Stonehenge Beyond the Circle
Stonehenge is perhaps Britain’s most famous monument, but it doesn’t stand alone. It sits within an extraordinary prehistoric landscape of burial mounds, cursus monuments, ceremonial pathways, and other ancient sites that together form one of Europe’s most important prehistoric landscapes.
This guide reveals Stonehenge’s broader context, explaining what makes the surrounding landscape so special, where to find hidden prehistoric sites, and understanding how Stonehenge fits into its extraordinary ancient world.
Understanding Stonehenge’s Landscape
Stonehenge sits within the Stonehenge World Heritage Site, an area of approximately 2,600 hectares containing numerous prehistoric monuments spanning thousands of years:
Neolithic period (c.4000-3000 BC): Long barrows, cursus monuments, and early earthworks built by farming communities.
Early Bronze Age (c.3000-2000 BC): Round barrows and burial mounds built across the landscape.
Middle Bronze Age (c.2000-1500 BC): Stonehenge constructed in several phases over centuries.
Late Bronze Age and Iron Age: Further burial monuments and settlements.
What makes this landscape special is its density and diversity—the number of prehistoric monuments concentrated in one area is extraordinary, representing thousands of years of human activity.
Essential Prehistoric Sites to Visit
1. Stonehenge Avenue Cursus
Stonehenge Avenue Cursus is perhaps the second most important prehistoric site in the area—a massive earthwork 2.5 miles long, 100 metres wide, and 6 metres high, forming an enormous C-shaped enclosure visible from Stonehenge itself.
What makes the Avenue Cursus special is its scale and mystery. Built around 2900 BC, it’s one of the largest earthworks in Britain, but its purpose remains debated. Was it a ceremonial boundary, a processional route, or something else entirely?
Location: Stonehenge Avenue, visible from Stonehenge
Access: Viewable from Stonehenge; various access points along its route
Opening: 24/7 (landscpe)
Cost: Free
What to expect: Massive earthwork stretching across the landscape, visible from various points. Allow 20-30 minutes to appreciate its scale.
Relationship to Stonehenge: The Avenue Cursus may have been processional route to Stonehenge, though its exact purpose remains mysterious.
2. The Cursus Barrows
The Cursus Barrows are two Bronze Age round barrows located near Stonehenge, built approximately 2000 BC. These burial mounds contain the remains of important individuals, possibly connected to Stonehenge’s purpose or its builders.
What makes the Cursus Barrows special is their proximity to Stonehenge and their construction date. They were built around the same time as Stonehenge’s final phase, suggesting connection between the two sites.
Location: Near Stonehenge (visible from monument)
Access: Public footpath access
Opening: 24/7 (landscpe)
Cost: Free
What to expect: Two round barrows visible as mounds in the landscape. Allow 10-15 minutes to visit.
Archaeology: Excavations have revealed evidence of multiple burials in each barrow, suggesting these were important communal burial sites.
3. Durrington Walls
Durrington Walls is a massive Neolithic henge monument approximately 480 metres in diameter, consisting of concentric circles of wooden posts and earthworks. It’s roughly 2 miles from Stonehenge but part of the same ceremonial landscape.
What makes Durrington special is its age and complexity. Built around 3000 BC, it’s earlier than Stonehenge and represents an extraordinary engineering achievement. The monument was used for ceremonial purposes, possibly connected to ancestor worship.
Location: Durrington, near Amesbury, Wiltshire
Access: Public access (some access across fields may be restricted)
Opening: 24/7 (landscpe, though some areas on private land)
Cost: Free
What to expect: Earthwork remains visible as circular mound rings. Allow 30-45 minutes to visit.
Significance: Durrington demonstrates that Stonehenge wasn’t built in isolation but was part of a much larger ceremonial landscape spanning many centuries.
4. Woodhenge
Woodhenge is the world’s largest prehistoric timber circle, located approximately 2 miles from Stonehenge. Built around 2600 BC, it consisted of massive timber posts arranged in multiple concentric circles.
What makes Woodhenge special is its scale and sophistication. The outer circle was 100 metres in diameter with enormous posts, representing engineering skill that rivals Stonehenge. The site was discovered through aerial photography and excavations.
Location: Near Woodhenge, Wiltshire
Access: Public access from nearby roads
Opening: 24/7 (landscpe)
Cost: Free (the original monument no longer stands, but post markers show its location)
What to expect: Concrete posts mark the original monument’s location. Allow 20-30 minutes to visit.
Relationship to Stonehenge: Woodhenge is roughly contemporary with Stonehenge’s early phases, suggesting both were part of the same ceremonial landscape.
5. The King Barrows
The King Barrows are a group of seven Bronze Age round barrows aligned on a ridge overlooking Stonehenge. They’re named after the King Barrow, the largest in the group, and were built around 2000 BC.
