Best Stonehenge Tour
May 29th, 2008, 10:17 AM
#1
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Best Stonehenge Tour
We had only a short time to visit the Stonehenge. It was imperative that we get to see it. I knew we would have to go with a customized tour. I searched the web and had my travel agent friend working on it diligently. Finally, one evening I had a return from a gentleman named Pat Shelly, with www.salisburyguidedtours.com . He said he would do anything we wanted. All he needed to know was when we'd be there. We told him what time, early on a Saturday morning. He said see you then!
The time came and we arrived at the depot in Salisbury. Mr Shelly had a laminated sign with our name on it, so there was little time searching for each other. We loaded up in his spacious and comfortable van and headed out towards the henge. Now, my nephew and I thought we were going to have a whirlwind tour. Nope. Mr Shelly took us to Woodhinge, the Durrington Wall, Stonehenge, a tour of the thatched roofed homes. We got a driveway view of 'Sting's" country estate and ended it all with a tour of Salisbury Cathedral.
Mr Shelly is a local lad and has worked and is still working with the group who are excavating the phenominon. Mr Shelly expounded in depth the truth and the fiction of the Stonehenge and let us in on a few things to come. Pat knew so much and what we appreciated was that he didn't talk at us, he talked to us, in laymans language. I really wish we could have utilized him for our whole European vacation. Check out his website and be SURE you go to see Stonehenge.Not only is it ceremonial, but it is a magnificent view into humankinds past.
The time came and we arrived at the depot in Salisbury. Mr Shelly had a laminated sign with our name on it, so there was little time searching for each other. We loaded up in his spacious and comfortable van and headed out towards the henge. Now, my nephew and I thought we were going to have a whirlwind tour. Nope. Mr Shelly took us to Woodhinge, the Durrington Wall, Stonehenge, a tour of the thatched roofed homes. We got a driveway view of 'Sting's" country estate and ended it all with a tour of Salisbury Cathedral.
Mr Shelly is a local lad and has worked and is still working with the group who are excavating the phenominon. Mr Shelly expounded in depth the truth and the fiction of the Stonehenge and let us in on a few things to come. Pat knew so much and what we appreciated was that he didn't talk at us, he talked to us, in laymans language. I really wish we could have utilized him for our whole European vacation. Check out his website and be SURE you go to see Stonehenge.Not only is it ceremonial, but it is a magnificent view into humankinds past.
May 29th, 2008, 12:22 PM
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My name is Michael Bozzell. I live in Weatherford Texas.
I have absolutely no monetary or familial connection to Mr Shelly.
I thought these forums were about sharing tips for good travel, perhaps not.
Perhaps you folks are competitors who are disgruntled, who knows? I don't.
I have absolutely no monetary or familial connection to Mr Shelly.
I thought these forums were about sharing tips for good travel, perhaps not.
Perhaps you folks are competitors who are disgruntled, who knows? I don't.
May 29th, 2008, 12:30 PM
#5
Uh - nope - and you don't write like ANY Texan I've ever met 
"<i>Mr Shelly is a local lad and has worked and is still working with the group who are excavating the phenominon.</i>" Do guys from Weatherford call a grown man a "lad"?
Anyway - if you are legit, sorry. It is HIGHLY suspicious when a first time ever poster registers just to tout a commercial venture - especially in such glowing terms.
"<i>Mr Shelly is a local lad and has worked and is still working with the group who are excavating the phenominon.</i>" Do guys from Weatherford call a grown man a "lad"?
Anyway - if you are legit, sorry. It is HIGHLY suspicious when a first time ever poster registers just to tout a commercial venture - especially in such glowing terms.
May 29th, 2008, 01:08 PM
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So Janis, do I need to run my reports through you prior to posting? Are you the moderator? I don't believe I have ever encountered such an unfriendly group.
I'll stick with Trip Advisor and Frommers, where the folks are friendly.
BTW, if anyone would like to see some not so glowing reviews, check out Trip Advisor and search Bozbird. I have plenty of them over there.
Please don't hold Mr Shelly responsible for my error in posting here. He does have a good tour and my nephew and I really enjoyed it.
I won't darken these forums again.
I'll stick with Trip Advisor and Frommers, where the folks are friendly.
BTW, if anyone would like to see some not so glowing reviews, check out Trip Advisor and search Bozbird. I have plenty of them over there.
Please don't hold Mr Shelly responsible for my error in posting here. He does have a good tour and my nephew and I really enjoyed it.
