I've visited Avebury on a couple of occasions. I've never had chance to walk round the famous stone…read morecircle though! Ah well Held every year in May, the Sarcen Trail and Neolithic Marathon take participants the 26.2 miles from Avebury to Stonehenge and raises money for Wiltshire Wildlife, though they don't insist you raise sponsorship beyond the entry fee. Base for the marathon is a hall on the High Street (which doesn't look like most high streets! This is a village). Base for the Sarcen Trail walkers is through the Churchyard and round the back of the Church. The loos are at the walker's start, so if you are a marathoner like me then allow time for walking back and forth! It gets you warmed up anyway. It's a bit of a strange one in some ways. The event as a whole is massive, but the marathon forms a fairly small part of it. They have walkers completing all or part of the 26 mile route, the half marathon (which starts at the halfway point, not at the marathon start), plus cani-cross, which is people running with their dogs, over both half and marathon distances. When the marathon runners got together it was probably the smallest group I've been in at a start. Yet you have the benefit of a much larger number of entrants, with full scale toilet, water station and medical coverage. They also do chip timing, even though they describe it as a run rather than a race. The first section of the course includes a variety of running. Back lanes and paths, a road crossing (with the police holding up the heavy traffic), a heavily rutted farm track and a long, steady pull up to the first row of Downs. Search for 'neomara' in the United Kingdom for more reviews along the course.

My main memory of Salisbury Plain as part of the Neolithic Marathon was dust, dust and more dust…read more And tracks (covered in grit and more dust), that, intended for tanks, were made of concrete unless I'm much mistaken. Concrete is 10 times as hard as tarmac, and that means very hard when you are running over it with joints already feeling sore. The wind created dust devils, passing coaches and tractors raised more. And the sun baked down. I finished the day coated with dust and white socks that are still orange from it. Apparently some areas we crossed are usually closed to the public as the Plain is used by the military. This means it's also something of a haven for wildlife, but I didn't get to look for it, and I've been in a lot prettier places. In spite of being a plain it is undulating. Though the undulations aren't huge, there are some valleys that are quite noticeable and include steep, if short, slopes. The northern part seemed pretty bleak to me. I'd probably have enjoyed it more without all that dust, and feeling pretty exhausted! As we headed south we hit more areas of pine woodland, which made it prettier. There were frequent marshal points with water, toilets and sometimes medical care. Brilliant! And though I'd lost sight of any other marathon runners, there were plenty of walkers on the course to chat with when I took a rest. It was quite a relief to reach the Bustard Inn, Shrewton, and know there were only a few miles to go. No review of the Inn from me, sorry. I didn't stop! Search for 'neomara' in the United Kingdom for more reviews along the course.

Off Salisbury Plain you briefly pass civilisation via a short stretch of road and a pub. The next…read moresection is a bit of a shock as you find yourself on a deeply rutted track and facing the question of balancing along the middle or down in foot-deep ruts, some of which are inches from ditches This was the only section where walkers were really annoying, as in some places you had to ask them to move aside so you could pass. Then on to a farm road You approach the finish up a stony track. Some people complained about this last hill (small compared to what's come before, but it is sharp right at the end), but I loved it. There was actually a nice stretch of turf running alongside. The best running surface the whole way in my opinion, and I ran up it! Over the top, and in site of the finish below, you turn into a field. And another nasty surprise It's full of huge grass tussocks! Perfect ankle turning facilities By now I'd been spotted, and someone with a loudspeaker was announcing my arrival! With a welcome like that I had to run didn't I? However a straight course was impossible. I ran slowly and carefully along a meandering animal track towards the finish where several of the staff gathered to clap me in. After that the announcer turned to the walkers coming in (including a gang dressed as Roman centurions who I'd talked to a few times (they were walking, but fast, which meant for a while my runs took me ahead, then they caught me again on my walks!). I got my medal, which is one of the best I've had, some food and a drink, all free. The food was delicious veggie stuff: a pita with humus, pizza, and I think some cake. Then it was on to my free visit to Stonehenge, which I've reviewed separately. All in all I wouldn't recommend the Neolithic for those looking for a personal best. I'd also say for a first marathon you'd be better on an easier course (like London!). But for a challenge and for organisation and atmosphere it's hard to beat. Definitely a must do. Search for 'neomara' in the United Kingdom for more reviews along the course.

