Cherhill White Horse and Monument
Cherhill White Horse and Monument
Cherhill White Horse and Monument
4.5
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4.5
131 reviews
Excellent
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60
Average
7
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0
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1
gfsc5
Perth, Australia1,786 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
We unknowingly passed the white horse on the way to Bowood from Marlborough. We saw the monument but that was it.
On the way back, we were looking towards the monument and suddenly the horse appeared in the hillside. You just need to be heading the right way to see it.
It looked impressive, as they all are, but we didn't have time to stop.
On the way back, we were looking towards the monument and suddenly the horse appeared in the hillside. You just need to be heading the right way to see it.
It looked impressive, as they all are, but we didn't have time to stop.
Written 25 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dayofamily
Swindon, UK24 contributions
Jun 2019
Good circular walk around the Cherhill white horse and monument hills. Park on the road below or on side car park. Walk about 4 miles round and possibility visit on the way back along the road. Family friendly with great views. Some stretches not for the faint hearted. Wear good boots or Wellingtons.
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Graham B
Devizes, UK41,460 contributions
Jul 2012 • Couples
Cherhill is the farthest point west of the Pewsey Vale. As a village it is rustic and charming but there are three sights to the east of the village that I’ve come to see
Cherhill has probably the most recognisable skyline in Wiltshire with its striking white-horse hill figure, the Lansdowne Monument and the remains of an ancient Saxon hill fort, known as Oldbury Castle. The horse dates from 1780 and was cut by Dr Christopher Allsop, the Guild Steward of Calne by an unusual method. By all accounts, he positioned himself on the adjacent hillside and shouted instructions via a megaphone to a number of men holding flags. He directed them to where he thought the outline should be and once satisfied, used the flags as a guide by which the outline was cut into the hillside. The turf was removed and as the hillsides here were not naturally chalky, a pit was used some way away from where chalk was excavated and transported to the site where it was stamped onto the shape of the horse.
To the right of the horse is the Lansdowne Monument, a 125-foot tall obelisk of stone built in 1845 by the Third Marquis of Lansdowne to commemorate his ancestor, Sir William Petty, a 17th century economist. The obelisk is a surreal sight especially in bad weather when it may be partially obscured by clouds over the hills. It gradually weathered in the wet and windy climate until by the mid-20th century it was in a sorry state of repair. Major renovations were carried out in 1990 and again in 2010 which also saw the addition of a lightening conductor as the monument had often been struck.
The entire area to the top of the hills here comprise what was Oldbury Hill Fort, a Saxon stronghold that now unfortunately, just the earthworks remain of. The scale of the fort is impressive – two concentric bands of ditches and mounds radiate approximately 500 feet from the central point and would have given the occupiers an almost unassailable defense against attack and a second-to-none view of the surrounding countryside.
To the immediate left of the horse is a beech plantation that has never recovered from the enormous storms of 1987 when more than three quarters of the mature trees were blown down or uprooted. Saplings were replanted almost immediately but they take a considerable time to reach maturity, hence the skyline here has changed forever.
Cherhill has probably the most recognisable skyline in Wiltshire with its striking white-horse hill figure, the Lansdowne Monument and the remains of an ancient Saxon hill fort, known as Oldbury Castle. The horse dates from 1780 and was cut by Dr Christopher Allsop, the Guild Steward of Calne by an unusual method. By all accounts, he positioned himself on the adjacent hillside and shouted instructions via a megaphone to a number of men holding flags. He directed them to where he thought the outline should be and once satisfied, used the flags as a guide by which the outline was cut into the hillside. The turf was removed and as the hillsides here were not naturally chalky, a pit was used some way away from where chalk was excavated and transported to the site where it was stamped onto the shape of the horse.
