jimit

A walk along the top of the Gorge rewards one with slightly vertigo inducing views like this!

The larger and more western of the stones. While I was walking around this stone I noticed that an obvious chunk had fallen off it. I managed to Jig-saw it back into place although it looked like recent weathering rather than deliberate damage.

The stones are made from the local limestone which can vary in colour from charcoal grey to this warm red. Glastonbury Tor is in the distance just above the bush on the extreme left.

A silhouette near sunset.

I like the way that the tree seems to be sheltering the stones.
The ambience was slightly clouded by a rotting sheep’s carcase behind the wall.

Not sure if the mound in the left background is the remains of the bank or a separate barrow

The Hill and its earthworks still dominate this S. part of Winchester. One wonders why the city never expanded onto this prime bit of real estate as it did up the W. and E. hills.

Notice board in the carpark.

From the S. at the nearby carpark.

On the W.bank showing the erosion & also some of the stumps of the hundreds of trees which were felled on the inner bank and the interior of the site.

Outside the E.entrance with the confusing earthworks on the left.

A solitary tree growing on the hornworks of the E. entrance.

The Southern ditch & bank showing the effect of flame throwers on the brambles and grass!

Looking E.

From inside looking to the E entrance.

The hornworks at the E entrance

The astonishing texture of one of the largest stones. It looks like concrete made with coarse, crushed flints. The other side is smoother. Is this another case of where the fairer side is presented to the middle of the circle?

Is the stone on the right a touch, well, phallic?

The scent of wild garlic gave a certain pungency to the air!

This might be the best time of year to visit as the trees are not yet in leaf and the delightful cluster of daffodils almost seem like a natural offering.

The stone naming the guilty parties!

Looking S over the E entrance with the over heightened bank in the foreground. IOW easily visible from here, about 30 miles to St Catherine’s Down.

From the S with barrows on the skyline. They are visible for miles around.

From the SE. One of 3 large barrows on the summit with views over to Beacon Hill (One of many) with more Iron Age remains.

From the SW showing the destruction caused by the Twyford Down cutting.

From the W in the grounds os St. Cross Hospital. One of my favourite walks, along the River Itchen, past a waterfall, up Plague Pits Valley (Not as gruesome as it sounds!) and a short stiff walk to the top.