This is a lovely place to come to and walk along the canal to Bath or Bradford-on-Avon. You can see…read morehow pretty it is from the photo. There is a café here and a cycle hire shop and a room devoted to the history of the canal and railway for the transportation of the locally mined coal. I found it fascinating. I walked from Midsomer Norton to Bath and this was the mid-point of the journey. I learned on the way about the so-called 'Father of English Geology', William Smith. It was he who discovered one could date rock according to what fossils could be found in it and he published the first ever geological survey of Britain. The house that he lost in the process is not far away in Tucking Mill. I hav not visited the cafe but it was very popular when I was there and the visitors appeared to be regulars, so it cannot be that bad. Next time I come, I'd like to visit the little tea gardens on the other side of the canal, a little further towards Bath. They looked simple, pretty and intriguing. I think this place would be a lovely place to come to on a date, hiring the bikes, perhaps. There is a car-park here, which may be helpful to know. I enjoyed my walk so much, I plan to go again this week.

On the Neolithic Marathon Wansdyke was a bit of a surprise. I came up towards the top of the first…read moreline of downs out of Avebury and found myself looking down and along this massive earthwork. A quick search via Google has told me that the name may relate it to pagan god Woden, it was built around 600 ad, and runs from near Bristol to Savernake Forest near Marlborough. Its exact origins and purposes remain a mystery, with the name being given by Saxons who arrived after it had been built, and possibly thought it to be an act of god. According to my researches along its length it varies from possibly totally absent to barely visible to a bank 4 metres high with a 2.5 metre deep ditch. I was on one of it's more visible points. Had I not been in the middle of doing a marathon I'd have loved to walk off down the path that could be seen following its course! The point I crossed Wansdyke was at Tan Hill, which is North of All Cannings and Stanton St Bernard. As part of the marathon the hill top is nicely turfed, but full of rabbit holes. From Wansdyke (by the way, you don't have to do any real bank climbing) you head over the crest, then down a little, coming into the full blast of any wind (it was fierce), then skirt around the hill of Rybury Camp, an Iron Age hill fort, and another ancient monument I didn't really get chance to explore! The side of the hill is steep and you cut across via terraced sheep paths, a little scary if you are scared of heights, though some mountain bikers did ride across when I was there. From there the path drops down very steeply into the Vale of Pewsey. Search for 'neomara' in the United Kingdom for more reviews along the course.

I never realised it but you could do a Cool Runnings scene of your own in Bath. Located at the…read moreUniversity of Bath there is a partial replica of the bobsleigh track at Salt Lake City. To my surprise all sorts of people turned up for the event - from the young to the old, from the slight of size to the big and brawny. We thought we'd be the only ones going for it but in the end I think there about 20 of us. There are two things that you need to know before you even consider going to the track - 1. You will get very hot because you will do a lot of sprinting (you'll do about eight runs) and 2. You will get very cosy with your fellow team members so either go as a group of four or be prepared to get up close and personal to a few strangers! My bro and I were very lucky to be grouped with a couple from Essex, Sandra and Aaron. They were really lovely and friendly and it was clear from the outset that we all worked very well as a team and the other teams actually had us pegged as the ones to beat! As it is only a partial replica of the Salt Lake City track you don't actually do a full proper bobsleigh run with the activity mainly based around the push start. To be honest once you're in the sled you don't even realise where you are on the track - all the hard work is in the start. Surprisingly it is a lot easier to get into the sled than you would think though some of the other teams, in particular where the team was all big burly guys, had a bit of a struggle to get in. I think our combination worked quite well - so well that we won the time trials! and we were the only ones to break the 9 second barrier (twice) so I was pretty happy.

This is a really fabulous walk. It's long for most people. I…read morewalk from home in Midsomer Norton to Bath or to Frome. I prefer the route to Bath though there are some really interesting things to see on the way to Frome. The walk runs along the Sustrans Route 24 http://www.sustrans.org.uk/sustrans-near-you/south-west/easy-rides-in-the-south-west/colliers-way It's a walk of two halves for me. Firstly through the countryside, through Wellow, for example. Beautiful! The second half takes you along the canal into Bath from Brassknocker Basin. I'd recommend a long lunch break or the feet can get very sore. It is a really interesting route to take, as this is the journey of the coal from NE Somerset into Bath. Now that may not sound too cool, but it really comes alive with the various signs en route that enlighten you. There are several very interesting things to read about along the way but I do not wish to spoil them, because they were a very pleasant surprise for me when I did it for the first time. Very highly recommended...also by bike.

Savernake Forest is over 1000 years old and is home to some very old and very large trees, i have…read morebeen on some lovely walks there and because its so big you can always do a different walk. I have seen deer, pheasants and lots of squirrels. Recently we went and wondered through carpets of bluebells in the West Woods part of the forest. There is a campsite, barbecue and picnic site, its suitable for walking and cycling. The Grand Avenue is my favourite part, a long tree lined avenue designed by Capability Brown. Top tip: check what time the carpark closes before you leave your car, i have had to wait for a very unhappy gate keeper to let me out before! oops