To the right of the horse is the Lansdowne Monument, a 125-foot tall obelisk of stone built in 1845 by the Third Marquis of Lansdowne to commemorate his ancestor, Sir William Petty, a 17th century economist. The obelisk is a surreal sight especially in bad weather when it may be partially obscured by clouds over the hills. It gradually weathered in the wet and windy climate until by the mid-20th century it was in a sorry state of repair. Major renovations were carried out in 1990 and again in 2010 which also saw the addition of a lightening conductor as the monument had often been struck.
The entire area to the top of the hills here comprise what was Oldbury Hill Fort, a Saxon stronghold that now unfortunately, just the earthworks remain of. The scale of the fort is impressive – two concentric bands of ditches and mounds radiate approximately 500 feet from the central point and would have given the occupiers an almost unassailable defense against attack and a second-to-none view of the surrounding countryside.
To the immediate left of the horse is a beech plantation that has never recovered from the enormous storms of 1987 when more than three quarters of the mature trees were blown down or uprooted. Saplings were replanted almost immediately but they take a considerable time to reach maturity, hence the skyline here has changed forever.
Written 11 October 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LISA A
Bath, UK86 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
Would recommend taking a long walk over the back of the monument, fewer people and really beautiful scenery. So lucky to live in this stunning part of Wiltshire.
Written 28 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WCAV
30 contributions
Aug 2014 • Family
If you're visiting Avebury and Silbury Hill, take a visit to Cherill White Horse.
You can sit in the pub and just look at it, or you can take the walk up and around. Go early evening and watch the sun set across the Wilsthire countryside...
This isn't just the White Horse and Monument though... when you get to the top you'll find Oldbury Castle, true there is no actual ruins, but its still fun for the kids to run around for a hour.
You can sit in the pub and just look at it, or you can take the walk up and around. Go early evening and watch the sun set across the Wilsthire countryside...
This isn't just the White Horse and Monument though... when you get to the top you'll find Oldbury Castle, true there is no actual ruins, but its still fun for the kids to run around for a hour.
Written 19 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tristan M
Denver, Colorado, United States1 contribution
Dec 2012 • Business
Along the old roman Road known as the A.4 between The Avebury roundabout and Cherhill on the South side of the road 1 mile out of the village of Cherhill is the white horse carving set under the hillside and a short distance from the Landsdowne monument you better be looking for it or you will miss it! you can certainly walk to it for a closer view but we stop just by a dirt track off the A.4 by an Apple Tree to take pictures and read the info on the plaques and move on to Avebury when coming from Bath on route to London or even Stonehenge a worthwhile short stop for a photo opt
Written 3 February 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
swift-simba
Camberley, UK8,345 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
As it was raining we stopped in a lay by so we could really look at this wonderful artwork. The paths were a bit slippery so we hope to return when it is dry so we can walk up to it.
Even from a short distance it is impressive and you have to admire the craftsmen who created it.
Even from a short distance it is impressive and you have to admire the craftsmen who created it.
Written 13 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mrba2015
Northampton, UK2,715 contributions
Jun 2019 • Family
It’s quite a steep climb up to the white horse the path is narrow and rough but if you have a reasonable level of mobility it’s no problem. Parking at the bottom is limited. All of this sounds negative but that’s not my intention. We enjoyed the walk up and the views are really good I would definitely say give it a go.
Written 1 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ragehcat
Calne, UK90 contributions
May 2019 • Friends
Love this walk. Easy path but you walk off a great number of calories as quite a sleep climb. Fantastic view at the top by the monument. The monument does need some renovation and you can no longer walk on it but the view makes up for that.
Written 26 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Solveig R
Selby District, UK8 contributions
Oct 2018
Good chooce of differentiated walks to see the horse. Well defined pathways. Not too sure about parking facilities ......we parked on a lay by at the side of the road. Well worth a visit though.
Written 13 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Can you actually see the Cherhill Whitehorse while driving on the main road A4 ?
If not, can you drive in close enough by a secondary road ?
Written 15 August 2020
Yes you can see from the road but it's a main fast road though, where many overtake slow drivers, so be careful.
Written 28 October 2020
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