I haven't commented on this at all but keeping a close eye on how things progress. Although I live in the same county as Stonehenge, like Roy - Avebury and its surrounds has always been my bolt hole.

The first time I visited the Stonehenge landscape I had the most wonderful experience without actually going inside 'the fence'; I'm sure this is how Stonehenge is meant to be experienced. I visited again last year when I did 'go in' and walked slowly around this spectacular monument taking all the perspectives - which cannot be fully appreciated any other way. I haven't seen the sun go down or rise from within the henge yet as being a bit anti-social know I would not enjoy being part of the large gatherings that happen twice a year. I'm sure EH and/or NT will make enough money from the carpark and shop (as they do at Avebury) but if they are truly going to give Stonehenge back to the people then I applaud them. I'm sure visitors will self-monitor any potential stone climbing activities.

July 2009.
Today a friend .. took me into the Stonehenge landscape; it was a wonderful elemental sort of day, the sort I experienced on the Orkneys, only right here in Wiltshire. We went to Durrington Walls and walked across what had once been a Neolithic settlement, the hairs started to tingle on my arms, a strange sensation. Then round into Woodhenge to stand and stare for a bit ... before a shower blew over.

I was thinking it couldn’t get any better when my friend showed me a hidden spring by the river Avon right at the start of the Avenue to Stonehenge. I am trying to find the right word for such a place apart from the usual mystical, sacred; it was both of those things. Walking across the Avenue, which is still intact as a raised grassy ‘road’ the word liminal came to mind. Limen is from the Latin meaning ‘threshold’ - it was that sort of place.

The same experience occurred walking back towards Stonehenge in the long wild grass of what was once the Avenue. Wonderful … it was a day I will not forget.