Around Silbury Hill
This walk takes you around one of the most important sites in the World Heritage Site of Avebury. Silbury Hill is the largest prehistoric man-made mound in Europe and was built between 4,400 and 4,300 years ago. It would have taken hundreds of people working continually for several years to build it, using only stone and bone tools. The walk, which takes you around the hill's base from the north, gives you a real sense of its scale.
Total steps: 13
Total steps: 13
Start point
Avebury National Trust car park, SN8 1RD
Step 1
From the car park at Avebury, exit through the main entrance and walk to the right, along the A4361 for a few metres until you see an entrance on the opposite side of the road. Carefully cross the road and take the track ahead of you.
Step 2
Follow this path, keeping the stream known as the Winterbourne on your right. You will see Silbury Hill ahead of you.
Step 3
After approximately 700 yards take a right-hand turn over a small bridge crossing the stream. Follow the path which will take you around the northern side of Silbury Hill.
Step 4
At the end of the path you will reach Silbury Hill car park. If you turn left towards the Hill there is an information panel you can read if you wish.
Step 5
When ready, retrace your steps back to the Silbury Hill car park and then walk up to the pavement which runs alongside the A4.
Step 6
Turn left and follow the pavement past the Hill until you reach a pedestrian gate on your left. Go through this gate and walk along the fence-line, keeping the A4 on your right.
Step 7
Cross a small boardwalk over the stream and approximately 100 yards further on turn left, keeping a line of trees on your left.
Step 8
Just before the next field boundary turn right and walk up the hill, keeping the fence on your left. Turn around for a moment to see one of the finest views in the World Heritage Site of Silbury Hill.
Step 9
As you crest Waden Hill the lines of the stones you can see below you to your left are the remains of the part of the West Kennet Avenue excavated and re-erected by Alexander Keiller in the 1930s. Walk down the hill and go through the gate on your left and follow the Avenue back towards Avebury.
Step 10
After 800 yards you will reach the end of the Avenue. Go through the gate on your right, cross the road and go through the gate on the other side.
Step 11
Turn left, through the trees and continue straight ahead, past the stones on your right, to a gate on the opposite side of the field. Go through and carefully cross the road.
Step 12
Walk to the right, going around the Red Lion pub and join a paved footpath on your left which runs parallel to the road. At the end of the footpath, follow the line of stones around to your left. When you reach another gate, go through it, down the steps and turn right.
Step 13
You have reached the Old Farmyard where you will find refreshments, a shop, the Museum and Avebury Manor. When you are ready to leave, follow the signposts to the car park to complete your walk.
End point
Avebury National Trust car park
Trail map
More near here
West Kennet Round trail
Follow the trail to West Kennet Long Barrow, one of the best-preserved long barrows in the country, on a circular trail rich in archaeological sites at Avebury.
Discover Windmill Hill trail
Follow a trail to the northwest of Avebury World Heritage Site, exploring Neolithic earthworks at Windmill Hill with wildlife and views to enjoy on the route.
Avebury Ridgeway walk
Starting at the heart of the World Heritage Site, this walk takes you through the remains of the largest stone circle in the world and along ancient roads into rolling chalk downland.
Get in touch
Our partners
We’ve partnered with Cotswold Outdoor to help everyone make the most of their time outdoors in the places we care for.
You might also be interested in
Walking
Explore some of the finest landscapes in our care on coastal paths, accessible trails, woodland walks and everything in between. Find the best places to walk near you.
Exploring the stone circles at Avebury
Visiting Avebury and the surrounding landscape is a unique experience. The area contains multiple Neolithic and Bronze Age features including the largest stone circle in the world which you can enter and explore.
Visiting the museum and Old Farmyard
Discover artefacts from archaeological excavations in the museum. Step inside the large threshing barn and see the 16th-century dovecote near the wildlife pond.
Eating and Shopping at Avebury
The Circles Restaurant serves lunches, cakes, snacks and drinks. Visit the National Trust shop for sustainable products and gifts, or browse Cobblestones second-hand bookshop.
Follow the Countryside Code
Help to look after National Trust places by observing a few simple guidelines during your visit and following the Countryside Code.