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Facility Reviews by Chance

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Jewry Wall Museum (Museum, Leicester)

Free admission (small charge for certain activities on event days)

Opening Times:
Open daily: 11am - 4.30pm (February - October)
Open November - January for special events.

Jewry Wall Museum is approximately ten minutes walk from Leicester City Centre.

The nearest public car parking spaces are available at St. Nicholas Circle (Holiday Inn) and on-street parking is also available on Welles Street, but spaces are limited.

Access:
Disabled access is available via Holy Bones using Vaughan College car park where level access to the museum is available.
20th March 2014ce

Cafe Oasis (Cafe, Ludgershall)

Small but decent cafe in the middle of Lugershall.

Full English veggie breakfast for £5

Opening Hours
Mon - Tue: 08:30 - 15:30
Wed: 08:30 - 16:00
Thu - Fri: 08:30 - 15:30
Sat: 08:30 - 14:00

Check out up to date details on Facebook page
12th September 2012ce

H Cafe (Cafe, Dorchester On Thames)

Bikers cafe at the junction of the Dorcester by-pass and the A415, next to the remains of the Neolithic Complex.

Very busy in day with truckers and delivery drivers. £5 for full english veggie breakfast.
Free internet with 3 PC's always on.

Normal Hours of operation:
Mon: 8am - 5pm
Tues-Sat: 8am - 5pm
Sun: 9am - 5pm
But check out web-site for 9pm opening on special "theamed" nights.
12th September 2012ce

Three Trees Cafe and Farm Shop (Cafe, Chiseldon)

Farm shop with a small cafe at junction of the Ridgeway and the A419, opposite Bush House.

Opening Times
Monday - Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 9:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday: 9:30am - 5:30pm
Friday: 9:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday: 9:30am - 5:30pm
Sunday: 10am - 4pm
Bank Holidays: 10am - 4pm

A bit pricey but a dawn fine cup of coffee.
Ideally placed for final shopping prior to travelling up the Ridgeway.
12th September 2012ce

Alexander Keiller Museum (Museum, Malborough)

Open Daily 10am-6pm from Apr till Nov, then 4.30pm till Apr
Visited free on NT open day - March 2010 - Entry fee £4.20
see website for details

First visit since 1985 but since 2001 includes the Grade I listed Great Barn, previously home to the Wiltshire Folk Life Society, now a museum/nature reserve home to local bats colonies.

The Stables, Alexander Keiller's private museum was presented to the Ministry of Works in 1966 by Keiller's widow. On display are artefacts representing Neolithic daily life. These include flint axes, beakers, life sized figures and the skeletons of primitive piglets, goats, and a small working dog. Perhaps most poignant is the infant girl, lying just as she was found, on a bed of compacted chalk from the ditch of Windmill Hill.

The Great Barn contains interactive multi-media displays, and the latest interpretative site models. The dimly lit interior, due to the wildlife, gives an eerie feel next to Keiller's 1914 sizaire berwick car and AV show of his home movies
29th April 2010ce

The Stonehenge Campsite (Camping Site, Salisbury, Wiltshire)

--- OPEN EASTER to SEPTEMBER --
This outstanding small family run site is one of the best campsites in WILTSHIRE and the nearest TENT and Caravan Camping site to Stonehenge.

The 3 acre campsite is fully landscaped and has a heated Shower/WC Block with Piping Hot showers , Hot water dish washing area and allows camp fires and has two fire Pits.

The site is on a 9 Acre smallholding with sheep, horses and chickens

£10/head/night - Booking is essential.
Caravans & Tents are all welcome.
Please forward £25 deposit with name, telephone and dates required.
17th April 2010ce

The Red Lion Inn (Pub, Marlborough)

The Red Lion no longer offers bed and breakfast accommodation. Since 2008, when Kirsty Ayre became landlady, all accommodation has ceased.

There was always a problem of access for the upstairs bedrooms outside normal opening hours. This resulted in the guests being "locked in" once the bars had closed at night. Attempts were made to exit the building at night via the rear fire escape, resulting in the fire alarms being triggered and the building being evacuated.

An alternative access and refurbishment survey was carried out but was found to be prohibitively expensive. As this problem is unlikely to be resolved in the near future, it would be safe to assume that any bed and breakfast accommodation can be ruled out completely.
Kirsty regrets this but is only the tenant of the establishment and any comments should be directed to Green King who own the property.

