Bath; Home, via Stonehenge

A beautiful sunny day dawned on our final morning in Bath. In we trooped for our final cooked breakfast. (I'm glad that the bathroom did not include a set of scales.) Then, packed and ready, we set off for the scenic route home.

We thought we would have a look at Stonehenge, even though it really wasn't on our way. Other places of interest would have taken longer to explore, and we really needed to get back and get some washing and other preparation done before going to France the next day. Perhaps we should have allowed more time at home, but we feel we have to pack everything we can into the school holidays.

So, we headed west. The whole concept of Sunday driving is now understandable to us; there are so many interesting little towns dotted along the way. Salisbury plain was noticeably different. Suddenly there was space all around us, and actually stretches of road with no sign of a house anywhere. There was a 'tanks crossing' sign...

And then, suddenly, there it was: the great Stonehenge. I thought there would be huge fences all around it, but was pleasantly surprised to see only knee-high barrier ropes that organised rather than forbade observers.

We drove into a huge car-park, able to take many buses as well as cars. Several people in heavy-metal black gear were noticeable. No druids, though...

Our National Trust cards allowed us free entry, surprisingly. It's only the second time we have used these. (We have been walking more than looking in old buildings, I suppose.) We had to walk through an underpass to the stones. We got audio tour radios again, with little talks at various points in a path all around the stones.

They were well worth the visit. Seeing them in the context of the plains, which were once a vast forest, made them more meaningful. It was a lovely day, too. Our camera battery ran out, but we did get a few photos.

Then back for rather a long drive home. It really did feel like coming 'home' to Cornwall. Suddenly, the fields were like green velvet with new growth. They looked splendid.

We had to take a detour because the A38 was closed.We found the reason only metres from our home: a really nasty accident at the Looe turn-off. We had to get permission from the police to get onto the road near our lane. A rather sobering return! We were glad that we were getting the train to France the next day.