The Riverbarn

Places to Visit

SALISBURY

14.3 miles from
Fonthill Bishop

Superbly situated in southern England's rural heartland, few destinations can match the amazing diversity of Salisbury.

On the 'must see' list is Salisbury Cathedral, but the less well known and equally lovely stately homes, beautiful gardens, lively farm parks and award-winning museums are definitely worth a visit.

Salisbury has plenty of characterful buildings - some dating back to the 13th century - and a wide range of pubs, restaurants and tea rooms. A choice of arts and culture venues complement individual shops and regular street markets, and outside the city you will find charming country towns and villages with plenty of opportunities for great walking and cycling.

To cap it all, Salisbury is easily accessible with good road and rail links, making it the perfect choice for a great day out.

STONEHENGE

12.9 miles from
Fonthill Bishop

Stonehenge has recently been voted 'Britain's Best Historic Site' by viewers of the UK TV History Channel.

Stonehenge was erected between 3,000 BC and 1,600 BC by no less than three different cultures and its orientation on the rising and setting sun has always been one of its remarkable features. Whether this was simply because the builders came from a sun worshipping culture, or because - as some scholars believe - the circle and its banks were part of a huge astronomical calendar, remains a mystery to this day.

Now designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Stonehenge is surrounded by the remains of ceremonial and domestic structures, some older than the monument itself. Altogether, the site covers some 2,600 hectares and comprises over 400 scheduled monuments.

STOURHEAD

12.3 miles from
Fonthill Bishop

Stourhead House and Gardens on the Wiltshire-Somerset border is the perfect day out for everyone. A breathtaking 18th century landscape garden with lakeside walks, grottoes and classical temples is only the beginning.

Between March and October you can visit Stourhead House, a Palladian mansion with fantastic regency library and beautiful art collection. And why not climb the 205 steps to the top of King Alfred's Tower, an amazing red-brick folly, for vistas over Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire, or explore one of our Iron Age hill forts. There is also a large National Trust shop, restaurant, art gallery, pub and farm shop for you to enjoy.

SHERBORNE

30.8 miles from
Fonthill Bishop

The town of Sherborne is crammed with historic interest with 17th, 18th and 19th century architecture set in unspoilt streets. Medieval buildings abound in the town, the most important of which are The Almshouse of St John the Baptist and St John the Evangelist; The 15th Century Conduit House and The Julian, an early 16th Century house originally the hospice of St Julian of Norwich.

The town also has an excellent small museum with many local artefacts and Purse Candle Manor as well as Sandford Orcas Manor are both of interest. A must see are the Abbey Church (pictured above) & Sherborne Castle.

SHAFTESBURY

9.3 miles from
Fonthill Bishop

Steeped in history and tradition, Shaftesbury offers visitors breathtaking views and the warmest of welcomes. The "Shaston" of Thomas Hardy's novels, Shaftesbury is one of the oldest and highest towns in England and dominates what Hardy called the "engirdled and secluded" Blackmore Vale.

The beauty of the surrounding Dorset countryside is complemented by the collection of fine historical buildings that make up the centre of Shaftesbury itself.

Gold Hill, made famous by the Hovis Bread advertisement, with its steep cobbles and picturesque cottages is the epitome of rural charm from a previous time.

LONGLEAT

16.0 miles from
Fonthill Bishop

Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful stately homes open to the public, this magnificent Elizabethan property is home to the 7th Marquess of Bath. Set within 'Capability' Brown landscaped parkland, the house contains many fine treasures and that's not all. Longleat offers a great day out for all the family. From lions to tigers, monkeys to giraffe, discover many of the world's most majestic and endangered creatures within the Safari Park. Get lost in the 'Longleat Hedge Maze', voyage on the Safari Boats, journey on the Longleat Railway, and much more.

NEW FOREST

35.6 miles from
Fonthill Bishop

People who live in The New Forest will tell you that it is a lively, working landscape with many secrets to discover. The only way to reveal The New Forest's hidden gems and truly appreciate the sights, sounds and smells of the forest is to get out there and explore. Try to escape from the confines of the car and head out on foot, bicycle or on horseback to get a more intimate feel of the forest, its coast and villages.

