Rhiannon wrote:
If you have to walk more than 50 yards from the car park, no one* will bother. At least, that's my repeated experience everywhere I've ever been - I'm guessing most people on this forum also find themselves alone with a tumbleweed as soon as they're out of earshot of the ice cream van, every time they go out? This year's classic example on Lindisfarne - horrifyingly massive carpark filling up, but literally 1 minute from the castle the island was completely desolate (in a good way) and me and Mr Rh saw like 2 other people during a couple of hours. So strolling types might get to Stonehenge eventually but Im pretty certain most people will be happy with a flyby view in the car, or otherwise get the landtrain.
Hi Rhiannon,* ie no one but me and 0.001% of everyone else
You're quite right. However, that will make it a better place to visit. It's not just the proximity of roads that spoils Stonehenge, it's the crowds. What if the distance puts visitors off and E.H. experience a big drop in takings? Who will they offset the deficit onto, because someone will have to pay for the alterations, and I'm betting it'll be Joe Public.
I think the reason I love visiting esoteric out-of-the-way sites is because they are so lonely, and even more so in mountainous terrain. Just me, the old places and the weather. Atmosphere in more than one sense. Perfect.
All the best,
TE.