Silbury Hill in Avebury – How to Visit Wiltshire’s Pyramid

Silbury Hill is an ancient, sacred man-made wonder built over 4,000 years ago. Why? Nobody really knows. It’s a mystery.

It’s been called Wiltshire’s answer to the Pyramids of Egypt, as it was built around the same time and is similar in size and height. 

However, unlike the pharaohs’ pyramids, this hill is shrouded in mystery, and excavations have raised more questions than answers. 

Today, it holds the title of the largest artificial mound in Europe and is the most intriguing monument in the Avebury World Heritage Site.

Here’s a complete guide to visiting Silbury Hill, with all the history, myths, and legends you can uncover.

What is Silbury Hill?

Silbury Hill is the largest artificially made mound in Europe, standing 39 metres high and 160 metres wide. It was built around 2,400 BC.

It is estimated that construction took over 4 million man-hours, and that half a million tonnes of material were used.

Although the mound is now lined with turf, years ago it was a huge chalk mound, making it gleaming white. 

Around the mound, you’ll also find two large ditches dug out surrounding the hill. It is thought that these were used for building material.

Is Silbury Hill a Pyramid? 

Although not officially classed as a pyramid, many people compare its construction to that of the Pyramids of Egypt. 

They were built around the same time and at similar heights and sizes to those in the Giza necropolis. 

There have also been connections made between the two sites through Ley-Lines. 

For those unfamiliar with Ley-Lines, Alfred Watkins discovered them in 1921. It’s a theory that all ancient sites across the globe are connected

A series of energetic lines runs under the earth and creates vibrational frequencies.  

You’ll find that the Pyramids of Egypt are connected to Avebury stone circle and Bincknoll Castle via a ley line.

This line is close to Silbury Hill. Hence, it is seen as a sacred and special place for healing and also for absorbing those energies.

How did they build Silbury Hill?

It always amazes me that Neolithic people over 4,000 years ago built monuments on such a grand scale with little or no tools. 

It is thought that the building work spanned several generations, and each year the project grew more ambitious.

This is down to progress and the introduction of new tools. They brought chalk from near and far.

It may also have been a community effort, with hundreds of villagers contributing chalk or materials from their settlements. 

It is thought that they originally stripped the stones and soil away, then started the base with a small mound of gravel.

After that, they defined the mound’s shape with a ring of stakes and tipped mud, soil, and rubble into the area.

Over time, they added more soil, turf, and even boulders to create levelling and height.

Then, chalk was continuously added over many years, growing it to a whopping 39 metres. 

Archaeologists from recent excavations have discovered antler picks used to shape the gravel, chalk, and stones into a layering system.

Whether this is symbolic in any way, we may never know.

What was Silbury Hill used for?

Honest answer? Despite numerous excavations, people still don’t know.

But the fact that it took over 4 million man-hours to build alone suggests the construction was highly valued and worth the effort. 

Legends & myths

Because so little is known about the mound, it’s only natural that this huge monument has created many rumours, myths, and legends over time. 

Up until the Middle Ages, this mound was the tallest structure in Britain.

Its sheer, dominating size and structure on the landscape would have been felt by anyone who saw it.

Legend says this is the final resting place of the legendary King Sil, supposedly buried inside wearing his armour on his golden horse. 

Many believe that Silbury Hill is a primal mound that represents the ‘Earth Mother‘ and was used as a ‘Beacon Hill’ for ancient healing.

Another story, the most famous, is that the Devil made this hill.

Legend says Satan was travelling from Devizes and wanted to drop an apron of soil on the people of Marlborough.

A priest from Avebury stopped him, and he grew too tired, so he dropped it here instead. Which is why the mound was formed. 

Others say that the Devil was actually travelling through the countryside to hide a gold statue inside the hill.

Maybe this started the rumours of treasure being here and prompted the many disastrous excavations? 

Unfortunate excavations 

After the Romans invaded Britain, they built a road that went right past the monument; Roman coins and pottery have been found buried here.

In medieval times, it is thought the top of the hill was flattened, suggesting a defensive structure may have stood there.

However, this mysterious monument, with its air of the unknown, has intrigued treasure hunters, antiquarians and archaeologists for centuries.

Indeed, a series of unfortunate excavations has caused significant damage to the hill over time. 

In 1776, the treasure-hunting Duke of Northumberland, Hugh Percy, sponsored the first major excavation by Edward Drax.

