough of history and culture you can venture out into the children’s play ground complete with a pirates galleon  and space dive, known as the ‘death slide’. There are also swinging boats, a wendy house, sea saws, swings and a sand pit. If you decide to visit Bowood in your Wiltshire motorhome hire be sure to check opening times as the estate is not open all year round. For further information please click on the blue link below.

Bowood House, Gardens and Adventure Playground
Derry Hill,
Calne,
Wiltshire,
SN11 0LZ

Telephone: 0845 2600615

Bush Farm Bison Centre is a great day out for all the family and an opportunity to have a real North American wilderness experience. Although the main focus of the farm is the rearing of bison for both meat and milk it is also houses a variety of other prairie animals.There are chipmunks and prairie dogs as well as raccoons and guanaco and larger inhabitants such as elk and the bison themselves. There are approximately 100 of these magnificent beasts kept on the farm. Take a picnic and enjoy 30 acres of ancient oak woodland or alternatively light meals are served from the shop where you can also buy buffalo meat to take away and try for yourself. There is an educational section on the history of the bison and its role in the development of North America. At one time the plains were said to be thick with the creatures which served as a crucial source of food and skins for the Native American Indians. Of course with the arrival of the Western Settlers and their guns, the bison suffered dreadfully and their numbers came close to endangerment. Fortunately bison are thriving once again both wild in America and within privately owned herds. It is also possible to stay in your Wiltshire motorhome rental on the farm itself as camping facilities are available. Please note that if you are travelling with your dog, it will not be allowed to enter the farm as bison and elk do not react favorably to dogs. Please make sure you phone in advance if you want to stay as spaces can be limited. For further information on Bush Farm Bison centre, please click the blue link below.

Bush Farm Bison Centre
West Knoyle
Wiltshire
BA12 6AE

Telephone 01747 830263

This site is in a lovely situation on the Kennet and Avon Canal and surrounded by young flourishing trees (planted in 2001). If you are a keen walker you can take the walk to  Devizes  which is four miles from Site, along the refurbished canal towpath, passing the twenty nine locks in the Caen Hill flight. Devices is a lovely market town with a very interesting museum. Several local farmers markets are held here.  For home reared pork products, Padfield’s Porkies sell sausages, gammon and dry-cured bacon.  You can always catch the bus back from the Devises to the bus stop near the camp site if you don’t want to walk the four miles back! You can also hire a boat on the Kennet and Avon Canal from Trowbridge or Devizes. There is a great deal to see in the area including Bowood House and Gardens, Lacock Village, Abbey and the Fox Talbot Museum. You may recognize many of the locations as they are also popular with film makers. Many are managed by the National Trust. It is worth visiting Bath as you are in the area. The architecture of this historic town is stunning. If you are visiting Bath with your Motorhome it is wise to park outside of the city and take public transport into town. You can also fish in the canal and fees for fishing is payable at the campsite reception. Remember to pack all your fishing tackle in your Wiltshire Motorhome Hire before you set off. For more information on site facilities and booking click the blue text below.

Devizes Camping and Caravanning Club Site
Spout Lane
nr Seend
Melksham
Wiltshire
SN12 6RN

Telephone: 01380 828839 (No calls after 8pm please.)

5 star campsite, situated near a park, maybe noisy at night. Takes motorhomes and caravans.

Open 18th March till 31st Ocober

Longleat Caravan Club Site
Longleat
Warminster
Wiltshire
BA12 7NL
Tel: 01985 844663

Longleat House and Safari Park offers a great day out for the family. Both a historic house in grand estate with a safari park to explore, all set in 900 acres.

Lydiard House is a beautiful Palladian house set in the heart of splendid parkland and is the ancestral home to the Bolingbroke family. It was rescued from ruin in 1943 by the Swindon Corporation and has now been open to the public for over half a century. Its state rooms on the ground floor still contain the original furnishings and family portraits which the Corporation have spent many years tracing and returning to the house. Although the house has a grand history, as stately homes go it is a small and intimate affair and visitors are free to wander round the apartments or use an audio guide to get a feel for the family atmosphere. The property boasts a splendid walled garden which has been magnificently restored using historical references to ensure it is planted in its original and intended manner. The play area at Lydiard is a fantastic family destination containing state of the art out door play equipment including the giant ‘Octonet’ which has a maze of rope ladders. If your little one is too small for the bigger obstacles, there is a special play area just for toddlers which is located next to the café and toilets. If you are hungry during your visit there is a café for light snacks and drinks, as well as the Coach House tea rooms situated in the restored stables and set along side the lovely walled garden. Lydiard House is easy to find in your Wiltshire motorhome hire situated close to the M4 at junction 16. Please click the blue link below for further information on this visitor attraction.

