Vale of Pewsey Geology Trip

Vale of Pewsey

Something to look forward to in the new year, and a date for the diary.

An event has been posted on the Wiltshire Heritage Museum website.
Saturday 8th May 2010. GEOLOGY FIELD TRIP.

An afternoon walk around  Alton in the Vale of Pewsey led by Isobel Geddes of the Wiltshire Geology Group.

Meet: 2pm at the car park (NGR SU 116638) below Knap Hill.

From the viewpoint at Adam’s Grave (Neolithic longbarrow) (ten minutes walk from the car park) Isobel will point out features of the landscape of the Pewsey Vale with the steep slopes up to the Marlborough Downs to the north. There are interesting sarsen stones here containing the typical fossil root-holes that give a clue to their terrestrial origins in a dry warm climate, such as prevailed in the tertiary period.

The able bodied can then walk down to Alton Barnes (those not wishing to walk can drive down to the village), where St Mary’s church has Saxon origins. There are more sarsen stones by the footpath leading to Alton Priors church and springs that emerge from the base of the chalk between the two churches, which feature local stone in their construction.

If time allows the return route to the car park could include a detour via Stanton St Bernard, Milk Hill and Wansdyke.

Those walking the whole way can expect to cover about 5 miles during the afternoon, with some steep slopes, but there is an option to drive the main legs, and much of the climb, by car.

Isobel Geddes of the Wiltshire Geology Group is also a member of WANHS and author of Hidden Depths, Wiltshire’s Geology and Landscapes.

The outing should end about 5 pm.

Visit Wiltshire Heritage Museum to find out more.