This involved hiring a group of miners to dig a hole directly down the centre of the hill. Unfortunately, they found no treasure or burial goods inside. 

The second took place in 1849 when John Merewether, the Dean of Hereford, decided to dig a horizontal tunnel into the bottom of the hill.

Again, they could not reach the central burial chamber they suspected was there, but they did find organic remains and lots of soil. 

The third major excavation was by Professor Richard Atkinson in 1968 and 1970, which was sponsored by the BBC. It was the first televised excavation.

They identified the last two tunnels made by their predecessors and made a third.

Unfortunately, none of these tunnels was filled after the excavations had finished. So, in the year 2000, Silbury Hill suffered a major collapse!

It created a 14-metre crater on the summit. This immediately prompted an emergency conservation project to save it, and it was renovated in 2007. 

Nowadays, researchers use non-invasive modern techniques like ‘X-raying’ the landscape. They use the same method in Egypt.

What is inside Silbury Hill?

In addition to the three tunnels dug over the centuries, excavations have revealed a lot of information about the mound.

Richard Atkinson removed many materials from inside the mound and sent them off for testing.

Specialists who visited Silbury Hill at the time found flint tools, antler picks, and artefacts.

They also found biological remains, including insects, animals, and even snails! 

Plus, over half a million tonnes of raw materials make up the mound, including rubble, gravel, earth, and chalk.

We may never get to see the inside of Silbury Hill or ‘the earth door’ open again in our lifetime. 

Nowadays, most excavations take place outside the hill, with non-invasive surveys to protect it so it never collapses again.

Can you climb Silbury Hill?

Although you used to be able to climb on this hill years ago, I remember doing it as a kid, it is now completely sealed off to protect it. 

Not only is it extremely dangerous due to the huge cavern that opened up on top of the hill, but it’s also an ancient monument.

That doesn’t mean that people don’t do it; it happens all the time. But I would encourage you not to take part. 

The whole site is closed off, so you’ll need to jump over barbed wire fences to find the path, and most of the ditch has lots of stinging nettles.

How to visit Silbury Hill 

You don’t need to climb up Silbury Hill in order to enjoy it. It can be seen as you drive around the A4 as part of the Avebury World Heritage site. 

The easiest way to visit is to park up in the dedicated car park. There is an amazing lookout point with some helpful information boards.

Another great view of the hill is from West Kennet Long Barrow, which is just nearby.

This is another site I recommend visiting, a Neolithic burial chamber that’s 5,600 years old.

Alternatively, you can walk from the West Kennet Long Barrow parking lay-by towards Avebury Stone Circle.

There is a lovely loop walk around to the hill by the river. This is where you’ll find the historic stone bridge from this post, which looks great in photos. 

How to visit Wiltshire’s Pyramid

Silbury Hill is located in Wiltshire and is part of the magical Avebury World Heritage Site.

This area covers 25 square kilometres and is full of amazing ancient landmarks.

You can easily access Silbury Hill by car on the A4 road heading to Devizes. Alternatively, you can walk around a mile from Avebury Stone Circle. 

A small car park is run by the National Trust. Alternatively, park up in the free lay-bys by West Kennet Long Barrow.

Opening times and prices 

Silbury Hill is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is completely free to visit.

I’d say your best views are in reasonable daylight or at sunset. Nighttime is great for stargazing as the area almost has a true ‘dark sky’.

Ancient sites around Avebury

After your visit, you will be totally surrounded by historic sites in this area.

Avebury World Heritage Site is an extremely special place with dolmen chambers, stone circles, burial barrows, and Neolithic temples.

West Kennet Long Barrow is just over the road from Silbury Hill, which is a burial chamber built 5,600 years ago.

You can even walk inside the old tomb and explore five chambers. 

West Kennet Avenue is located not far from here; it is an old entranceway to Avebury Henge. Or, you can explore what used to be Falkner’s Circle. 

The Henge has two huge circles you can walk around, containing standing stones.

Unlike Stonehenge, this is free to visit, and you can touch them. The Sanctuary is just a little drive from the hill towards Marlborough.

Here, you can access the beginning and the end of the Ridgeway Trail at Overton Hill.

This is Europe’s oldest road, used by travellers for over 5,000 years. From here, you could walk to Hackpen Hill White Horse or Barbury Castle. 

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