No trip to Wiltshire would be complete without a visit to Stonehenge. A path leads sightseers around the perimeter of the stones, the audio tour educating us through headsets as we marvel at the lost technology.

It remains a mystery how these stones, the heaviest weighing around 45 tons, were moved into place as far back as 3150BC.

The view across Salisbury Plain is stunning.

It is possible to walk amongst the stones with special access at sunrise and sunset. Early on a misty morning, we did just that.

There are many theories about the meaning of the stones but most agree they were a centre for ceremonial activities, most likely a burial site.

The stones have faces, some more obvious than others.

Woodhenge is another Neolithic site not far from Stonehenge. Built about 2300BC, it is believed to have been for ceremonial use. Originally a wooden structure, concrete posts now mark the positions of the original timbers.

The White Horses of Wiltshire are scattered throughout the countryside. Cut into the chalk hillsides are eight figures of horses, the oldest believed to date back to 878AD.

Another unsolved mystery in the history of Wiltshire is Silbury Hill. The largest man-made mound in Europe, it was built around 2400BC and compares in height and volume to the Egyptian pyramids. It apparently contains no burial and its original purpose is unknown.

The Avebury henge, dating back to around 2600BC, is the largest stone circle in Britain.

Once consisting of 154 stones, only 36 remain after they were removed to make way for crops and broken up to build houses in the 17th & 18th centuries.

The faces at Avebury are a little more obscure.

The village was quaint and inviting

but the shadows were lengthening and we had much to ponder over dinner.

After five wonderful days in London, we caught the train from Charing Cross to Tonbridge, Kent, and picked up our hire car. We drove to Tunbridge Wells, where Michael grew up, and explored the town.

The Pantiles is a Georgian colonnade, named after the pantile paving on the Upper Walk in 1700. Now lined with shops, galleries and cafés

the area was created following the discovery of a  chalybeate spring in the early 17th century.

After lunch at The Duke of York

we visited High Rocks, which weren’t as high as they seemed to a young Michael. The drive was scenic

and the pub inviting.

We found our way through the back lanes to our B&B, The Duck & Drake, just outside Rolvenden.

The room was lovely

with a gorgeous view to greet us the next day.

We stuck a pin in the map and headed for Hastings,

where the ruins of the castle, built by The Normans in 1070, sit proudly above the town.

We took the easy way to the top

for a closer look at the ruins

and the magnificent view.

Back in the car park, this young gull had made himself comfortable.

We drove on to Eastbourne

and after a leisurely lunch, we started back to The Duck & Drake, discovering Bodiam Castle along the way.

Built in 1385 as both a defence and a comfortable home, the castle was used in Monty Python & The Holy Grail as Swamp Castle.

There were no curtains, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utuchVE_56M, but I think they would have obscured the scenery.

One last stop for a quick beverage at The Elephant Head

where we made a friend

and we finished the day with a fabulous meal at The White Lion in Tenterden.