The Ancestor

There's a massive chalk figure carved into the hillside near Salisbury that most visitors never bother with, which is a shame. The Ancestor is a modern addition to Wiltshire's collection of hill figures - carved in 1999 as a millennium project - and it's a proper oddity in the landscape.

You get a figure roughly 55 metres tall, cut into white chalk just like the ancient Westbury White Horse or the Long Man of Wilmington. The difference here is that this one's actually contemporary art rather than centuries-old chalk work, which divides opinion. Some find that fresh and interesting; others reckon if you want ancient carvings you should head straight to the real thing instead.

What works in its favour is the walk. The approach involves a decent stride across farmland with good views across the Wiltshire downs, and you'll likely have the place to yourself. It takes perhaps 20 minutes to reach it properly from the nearest approach, so it's not a five-minute snap-and-go. Worth an hour of your time if you're already in the Salisbury area exploring nearby chalk figures or making a day of the downland walks.

Families with young kids might find the journey a bit dull compared to somewhere more obviously rewarding, though older children interested in how landscape art gets made will find it interesting enough. There's no visitor infrastructure at all - it's very much a find-your-own-way experience.

If you're staying at Stonehenge Campsite & Glamping, this sits nicely into a broader afternoon exploring the local hills rather than as your main event.