The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

tjj’s TMA Blog

Post to the TMA Blog

Devil's Den - what a surprise

Out with a group of walkers on a lovely sunny early September day, we started off from Manton Hollow - where there is a small hidden car-park at the end of quite a long narrow road, provided by the land-owners to off-set a re-routing of footpaths. We made our through West Wood, moss covered sarsen stones in profusion, on over to the village of West Overton with a pit-stop at The Bell. Then up onto Fyfield Down - absolutely magical with thistle-down blowing across the slopes and scattered stones all around. Then, as we made our back along some higher ground, I saw it.

A lone dolmen standing in a golden field. 'Oh, that's Devil's Den' one of our group told me. I have been mooching around Avebury and surrounding area for literally years, but never knew it was there.

On returning home I checked it out on TMA and found all the wonderfully evocative posts by so many people, with Treaclechops' being the one that really shone out. As a non-car owner, I'm not sure how I will navigate the A4 to get a closer look but where there's a will there's a way.

So I add my small post to the others, as a record of the magic of discovery the wonderful landscape that is Wiltshire.

ce
tjj Posted by tjj
2nd September 2007ce
Edited 3rd September 2007ce


Comments (3)

Hi TJJ
I was a the Den yesterday myself. There is a track that runs up from the A4 opposite the entrance to Clatford Hall. It is fairly flat from there and a relatively short walk.
I went from the small carpark you mentioned and followed the road/track NW until it turns North following the race course. From there turn west through the gate and follow the fencing on your left. The fence goes along a couple of hundred yards then dips southwards into the valley towards the den. it's a bit steep there, especially coming up again. There is another gate at the bottom with a footpath on the otherside that runs past the dolman. As it levels with the dolman you can step over the fence and get into the field if you are reasonably agile. There are nettles all around the fence but these are now starting to die back. Not sure if this would be the same as from the A4 as there may be a gate or stile you can get in the field through.

:o)

Chris
scubi63 Posted by scubi63
2nd September 2007ce
Thank you Chris for taking the trouble to give me directions. I guess how I get there will depend on whether I am with a friend with a car or walking along from Marlborough, having caught a bus. Either way I will make a note of your helpful directions. One of the group I was with on Sunday said it is usually easier when the crops have been taken in (and nettles died back a bit). Nettles were in profusion on Sunday and some of us, though not me I'm glad to say, were wearing walking shorts. Ouch !!
Best wishes
June
tjj Posted by tjj
3rd September 2007ce
I first saw Devil's den from the air, in a microlite and knew I had to go back and have a closer look...I did just that a couple of weeks ago, parking precariously on the A4 by Clatford Farm (opposite the track you need to walk up) - there is just about room for 1 car. The track was very muddy and puddly and we skirted round the edge through the nettles, grabbing branches to stop us slipping...the pathway across the field is quite well beaten and this wonderful pile of stones is surely magical. It occured to us as we watched a tractor head off down the muddy track, that we could probably walk through the newly cut corn field where the stones are situated, and out of the corner back onto the A4 which we did with greater ease. So inspired by Devil's Den am writing about it in a children's book...might change the name though as its a secret and special place and it would be nice to keep it that way! Posted by pyrra
12th September 2007ce
You must be logged in to add a comment