Cherhill White Horse and Monument
Cherhill White Horse and Monument
Cherhill White Horse and Monument
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.5
129 reviews
Excellent
63
Very good
59
Average
6
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Graham B
Devizes, UK41,482 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 October 11, 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, UK58 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 May 28, 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 August 19, 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 February 3, 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, UK7,401 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 June 13, 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, UK2,724 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 June 1, 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, UK97 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 May 26, 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, UK9 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 April 13, 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.
Mike J
Bristol, UK20 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
Weather dependent, the footpaths can be used for a casual walk, walking the dogs or mountain biking. Various paths lead away from the ‘peak’ so you could be out for an hour or several if you so wished.
Written November 14, 2018
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.
AdelaidePam
Newton, Australia111 contributions
Nov 2018 • Friends
I was very excited when I learned there were several white horses not far from where we were travelling this day as I've been keen to see one. Luckily we were using a GPS as there was no road signage for the Cherhill horse, which was the one we selected. A few cars in a layby made us think we could be in the right place so we headed for a little lane and found a sign. The path meandered in and so did we. People returning told us it was a very steep walk and we headed in further, through a gate, where we saw a cyclist coming down a hill. He told us there was a circuit to a monument and the horse and it would take an hour or so. We asked about the horse and discovered it was there on the hill to our left but we hadn't seen it as it was nearly the same green as the grass. It is only rechalked every couple of years so it wasn't bright and gleaming but at least I've seen one.....sort of.
Written November 3, 2018
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.
Sophie & Paul
Montreal, Canada242 contributions
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 ?
Pete C
Royal Wootton Bassett, UK14 contributions
Yes you can see from the road but it's a main fast road though, where many overtake slow drivers, so be careful.
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Claim your listingCherhill White Horse and Monument - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about Cherhill White Horse and Monument
- Hotels near Cherhill White Horse and Monument:
- (2.02 mi) Dove Cottage
- (1.87 mi) The White Horse Inn
- (3.31 mi) Heritage Bed and Breakfast
- (3.31 mi) Dorwyn Manor B&B
- (3.53 mi) Elderbrook House
- Restaurants near Cherhill White Horse and Monument:
- (1.82 mi) The White Horse Inn Restaurant
- (0.94 mi) The Blackhorse Pub Cherhill
- (5.50 mi) The Haveli Indian Restaurant
- (3.33 mi) Fay's Bistro
- (5.97 mi) The Greyhound