Template:FP-Marlborough Downs

Downland at Stanton St Bernard, Wiltshire

Marlborough Downs The Marlborough Downs are a range of high chalk uplands hills which sweeps across the north of Wiltshire, south of the Upper Thames Valley and north of the Vale of Pewsey, which divides the downs from Salisbury Plain. The River Kennet rises in these hills and forms a valley down to Marlborough in their midst. This is a hauntingly beautiful landscape of open hills, broad valleys and clear airs. It is full of mystery, littered with earthworks, stone circles and hillforts of forgotten peoples. Richard Jefferies described it as being "alive with the dead". The Ridgeway, a path of ancient origin passes over the ridge tops here and the barrows of ancient burials are strewn across the hills. (Read more)