thesweetcheat

Looking towards Wistley Hill. Lineover long barrow is on that ridge.

The barrow stands prominent on the right of the track. Approaching from Coberley.

A brief break in the cloud and snow flurries.

The last visit of the year.

The circle from the northeast, final sunlight.

The mound/barrow in the eastern arc, as the sun briefly came back out from the low cloud that blocked any hope of a proper Midwinter sunset.

The central stone, with the southern arc beyond. Looking towards Down Barn.

The mound/barrow inserted into the eastern arc of the circle.

Pickledean stone circle from the west.

Looking towards the high Downs.

Last time I came here was Autumn Equinox, so it’s lovely to come in a golden Midwinter evening.

The excellent southern cairn, one of my favourite sites in the wider Avebury landscape.

The middle of the Jam, with the Monster Stone uphill to the left of centre.

Looking east towards Clatford Bottom.

The Jam from its eastern (Clatford Bottom) end.

Midwinter Devil’s Den.

Cairn-like pile of smaller stones close to the site.

Smaller, blocky stone set a little way apart from the main group of stones.

Midwinter golden light on the stones.

Settlement remains on the north side of the Herepath. it’s not very obvious what’s what here, or whether some of these are naturally placed sarsens.

Sarsens around the perimeter of the hut circle next to the Herepath. Looking west towards Overton Down – the excellent southern cairn is visible on the skyline left of the centre. The high ridge of the Marlborough Downs rises far left.

Hut circle next to the Herepath.

The settlement on the south side of the Herepath (hut circle in foreground, field system beyond), looking south.

I would’ve spent the next couple of hours considerably less wet if, before rushing off up Overton Down, I’d paid more attention to the big weather front bringing sleet on the left, than to the little patch of blue on the right.

The Cove, almost midwinter.

Failing winter light, looking back towards the hilltop site from the cleared area off the path to the west.

The western bank.

The western edge of the site, with the lighter green of the footpath/forestry track on the left.

There are various blocks of sandstone on the bank (see bottom right), which I imagine is the main construction material under the topsoil.

The southeastern arc of the bank.

First sight, arriving from the east. The height of the bank is impressive.

Rosehips on the rampart.

Round barrow.

Autumn evening, St Paul’s Epistle.

Looking east from the barrow over the Coln valley. There are many long barrows in the landscape ahead, although most have been ploughed down.

Where the round barrow definitely isn’t. I thought I’d have another look now the grass is short, but there’s absolutely no trace of a mound here.

Now the vegetation has died back, the composition of the barrow from small limestone blocks becomes clearer.

Lovely autumn light at Lineover. This ruined barrow has been a little beacon of sanity during 2020, visiting it has kept me anchored me in a sea of uncertainty.