Name: WAYLANDS SMITHY
Price range: $$

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Free access, Prehistoric

Waylands Smithy is a Neolithic long barrow, a burial site, dating from 3600-3400 BC and built in two phases. The remains of 14 people have been found from Phase 1. Phase 2 had been robbed but the remains of 8 bodies have been found. The site has long been associated with the Saxon folk figure-god, Wayland the Smith. The story goes that if a traveller left some money and his shoeless horse overnight, he would return to find his horse shod and the money gone. Waylands Smithy is accessible from the ancient Ridgeway footpath.

There is very limited parking on the closest road, Knighton Hill. More reliable is the NT car park for White Horse Hill - about 1.25 miles away - Waylands Smithy is signposted from there. A circular walk can also take in the White Horse of Uffington, Uffington Castle and Dragon Hill.

Region/Nation

South East

Location/Address

Ashbury

County

Oxfordshire

Post Code

SN7 7QN

Main Historic Period

Prehistory

Link to featured article

The legend of Wayland's Smithy

Useful Website Address

English Heritage information on Waylands Smithy

Tip/Nearby

White Horse, Uffington, Tom Brown's School Museum

Primary Management

National Trust

If your favourite attraction is not listed yet, and you have a good quality digital photograph of it that you are able to freely send, please get in touch.

What do people say

Eden on Coventry’s Blitz and CathedralA bit late here, but I had to stop and comment on your lovely images, Mike. It's been years since we went to Coventry (because my husband used to work just outside Birmingham, I used to go often), but the last time was in 2017 when I was finally able
Lana Ta on Musings on D-DayThank you for sharing this thoughtful reflection on the 80th anniversary of D-Day. It is interesting that you highlight the complexity and scale of Operation Overlord, which involved immense coordination among multiple nations. I agree that remembering such significant events is crucial, especially as fewer survivors remain to share their
thehungrytravellers.blog on Coventry’s Blitz and CathedralYep. There was a bomb crater opposite my Nan’s house!
Fiona Glass on Britain’s most haunted placesFascinating and great fun too - thanks! Muncaster Castle is a good one for future lists although the bedroom that's supposed to be haunted is rather "staged" (kept cold, painted a darkish blue etc)!
Lisa G. on Coventry’s Blitz and CathedralWow.
Jennie on Coventry’s Blitz and Cathedral
NatG on Britain’s most haunted placesInteresting. My parents have often told us about an encounter some 50 plus years ago at Markenfield Hall when the hall was uninhabited and a key could be borrowed to look around it. My dad wanted to look at it as part of a project he was doing for a
grandmisadventures on Coventry’s Blitz and CathedralI love places like this that still show the remains of such a beautiful building.
marmeladegypsy on Coventry’s Blitz and CathedralThis is magnificent, Mike. I think most of us who have read about WWII know the basics of what happened to Coventry, but not with the detail and visuals you shared here. And like you, I'm not a fan of modern churches, but from the first photos you shared, I
edgrant22 on Coventry’s Blitz and CathedralA powerful and moving piece about Coventry. I am now inspired to visit the city which will be a first for me. Thank you Edward

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