Lydiard House and Park
Lydiard Tregoze
Swindon
SN5 3PA

Telephone: 01793 770401

The Forestry Commission run this site, which is located surrounded by mature oak trees in the forest. It is mainly grass pitches with electric hook up. If you love wildlife then keep a look out at dusk for eleven different species of bat that have been recorded here. The site does have a toilet block with hot and cold running water, but no hot showers. This should not pose a problem for Motorhome holiday makers as you have your own. The site holds a Gold David Bellamy Conservation Award and an Award of Special Distinction. It is a relaxing forest location, yet only a twenty-minute walk will take you into the historic market town of Marlborough. Marlborough is an old town, recorded in the Domesday Book in 1097. There’s a supermarket, post office, pubs, restaurants and other shops in the town centre. You are also ideally based for local attractions such as Stonehenge, Longleat Safari Park, Avebury Stone Circle, and the Kennet and Avon canals. The site is open all year round but toilets are unavailable during the winter months. You require the use of your own chemical toilet facilties on your Wiltshire Motorhome Hire during the winter months here. For more details, and booking, click on the blue text below.

Postern Hill Caravan and Camping Site
Postern Hill
Marlborough
Wiltshire
England
SN8 4ND

Telephone : 01672 515195

This campsite has all the usual facilities you would expect to find in a large site and is less than a mile from the cathedral and the city centre. This site has a fantastic view of the hill fort of Old Sarum and Hudsons field, which is next to the site is suitable for walking and kite-flying. Kite flying events are held here during the year and a few people use the field to practice their kite surfing skills. Old Sarum hill fort, seen in the distance from the site, includes the remains of a prehistoric fortress, a Norman palace, a castle and a cathedral . Salisbury is worth a visit to see the spectacular13th century gothic cathedral and the cities beautiful architecture.  If you don’t want to travel to Stonehenge in your Motorhome you can catch the bus which stops outside the campsite and the New Forest is only 20 minutes.  The south coast beaches are also less than an hour’s drive away in your motorhome.  Paultons theme Park is also not too far away. If the family wants adrenalin rushes in abundance, then trying out the rides at Paultons theme Park is sure to give them plenty of thrills! The Site shop sells fresh, local farm eggs. There is a Charter market locally, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, which includes local produce stalls. Farmers’ Markets are on the first and third Wednesdays. Be aware that not all the pitches are level on this site, some pitches are sloping, and require leveling ramps and chocks. Your Wiltshire Motorhome Hire will require being level, both for your comfort and for the fridge to work correctly.

Salisbury Camping and Caravanning Club Site
Hudson’s Field
Castle Road
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP1 3SA
England

Telephone: 01722 320713 (No calls after 8pm please.)

There are few places in Wiltshire as beautiful as this garden. It is well worth a visit and on a sunny day is an absolute haven for garden lovers. The gardens were laid out between 1741 and 1780. A small stream was dammed to achieve the large lake you can see today. The garden has a number of temples, an obelisk and follies. The hillside slopes are covered in woodland and rhododendrums, shrubs and rare exotic species collected from around the world. This is a garden to walk and indulge the senses. Each vantage point affords a wonderful and spectacular view of the gardens. The gardens were inspired by the works of Italian Painters that had been seen by the owners when they made their grand tour of Europe in the eighteenth century.   This is an idyllic place for the family to picnic and enjoy magnificent scenery.  If you prefer to be cooked a meal then try the award-winning restaurant on site. There is also a gift shop and plant centre. If you just want a snack a visit to the Ice Cream parlour can provide tea, coffee and ices for you to purchase. The property is owned and managed by the National Trust. Parking for your Wiltshire Motorhome Hire is in the car park which is a 400 yards walk to the park entrance. If you are not keen to walk there is a Shuttle transfer (main season only) to the house and garden entrances.  To dive to the park, take the B3092. The park is 3 miles north-west of Mere (A303), and 8 miles south of Frome (A361). For more details click the blue text link below.

Stourhead Garden
Stourton
Warminster
Wiltshire
BA12 6QD

Telephone: 01747 841152

In Home Mills, one of the last working textile mills in the town. It tells the story of the town and its people.

Trowbridge Museum
The Shires,
Court Street,
Trowbridge,
Wiltshire

tel: 01225 751339

Part of the Avebury complex of Neolithic sites, it is one of the most impressive and well-preserved burial chambers in Britain, as well as being one of the most visited.

West Kennet Long Barrow
Wiltshire
Map ref:SU 105 677
Directions: South of the A4 on a dirt track-way, the barrow is visible form the road and Silbury Hill, which stands just next to the A4.

Those of you with a love of history and archaelogy are likely to find this site enthralling. If you have already been to Woodhenge let me know if you enjoyed the experience? On the face of it, it is a field with circles of wooden short poles around a central point. Woodhenge is a Neolithic Class I henge and timber circle monument which is a Stonehenge World Heritage Site. Maud Edith Cunnington CBE.,a welsh born Archaeologist, purchased the site of Woodhenge and gifted it to the nation in the 1930’s. The interesting thing about this site is what may have happened there. If you are traveling in your Wiltshire Motorhome Hire with teenagers they may have their interest kindled when they hear that the site is thought to have been used for human sacrifice. The skeleton of a teenager was found in an excavated ditch in the centre of the circle. It was of course, hundreds of years old! Perhaps the best time to visit our pagan past would be midsummer, as the site aligns similarly to that of Stonehenge on Midsummer sunrise.  This site certainly gives you a great deal to think about. Woodhenge is located near the junction of the A435 and B3086. Travel in your Wiltshire Motorhome Hire 2 miles north-east of Stonehenge in the parish of Durrington, just north of Amesbury.

Woodhenge
Fargo Road
Durrington
Wiltshire
SP4 7

01980 622833