All the other eating and drinking facilities are unaffected and the pub continues to be open daily from 11am till 11pm

Chance
10th April 2010ce

Britchcombe Farm (Camping Site, Uffington)

The Tearoom on the farm is open Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays from 3 - 6 pm.

Fires are allowed, but ask first. Have a bucket of water ready. Size no larger than 18" square. Bags of kindling/logs are available at £5 per bag from the farm.

Camping charges,
cost per night is £6.00 per person per night for adults. Under 5 year olds are free of charge, Age 5-14 is £3.00 per person per night.
Gazebos are £6.00 per night. Showers are inclusive. Electric Hook Up's £6 per night. Washing up facilities and Showers are available next to the toilets.
30th March 2010ce

The Druids Arms (Pub, Bristol)

A friendly enough pub, kept going by a regular band of locals. There is a separate dining room/restaurant for the home cooked meals which include a vegetarian selection. Dogs and children are welcome, with provision made for children's meals. Coffee and tea are also available, along with alcohol free beers.

Open:
Mon-Sat: 11:30am-2:30pm, 6:30-11pm; Sun: 12-3pm, 7-10:30pm
Bar Food: Mon: 12-2pm, Tue-Sat: 12-2pm, 6:30-9pm; Sun: 12-2pm, 7-9pm
Restaurant: Mon: 12-2pm, Tue-Sat: 12-2pm, 6:30-9pm; Sun: 12-2pm, 7-9pm

The beer garden is located right next to the car park and contains the Stanton Drew Cove.
Although this is in the beer garden, the cove may be visited when the pub is not open. There are a flight of steps leading up to the higher level from the car park, so disabled access is a problem. The site is also allegedly haunted by the ghost of Grace, who was killed by a carriage in the sunken lane which runs alongside the pub.
17th November 2009ce

Blackland Lakes (Camping Site, Calne)

Blacklands Lake is a large, well establish camp site on the edge of the Marlbrough Downs.

The site is the nearest to Avebury, and, untill some solotion to the camping is found at Avebury, is the one recommended by the National Trust.

The site is open all year round -
Direct Booking Line 01249 810943 and the following rates apply (May 2009).

(Rates in English Pounds)
Large tent and car £7.50 per night
Small tent and bike £5.00 per night
Adults £4.00 - Kids £2.00 - Dogs £1.50
Bank Holiday extra £2.00

Laundry and Dryer available
6th May 2009ce

The Millstream (Pub, Pewsey)

Halfway between Stonehenge and Avebury lies the henge site of Marden.
Although there is little to see today, the area does have an atmosphere.

The garden of the Millstream in Marden may be just the place to find this.
This was the closest the young river Avon came to the side of the henge.
Worth checking out, if only for a swift half of 6X.

Closed Monday, Except for Bank Holidays
Restaurant Opens 12.00noon-3pm; 6.30pm-9.30pm Sunday: 12.00noon-4pm
9th July 2008ce

The Crown Inn (Pub, Devizes)

A friendly village pub, serving Wadworth's real ales.

Food (V) available Lunchtimes, and Evenings (except Sunday in winter).

Large garden with crazy golf and swings.

This inn lies at the centre of the village and is an excellent place to park when exploring the local area on foot.
The inn is also a major stop for the local bus network, and you can easily get back here if you walked out to Avebury or Beckhampton.

A welcome rest when walking the Wansdyke for hours.
9th July 2008ce

The White Hart Inn (Bed & Breakfast, Chippenham)

The White Hart Inn at Ford is a rambling 16th century coaching inn set beside a babbling trout stream.
The inn is tucked away between Bristol and Chippenham on the A420 and is the perfect location for exploring the southern Cotwolds, Bath and the surrounding area.

There's a full a la carte menu or bar snacks and there's also a choice of bars and a substantial patio area for sunny days and warm evenings.

11 en-suite rooms available

A place to get away from it all and enjoy total peace and relaxation.
9th July 2008ce

Castle cafe at Barbury Castle (Cafe, Wroughton)

The Castle cafe at Barbury Castle is run by Ann and Jon.

The cafe offers hot and cold drinks, fresh cooked food and home made cakes.
A small camp site is also available at 10 pounds per person per night. This includes a fried breakfast in the morning. Vegetarian (v) option available.
This facility is mainly used by walkers of the Ridgeway.
No showers or wash block, but basic facilities

They are open week-ends throughout the year from 9 am until dusk and also week days during the summer months.

Tel: 01793 845346 for more details and booking.
3rd July 2008ce

The New Inn (Bed & Breakfast, nr Avebury)

Run by Sandra Pope and Paul Stewart for over three years, and still called the New Inn, this is no longer a pub with no licence to sell alcohol.