What makes the King Barrows special is their alignment and location. They’re positioned to have views of Stonehenge, suggesting connection between the monuments and the dead buried within the barrows.
Location: On a ridge near Stonehenge (visible from the monument)
Access: Public footpath access
Opening: 24/7 (landscpe)
Cost: Free
What to expect: Seven round barrows visible as mounds on the ridge. Allow 20-30 minutes to visit.
Alignment: The barrows are aligned roughly east-west, possibly to connect with solstice or other astronomical events at Stonehenge.
Hidden Prehistoric Gems
6. The Lesser Cursus
The Lesser Cursus is a smaller earthwork located near Stonehenge, possibly used for ceremonial or territorial purposes. While less impressive than the massive Avenue Cursus, it’s part of the same ceremonial landscape.
What makes the Lesser Cursus special is its mystery and relationship to other monuments. It’s part of the complex ceremonial landscape surrounding Stonehenge, but its exact purpose remains uncertain.
Location: Near Stonehenge (visible from the monument)
Access: Public footpath access
Opening: 24/7 (landscpe)
Cost: Free
What to expect: Smaller earthwork visible in the landscape. Allow 15-20 minutes to visit.
Prehistoric landscape: The Lesser Cursus demonstrates the density and complexity of ceremonial earthworks around Stonehenge.
7. The Avenue (Stonehenge)
The Avenue is a ceremonial earthwork and processional route that leads from the River Avon towards Stonehenge. Built around 2600 BC, it’s approximately 1.7 miles long and may have been a processional route to Stonehenge.
What makes the Avenue special is its connection to Stonehenge and the River Avon. The earthwork connects Stonehenge to the river, possibly representing a processional route from the river (associated with life and the ancestors) to Stonehenge (associated with death and ceremony).
Location: From the River Avon near Amesbury towards Stonehenge
Access: Various access points along its route (some across private land)
Opening: 24/7 (landscpe, though some sections are on private land)
Cost: Free
What to expect: Earthwork remains visible in places, particularly near Stonehenge. Allow 30-60 minutes to explore accessible sections.
Significance: The Avenue may have been the ceremonial approach route to Stonehenge, connecting the monument to the river and broader ceremonial landscape.
8. Coneybury Hill
Coneybury Hill is a Neolithic long barrow located approximately 1 mile from Stonehenge. At 104 metres long, it’s one of the longest long barrows in Britain and represents significant Neolithic burial traditions.
What makes Coneybury Hill special is its size and Neolithic dating. Long barrows were built over centuries by farming communities, and Coneybury Hill represents a particularly impressive example.
Location: Near Stonehenge (accessible by public footpaths)
Access: Public footpath access
Opening: 24/7 (landscpe)
Cost: Free
What to expect: Massive long barrow visible as an elongated mound in the landscape. Allow 20-30 minutes to visit.
Significance: Long barrows like Coneybury Hill represent the earlier Neolithic landscape that Bronze Age monuments like Stonehenge’s round barrows later replaced.
Exploring Stonehenge’s Landscape: A Walking Route
Here’s a walking route covering key prehistoric sites in 2-3 hours:
Start: Stonehenge visitor centre (allow 30-45 minutes for orientation)
Walk to: Stonehenge itself (5 minutes, allow 45 minutes-1 hour depending on time)
Walk to: King Barrows (15 minutes, allow 20-30 minutes)
Walk to: Avenue Cursus viewpoints (15 minutes, allow 20-30 minutes)
End: Return to visitor centre or continue to other sites (15 minutes)
Total distance: Approximately 2 miles
Total time: 2-3 hours (including Stonehenge visit)
Total cost: Stonehenge entry fee (approximately £23.50 adult, £16 student) only
Understanding Stonehenge’s Phases
Stonehenge wasn’t built at once but in several phases over centuries:
Phase 1 (c.3100-3000 BC): Circular earthwork and timber posts, early monument possibly for ceremonial purposes.
Phase 2 (c.3000-2900 BC): Addition of larger timber posts and earthworks, possibly for more elaborate ceremonies.
Phase 3 (c.2900-2600 BC): Addition of bluestones (the smaller inner ring), transported from Preseli Hills in Wales, 140 miles away.
Phase 4 (c.2600-2400 BC): Addition of sarsen stones (the outer ring), transported from Marlborough Downs, 20 miles away.
Phase 5 (c.2400-2200 BC): Addition of trilithons and lintels, completing the monument’s central structure.
Phase 6 (c.2200-1600 BC): Addition of avenue and other earthworks, creating the final landscape.
Each phase represents different levels of ceremonial complexity and engineering skill, showing how Stonehenge evolved over nearly 1,500 years.
Stonehenge’s Purpose: Theories
The exact purpose of Stonehenge remains debated, with several theories:
Astronomical observatory: Stonehenge aligns with solstices and other astronomical events, possibly used for calendar keeping or celestial observation.