The New Forest is a genuine walker's paradise with many circular and linear routes. There are many picnic and toilet facilities, all of which are carefully sited to allow visitors safe and easy access to a variety of forest landscapes. All year round there are guided walks where local experts will tell you about the history, geology, wildlife and folklore beneath your feet. You can even explore the forest on a ranger-led New Forest event. The New Forest is a fantastic place for cycling with miles and miles of traffic free tracks leading you right into the heart of the forest with few hills to worry about

The forest is a living and working place where ponies and cattle freely graze the land and help to keep the patchwork of different habitats intact. Deeper in the forest, wild deer browse beneath canopies of mighty oak and beech � natural scenes unchanged by the modern world.

BATH

28.5 miles from
Fonthill Bishop

Bath and the stunning countryside surrounding it is one of England's most beautiful places to visit.

Bath is a unique city; its hot springs, Roman Baths, splendid Abbey and Georgian stone crescents have attracted visitors for centuries. Set in rolling Somerset countryside, it is a beautiful and unforgettable place to visit.

BRISTOL

39.9 miles from
Fonthill Bishop

Bristol is the largest centre of culture, employment and education in the region. From its earliest days, its prosperity has been linked to that of the Port of Bristol , the commercial port, which was in the city centre but has now moved to the Severn Estuary coast at Avonmouth and Portbury, to the western extent of the city boundary. In more recent years the economy has been built on the aerospace industry and the city centre docks have been regenerated as a centre of heritage and culture.

AVEBURY

34.4 miles from
Fonthill Bishop

Photograph courtesy of SacredSites.com

Avebury is the site of a large henge and several stone circles in the English county of Wiltshire surrounding the village of Avebury . It is one of the finest and largest Neolithic monuments in Europe dating to around 5,000 years ago. It is older than the megalithic stages of Stonehenge which is located about 20 miles to the south, although the two monuments are broadly contemporary overall. It lies approximately midway between the towns of Marlborough and Calne, just off the main A4 road on the northbound A4361 towards Wroughton. The henge is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a World Heritage Site.

WILTON

10.8 miles from
Fonthill Bishop

Wilton is only a small town and rather overshadowed by Salisbury just down the road but well worth a visit as it was the base for the development of Wilton carpets and a typically English market town, with good antique shops, walks along the River Wylye to Castle Meadow.

The market is held on Thursdays, and the market square is close to the ruins of St Mary's church. Nearby is an Italiante 19th century church with stained glass and 2,000 year old marble pillars.

Georgian houses stand in Kingsbury Square and there is a county cross near the 1738 market house.

SOUTHAMPTON

38.4 miles from
Fonthill Bishop

Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest . It lies at the northern-most point of Southampton Water where it is joined by the River Test and River Itchen, with the River Hamble joining to the south of the urban area.

The local authority is Southampton City Council, which is a unitary authority. The city is part of the ceremonial county of Hampshire.

Significant employers in Southampton include the University of Southampton, the Ford Transit factory and one of the largest commercial ports in Europe.

The city represents the core of the Greater Southampton region, with a population of 228,600. The city's name is sometimes abbreviated in writing to "So'ton" or "Soton", but a resident of Southampton is called a Southamptonian.

Southampton is noted for being the home of the RMS Titanic, the Spitfire and more recently a number of the largest cruise ships in the world.

OLD WARDOUR
CASTLE

4.7 miles from
Fonthill Bishop

Beautifully sited beside a lake, Old Wardour Castle was built in the late 14th century by John Lord Lovel as a lightly fortified but showy and luxurious residence. A hexagonal tower house ranged round a central courtyard, its form is very unusual in England.

After decorative updating in 1570, the castle was besieged in turn by both sides during the Civil War, and badly damaged. During the 18th century it was incorporated as a romantic ruin into the landscaped grounds of New Wardour House, which was built by Lord Arundell (not managed by English Heritage, no public access). The castle's setting in a Registered Landscape indicates the significance of this hidden jewel.

Part of the Kevin Costner film "Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves", was filmed here.

Links

Visit the Stonehenge website For historical details, photos and visitor information.

http://www.stonehenge.co.uk/

Visit the website of Longleat House and Safari Park with its extensive grounds,
mazes, coarse fishing and many special events throughout the year.

http://www.longleat.co.uk/

Website of the spectacular Stourhead landscape garden with its classical temples
and backdrop of rare and exotic trees. The majestic Palladian mansion houses
a unique collection of Chippendale furniture.

http://www.stourhead.com/