In the foyer of the History Centre we have displayed images of some of the favourite places in Wiltshire and Swindon voted for by the people of the county and the borough in an online poll conducted a few years ago by the Windows on Wiltshire Project. The winner, with over 20% of the vote was Avebury, with North Meadow Cricklade and the Westbury White Horse coming second and third respectively. Other places high up on the list include Malmesbury Abbey and Salisbury Cathedral, the GWR Works in Swindon and the Box Railway Tunnel, the Caen Hill Locks on the Kennet and Avon Canal near Devizes and, of course, Stonehenge. Read on to find out about my own personal favourite - will it be yours?......

Do You Recognise This Wiltshire Landscape?

As a newcomer to Wiltshire and Swindon I have started to take the opportunity to explore some of the wonderful historic and natural landscapes and buildings in the area. My Favourite so far? Well I would have to go for Fyfield Down Nature Reserve, in the Marlborough Downs. I approached it via a short walk from Avebury and was astonished by the natural prehistoric landscape, which contains over 25,000 sarsen stones in their natural setting, created by geological activity 20 million years ago. It is also an important wildlife habitat, notably for its lichen, mosses and wild grasses. There is a wonderful sense of wildness and peacefulness when you are on top the reserve, peppered by the magical sound of skylarks. Other birds who also flourish in the habitat include Meadow Pipits, Yellowhammers and Stonechats. I would certainly recommend a visit by anyone who loves walking and enjoys historic and natural landscapes. It can be incorporated in with a circular walk from Avebury, which can also takes in the West Kennet Long Barrow and Silbury Hill.

What is your favourite place in Wiltshire and Swindon? Perhaps there is a hidden gem that deserves greater attention, or place of historical significance or natural beauty that is overlooked and deserved to be in the original top ten? Join the blog and let us know.

Poll Winner: Avebury

Second Place: Cricklade North Meadow

 Third Place: Westbury White Horse