Accommodation is available at the following rates: £50 for a single room. £60 for a double and £65 for a family room.

No more details available. Ring for further enquires.
6th December 2007ce

The Barge Inn (Pub, Pewsey Wilts)

This IS crop circle central, with O.S. maps showing location/pics of many famous crop circles in the Pewsey vale. Pool room has a 360 degree mural on the ceiling outlying local sites, with elementals in each quarter.

The tavern was built in 1805 for the K+A canal co. partly to feed and house the barge horses, but also as a slaughter house and bacon curing facility. It burnt down in the 1840's and was rebuilt, minus the panoramic viewing tower on the roof, for watching the movement of canal traffic.

The site has 10 touring pitches for caravans/camper vans and space for 50+ tents. Pitches cost £4 per person per night. Showers/toilets are provided in the old stable block, but are a bit `basic'. Be aware that the camping area runs parallel to the canal and during wet weather can become boggy. This is no problem during the summer months. Site is very popular with Euro travellers.

Opening Times 11:30am to 11:00pm Weekdays 11:30am to Midnight Sat and Noon to 11:00pm Sundays. Music every Sat night.
6th December 2007ce

Foxlynch (Camping Site, MARLBOROUGH)

Having never heard of this site, I checked out the link to the map. Turned out to be in a field.

The phone number worked though and I found myself talking to a guy called George. Don't know if he was St. George but he seemed to be the anchor man.
He told me the site was in the grounds of his property, being on Bytham road opposite the pub. The Marlborough to Swindon cycle path runs through Ogbourn St. George and there are plenty of green lanes criss-crossing the area.

Priced at £5:00 per head, per night, it seems cheap. No details on toilets or showers.

So, that's about all I know at the moment. Will pay a personal visit, sometime after Imbolc, when sweet spring returns.
6th December 2007ce

Blowing Stone Inn (Pub, Wantage)

Visited this up-market country pub at Noon on 07-9-07. Had trouble with my `half a pint of cider in a pint glass with ice cubes please' order. French bar babe had only been there 2 days. Couldn't serve but flirted as well, if not better, than her mother /older sister.

Extensive menu from in house chief. Ploughman's £5.50, Jacket Potatoes £5, omelettes with salads £5. Lots of vegetarian options, but rather too expensive for the likes of a down and out cycle tramp like me.

Large garden and all weather fag area. Present owners of this free house have been here for 2 years. Well thought of by all the locals who recommended it.

Opening times: Noon to 3pm and 6pm to 11:30pm every day of the week, inc. Sunday

Alternatives are The Fox and Hounds in Uffington Village (01367 820680) which opens from 5pm to 11pm Mon to Fri and Noon to 11pm on Sat and Sun.
Or The White Horse in Woolstone (01367 820726) www.whitehorsewoolstone.co.uk

This post taken from "Down and Out in Ancient Wessex" an eco-travellers guide
6th December 2007ce

Amesbury Friar Tuck Cafe (Cafe, Amesbury)

The place span me back to my wild teenage years of mods, punks, bikers and late night rambles along the (A5) Watling Street's Cafe culture.
Sited on the town's main drag, Salisbury Street, just down from it's only supermarket and the Bus station. You know this place is cool by the huge brass scimitar sword front door handle which leads into the 1950's Formica and red fake leather booths. Chrome abounds and the room doubles up inside like the Tardis, by it's mirrored walls. The place was full of local people, squadies, van drivers and their mates. I had a vegetarian breakfast with toast for £3.50 and loved every bit of it.
The cafe opens Mon to Sat 07:30 am till 16:30 pm and get this, Sunday (yes the LORDS DAY), 10:00 am till 16:30 pm
Rating 5/5 for good quality food, friendly staff, memorable 50's surroundings

This post take from "Down and Out in Ancient Wessex", an eco tour guide.
3rd December 2007ce
Hail and Welcome

Chance was born in Ratae in the year of the Rat, and grew up in the territory of the Corieltauvi.

Now living days walk west of Wale-dich (Avebury), on the border between the Atrebates, the Durotriges and the Dobunni.

Practical experience of excavation on Neolithic, Bronze-age, Roman sites.

Interested in the various tribes, how they divided their land, their agricultural calendar, common beliefs and ritual systems.

Often attends the tribal meetings held at Avebury and Stonehenge.

Contact - Chippychance on UTube
http://www.youtube.com/chippychance

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