Ceremonial centre: Stonehenge may have been a ceremonial centre for ancestor worship, seasonal celebrations, or other religious practices.
Healing place: Some theories suggest Stonehenge had healing powers, perhaps through its connection with underground water or mineral springs.
Territorial marker: Stonehenge may have marked territory or boundaries between different communities or tribal groups.
Processional route: The Avenue and other earthworks may have been processional routes used during ceremonies or pilgrimages.
Truth: Stonehenge likely served multiple purposes over its long use life, combining several or all of these functions at different times.
Prehistoric Landscape Photography Tips
Stonehenge: Overcast days or early morning/late evening light is best. Midday sun creates harsh shadows that lose detail.
Avenue Cursus: The massive scale of the earthwork is best appreciated from elevated viewpoints. Wide-angle lenses show its extent.
Barrows: The round barrows look best in overcast light when textures are revealed. Golden hour light creates dramatic barrow imagery.
Woodhenge: The concrete post markers help understand the original monument’s scale and layout.
Understanding Stonehenge’s Builders
Who built Stonehenge remains debated, but several cultures may have been involved:
Neolithic farming communities: The earliest phases were built by Neolithic farming communities with knowledge of timber construction and ceremonial landscapes.
Beaker people: Later phases may have involved Beaker culture immigrants, possibly bringing knowledge of metalworking and other technologies.
Wessex culture: Bronze Age Wessex people were skilled in monument building and may have been responsible for the final phases.
British tribes: Later Iron Age tribes may have continued using Stonehenge for ceremonies after its original builders had disappeared.
The truth may involve all these groups, with Stonehenge representing centuries of cultural continuity and change.
Prehistoric Landscape Etiquette
Respect monuments: Don’t climb on monuments, damage earthworks, or disturb archaeological sites.
Metal detecting: Metal detecting is not permitted on scheduled monuments or protected archaeological sites.
Photography: Be respectful when photographing monuments. Don’t block access or interfere with other visitors’ experiences.
Take only photographs: Don’t remove any artefacts or natural materials.
Follow country code: Stonehenge’s landscape is in rural countryside. Follow country code, close gates, and respect farming activity.
Seasonal Prehistoric Landscape Visits
Spring: Good weather for walking, wildflowers in hedgerows, longer daylight hours.
Summer: Best weather, but most crowded. Stonehenge particularly busy during solstice events. Early morning offers quieter periods.
Autumn: Good light for photography, cooler temperatures. Autumn colours make barrows particularly atmospheric.
Winter: Quietest time, but short daylight hours limit exploration. Atmospheric in winter light.
Combining Stonehenge with Other Prehistoric Sites
The Stonehenge World Heritage Site contains numerous other prehistoric sites worth combining:
Avebury: Another henge monument 20 miles north of Stonehenge, with massive earthworks and stone circles.
Silbury Hill: Europe’s largest man-made mound, located near Avebury.
West Kennet Long Barrow: One of Britain’s longest long barrows, located near Avebury.
These sites together form an extraordinary prehistoric landscape spanning thousands of years and representing Britain’s most important Neolithic and Bronze Age ceremonial landscapes.
A Final Thought
Stonehenge is extraordinary, but it’s not alone. It sits within a remarkable prehistoric landscape that represents thousands of years of human activity, from Neolithic farming communities through Bronze Age monument builders to Iron Age tribal peoples.
The surrounding monuments—Avenue Cursus, Durrington Walls, Woodhenge, the King Barrows—all tell parts of this story. They’re not lesser versions of Stonehenge but equally important components of a complex ceremonial landscape that represents one of Europe’s most important prehistoric landscapes.
The key to understanding Stonehenge is seeing it in context. Yes, visit the famous stones—they’re extraordinary. But also explore the Avenue Cursus, visit Durrington Walls, understand Woodhenge’s scale, and discover how Stonehenge fits into its broader prehistoric world.
Stonehenge’s true significance isn’t as a single monument but as the central feature of a much larger ceremonial landscape that spans thousands of years. That landscape represents human ingenuity, spiritual belief, and the enduring power of monuments to connect across centuries.
So visit Stonehenge, but also explore its surrounding landscape. The burial mounds, earthworks, and other monuments tell a story that’s even more extraordinary than Stonehenge alone—the story of how prehistoric peoples created extraordinary monuments across thousands of years, leaving us a landscape that continues to inspire and mystify.
This guide reveals Stonehenge’s broader prehistoric landscape beyond the famous circle, from the massive Avenue Cursus and Durrington Walls to Woodhenge and the King Barrows. Stonehenge is extraordinary, but it’s the central feature of a remarkable prehistoric landscape spanning thousands of years. Explore the surrounding monuments and understand Stonehenge’s full context.