Holiday rentals in Wiltshire

Chalk downs, medieval towns, and one of the most puzzling prehistoric monuments in the world — Wiltshire is a place with awe and wonder to spare. Stonehenge is only one of the extraordinary legacies on its landscape, from the standing stones at Avebury to Neolithic tombs, Bronze Age forts, and giant white horses carved into the hillsides. The county’s tranquil countryside is punctuated with pretty, thatched-cottage villages while its ancient market towns (Devizes, Malmesbury, Bradford-on-Avon) house any number of architectural curiosities.

There are Norman abbeys and Saxon churches, and you can even find the beautifully preserved mosaics of a Roman villa. Salisbury’s magnificently ornate cathedral has boasted the tallest spire in the United Kingdom for almost 500 years, not to mention a copy of Magna Carta and the world’s oldest working clock, while the college town of Marlborough is home to one the most charming high streets in the country, and the possible burial mound of a wizard. You could say it’s a magical place.

Thousands of people spend their holidays here as they are drawn to Stonehenge to see the sunrise during the summer solstice, and many come to celebrate its ancient midsummer rites. Salisbury Plain and the surrounding countryside are beautiful (and pleasantly warm) places to in summer, but spring and autumn are just as attractive times to stay in a cottage in this rural landscape, where life still moves to an agrarian timetable. There’s a lively arts and culture scene here, as well as many music festivals; May welcomes the Chippenham Folk Festival and Salisbury International Arts Festival, while in July, Malmesbury hosts the world-famous WOMAD Festival, a celebration of world music and arts. The Larmer Tree Festival and the End of the Road Festival take place in the grounds of the extravagant Larmer Tree Gardens in July and September respectively.

Pewsey Vale

Nestled among the North Wessex Downs, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this region of rolling hills and quaint villages is truly a glimpse of England at her rural best. The Kennet and Avon Canal runs peacefully through it, and the tranquillity of the narrow boats reflects the slower pace of life here.

West Kennet Long Barrow

Part of the Avebury and Stonehenge UNESCO World Heritage Site, this 100-metre-long tomb was built five and a half thousand years ago. You can even walk inside its chambers, whose excavation uncovered ancient artefacts alongside the bones of 46 humans, while the chalk ridge on which it sits offers views of Silbury Hill and its surroundings.

Malmesbury

This Cotswolds town has a history dating back to Saxon times, and its 12th-century abbey contains the tomb of King Athelstan, grandson of Alfred the Great. The Abbey House Gardens, which span the River Avon, have been around just as long. Don’t miss the Friday Artisan and Farmers’ Market, held at the Market Cross that has stood since the late 15th century.