PalQ

The long awaited 1.3-mile-long tunnel that would bury the busy road that blasts by Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain has been put on hold - after millions of pounds were spent on its planning (reports the Guardian). Supporters at the Campaign to Protect Rural England supposedly were stunned at the decision after years of being led on to believe it would be built, leaving Stonehenge in a peaceful setting away from the incessant roar of cars and lorries. Ballooning costs were pointed out as the reason to at least temporarily shelve the tunneling. Many visitors to Stonehenge come away generally unimpressed from what their expectations were - in part because of the noise pollution detracts from the sight's natural serenity. (But it's still something that has to be seen, even if it is a letdown after you see it!) Visitors could once walk up to and between the stones, but now have are fenced off from the actual stones.

USNR

Yes, despite being near an artillery firing range and a tank training ground, Stonehenge still gets the crowds.

Frankly, we found Avebury and the nearby Kennett Long Barrow to be much more interesting and accessible.

julia_t

Avebury and its surrounds would be my choice over Stonehenge every time.

jmw44

Hello. I've touched the stones at Avebury and I've made my pilgrimage to Stonehenge. Fence, traffic, crowds, no matter. Stonehenge still leaves me breathless and spellbound. I do share the regret of those who were hopefully anticipating the tunnel. J.

PalQ

I too was much more moved by the Avebury Circle of stones - a lot more of them and you can mix with the sheep (and sheep droppings) that graze right up to them. The stones circle the village of Avebury. Yet Stonehenge, despite its drawbacks of fences, car park with ice cream stand and crowds, is also amazing - see both if possible. If you have a car they aren't far apart. And in Salisbury don't neglect visiting Old Sarum, the ruins of a medieval town as described in the best-selling tome Old Sarum,on the edge of Salisbury.

Underhill

To experience the real effect of Stonehenge, try to visit on a late summer's evening. Just looking at the stones from a distance is magical.

radiofanatic

it's funny, all my life I wanted to see Stonehenge. Last year, my hubby and I took a tour with stonehenge that happened to have Avebury on it too. Although we were excited to be at Stonehenge, we found Avebury to be absolutely amazing and something I will never forget and truly hope to return to one day. And I never would have gone except for the tour to Stonehenge.

soccr

Was fortunate enough to walk between the stones before the ropes went up. As Eddie Izzard says, it's the finest 'henge in the world. Sorry about the tunnel -- among other things, might have been fascinating to see what they found while excavating.

alya

I've always failed to see why people pay to see Stonehenge when you can see it so clearly from the road. Perhaps when you could get up close it would have been worth it.

We laughed a couple of years ago to see bales of hay arranged at the side of the road further south on the A30 marked 'Hayhenge'