A growing number of people, fascinated by the crop circles and associated mysteries, contact us to obtain advice about trips to Wiltshire to see the ENGLISH crop circles. Consequently we have put together some information to get you STARTED in planning your trip.

(The Norwegian Crop Circle Group does not arrange such trips, the information found here is a result of experiences made on our private trips. A lot of necessary information CANNOT  be found here. Contact a travel agency!).

                                      


Photo: THE MILK HILL SPIRAL, Wiltshire 2001. Thus far this is the largest crop circle recorded, covering an area equivalent to 15 football (!) fields, and consisting of 409 circles from 4 - 74 feet in diameter. The formation appeared at night within a four hour period with contines heavy rain throughout. It's been calculated that the time available would provide 30 seconds for each circle. In rain. On undulating gound. No mistakes. No footprints. Impossible to reconcile.

It is the county of WILTSHIRE that hold the highest density of crop circles. Approximately 150 circles appear in this area every summer, from April to September. Crop circles also appear throughout southern England. When you plan your trip we recommend that you check out the following web site links for up to date info:

LINKS
http://www.visitkennet.co.uk
http://www.visitwiltshire.co.uk
http://www.touruk.co.uk/wilts/
http://www.visitbritain.com/no/home2.asp
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g186412-Activities-c5-Wiltshire_England.html
http://www.cropcircleconnector.com/Travelogue/travelog99.html
http://www.temporarytemples.co.uk/travel/index.html
 

SOME LOCAL INFORMATION
We also have added some local info to help you in your further planning.

HOW TO GET AROUND IN SOUTHERN
ENGLAND:  - CAR / RENTAL BIKE..??

If the object of the trip is to visit the crop circles, transportation to the locations of the circles is the most important practical and economical factor to consider. A car is a MUST in the area if you want to get to the locations of the circles. (You can of course use a bike if you’re very fit. Be prepared for tens of kilometres of biking every day.) If you bring your car from Norway, you’ll save some money, but you’ll meet the difficulties of driving with the wheel on the wrong side. It is rather costly to rent a car in England, but if several persons travel together expenses can be shared. If you bring your own car, you have to take the ferry from Kristiansand with DFDS Seaways.

It‘s possible to travel with groups on arranged tours to see the circles. These tours are arranged by different persons or companies, check out the links above. If you choose an arranged trip you need to be aware that they are rather expensive, and that you will have to sign on and pay in advance, and that, due to a possibly pre-set program, you won’t be free to go and see the newest formation whenever and wherever it appears.

Accommodation in Southern England is available in all areas and at all levels of quality, pricing varies accordingly. At the web-site www.visitkennet.co.uk you’ll find a good presentation of all the possible places to stay in the district of Kennet, the central crop circle area in Wiltshire (the area of Avebury and the Vale of Pewsey). You’ll also find a map that shows the exact location of the places to stay, and that makes it much easier to decide on the right place.

CAMPING  There are many camping sites throughout the Wiltshire countryside. The best one in Wiltshire (that is if you want to meet other "croppies") is located close to the pub The Barge, in the southern area of Wiltshire at honey Street near Alton Barnes. The pub is the local "watering hole" and is a regular meeting place for the "croppies",  and is considered a must for every crop circle enthusiast. A lot of tourists camp out here and the pub has a special crop circle room with a map that presents the latest formations. It is recommended to stop at The Barge In early in the day to check if any new formations have arrived during the previous night.

COTTAGE RENTAL  If you travel with a small group of people it is not expensive to rent a cottage, cabin or house. In 2002 we paid around 4000 Norwegian crowns (£350) per week for a cottage with a nice kitchen and bathroom, two bedrooms and a terrace/garden area with access to a swimming pool, witch we considered very cheap for the high standard. For a list of cottages in the area contact the British Tourist Office in Oslo (or in your own country) and ask for a catalogue of cottages in Wiltshire.

BED & BREAKFAST  The concept of Bed & Breakfast is very well developed all over England, and might be a recommendable and pleasant way to spend the night. The web page VisitWilthsire.co.uk offers you some suitable places - click the "Where to stay" link - and check out the possibilities. 

HOTELS  There are often inexpensive hotel rooms to find in the towns that dot the circle prone landscape of Wiltshire, such as Calne (12.000 inhabitants), Devizes (11.000 inh.), Pewsey(?), Swindon (180.000 inh.) and Malborough (2000 inh.).  All of these towns are varied and unique places in themselves and well deserving of a visit at the very least. All of these towns have tourist information centres which carry details on local hotels etc. Similar information can also be found on tourism web-sites covering the area. (Tip: Book your room in advance).


ANNUAL CROP CIRCLE CONFERENCES

Several crop circle conferences are arranged every year in southern England. We recommend that you visit one of them during your stay:

GLASTONBURY SYMPOSIUM, Glastonbury
The most famous  of the conferences is the Glastonbury Symposium – Investigating Crop Circles and Signs of our Times. It is usually held during the second half of July and lasts for three days. The conference has been arranged every summer for 13 years and always presents highly qualified lecturers of different nationalities. The subjects, that cover many topics related to the circles enigma, offer a diverse and fascinating insight into the evolution of the phenomenon and its wider implications. (The town of Glastonbury is an experience of its own, with many attractions and a special atmosphere. Take a look at these non-commercial links: http://crystalinks.com/glastonburytor.html and http://www.glastonbury.co.uk/ ).

THE SUMMER CROP CIRCLE LECTURES, Devizes
New of the year, this two day evening conference is arranged by the crop circle researchers Karen Douglas & Michael Glickman. The conference is held in Devizes, in the heart of crop circle country. This evening arrangement gives you the opportunity to spend your day in the fields in an area where the crop circle density is of the highest, and at the same time join a series of inspirational lectures as well in the evenings. Each evening include a programme of recognised speakers, with traders stalls (including the latest crop circle photographs), and complementary refreshments. The conferense is held Sunday 31st July & Monday 1st August this year. More information to be found here.

WILTSHIRE CROP CIRCLE STUDY GROUP WEEKEND, Marlborough
This annual Crop Circle Conference, hosted by the WCCG – Wiltshire Crop circle Study Group, has become a significant feature of the crop circle landscape in recent yars. Held in early August, this event is holistic and interactive, and offers a very comprehensive program with lectures, workshops, music, dance, voice harmonics, exhibitions, "fire walks", films, meditations and helicopter flights.

For further information about crop circle conferences, have a look at links on this web-site, or check out conferences at the Crop Circle Connector.

PLACES WORTH SEEING

A particular aspect of visiting Wiltshire and the southern Engand in general, is that the region is laden with ancient cult sites, of which some date to 3000 BC and beyond. Deep antiquity and profound mystery pervade and permeate the entire area. Many see this as the reason why so many crop circles appear in this particular area. For more information see: http://www.mysterious-wiltshire.co.uk.

The most famous of these sites are:

                   
        
ENERGY LINES

There is another, more invisible mystery worth experiencing in this powerful landscape, the so-called "leylines", the primary of which enter England from the Atlantic Ocean at the southern tip of Cornwall. They then split up and continue northeast towards the Wiltshire. If you have time to spare and if you are interested in energies of this kind, we recommend that you visit some of the places along these lines where the energies are strongest: Land’s End (southern tip of Cornwall), St. Michael’s Church, St. Michael’s mound, Glastonbury Tor and the beautiful Salisbury Cathedral – to mention just a few.


Have a nice trip!