I won't darken these forums again.
Jul 31st, 2008, 01:42 AM
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This is the 1st of 2 mentions that I have received on Fodor's and janisj has queried the authenticity of both.
Just to reassure her that I have no connection with either of the clients who very kindly took the time and trouble to post a review.I understand your wish to maintain the integrity of the Forum and personally I would not wish to be mentioned for any other reason than merit. There are some other reviews on another site that advises on trips (sic).
LTCMOM also to a tour of Salisbury with me which is why she is able to commenton it.
Bozzbird chose a completely different trip and I tailored it to meet his requirements. He is definitely not my mother. She lives in the Cotswolds here in England where I was born and brought up.
I work on the major archaeological digs that take place at Durrington Walls and Stonehenge each year. They were the subject of a National Geographic programme broadcast on the 1st June this year. As I lead the guiding on the dig, I get first hand knowledge of all the finds made. I also show people a small handling collection of stone tools some of which are 6,000 years old.
I hope you are reassured that the posts are legit and not advertising by me me or any familial contact.
Kind Regards,
Pat
Just to reassure her that I have no connection with either of the clients who very kindly took the time and trouble to post a review.I understand your wish to maintain the integrity of the Forum and personally I would not wish to be mentioned for any other reason than merit. There are some other reviews on another site that advises on trips (sic).
LTCMOM also to a tour of Salisbury with me which is why she is able to commenton it.
Bozzbird chose a completely different trip and I tailored it to meet his requirements. He is definitely not my mother. She lives in the Cotswolds here in England where I was born and brought up.
I work on the major archaeological digs that take place at Durrington Walls and Stonehenge each year. They were the subject of a National Geographic programme broadcast on the 1st June this year. As I lead the guiding on the dig, I get first hand knowledge of all the finds made. I also show people a small handling collection of stone tools some of which are 6,000 years old.
I hope you are reassured that the posts are legit and not advertising by me me or any familial contact.
Kind Regards,
Pat
Jul 31st, 2008, 02:02 AM
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Advertising or not, I would NOT book such a tour.
Stonehenge IS absolutely impressive and it is certainly worth going there but you throw a glance at it and that is it.
Stonehenge is most impressive when you are driving over the hill on A303 and you see it for the first time.
Then you can park your car in the car park (3 pounds) and walk to the fence. You can just walk along the fence and look over it. It makes no sense to pay the entrance fee to get 10 meters closer.
If you want to kill time, do the walk around the mounds which are around Stonehenge.
Early/late access may give you the opportunity to make a sunrise/senset picture (but never count on good weather in England).
If you are a neo-paganist you might get a special spiritual experience from touching the stones, but after all, it is just stone. (And, to avoid erosion, better leave the stones untouched.)
If you want to get a deeper understanding of Stonehenge read a good archeological book (or a good travel guide) and do some internet research (wikipedia is quite good on Stonehenge).
Stonehenge IS absolutely impressive and it is certainly worth going there but you throw a glance at it and that is it.
Stonehenge is most impressive when you are driving over the hill on A303 and you see it for the first time.
Then you can park your car in the car park (3 pounds) and walk to the fence. You can just walk along the fence and look over it. It makes no sense to pay the entrance fee to get 10 meters closer.
If you want to kill time, do the walk around the mounds which are around Stonehenge.
Early/late access may give you the opportunity to make a sunrise/senset picture (but never count on good weather in England).
If you are a neo-paganist you might get a special spiritual experience from touching the stones, but after all, it is just stone. (And, to avoid erosion, better leave the stones untouched.)
If you want to get a deeper understanding of Stonehenge read a good archeological book (or a good travel guide) and do some internet research (wikipedia is quite good on Stonehenge).
Jul 31st, 2008, 08:54 AM
#9
patshelley: The reason I was (and still am) skeptical is because both of the folks who posted such glowing reports about your tours were first-time posters and neither one has posted anything else . . .
They registered simply to post those glowing reports and then went away never to be heard from again. No posts about their wonderful (or awful) time in England, or the weather, or their B&Bs or anything except that you are the best thing since sliced bread.
You may do a great tour - and both "fodorites" may be legit -- but it looks otherwise . . . .
They registered simply to post those glowing reports and then went away never to be heard from again. No posts about their wonderful (or awful) time in England, or the weather, or their B&Bs or anything except that you are the best thing since sliced bread.
You may do a great tour - and both "fodorites" may be legit -- but it looks otherwise . . . .
