There are several white horses carved into the hills of Wiltshire. These are large images of horses carved at the top of hills so they can be seen from a distance. Most are created by digging down to the natural white limestone. Some are modern, some are hundreds or thousands of years old. They are fun to spot as you are driving or walking in this area. The most famous, and the oldest, is the Uffington White Horse just across the county border in Oxfordshire. I include it on this page because it is so close to the others.
There are other white horses in Wiltshire but I have written about the main historic ones that we have seen. I have also included the Kilburn White Horse in North Yorkshire which we saw in 1988.
There are other hill drawings in England that are not horses. The most well known is the Cerne Giant near Dorchester in Dorset, an anatomically correct huge man overlooking the village.
Uffington White Horse
The Uffington White Horse is not in Wiltshire but I include it here because it is nearby and is the best one. It was carved over 3,000 years ago (Iron Age) and is the oldest of the Wiltshire White Horses. It has the same shape today as it did originally. It is a more abstract drawing than the other white horses.
The Uffington White Horse is part of a group of ancient remains on White Horse Hill:
Located near the village of Uffington, in Oxfordshire, near the border of Wiltshire, east of Swindon. The best place to view it is from the lanes near Uffington.
The car park is off the B4507. From the car park it is a short walk out to the white horse. It can get cold and windy up on this hill.
You can see the Uffington White Horse from the train that runs from Swindon to London. It is clearly visible for a few miles. Watch for it after the Swindon station, south of the train line.
Google Map
goo.gl
The Uffington White Horse.
Broad Town White Horse
Thought to be cut in 1864. Covered during WWII so German planes could not locate their position by it. Restored in 1992.
Location: England - Wiltshire - Broad Town
On the A4361 from Swindon to Avebury in Broad Town.
Google Map
goo.gl
Broad Town White Horse.
Hackpen White Horse
Cut in the side of Hackpen Hill to celebrate the coronation of Queen Victoria in 1837.
Location: England - Wiltshire - Broad Hinton
Near the town of Broad Hinton, just off the A4361.
Google Map
goo.gl
Hackpen White Horse.
Alton Barnes White Horse
Cut by a local farmer in 1812.
Location: England - Wiltshire - Alton Barnes
Can be seen from the Kennet and Avon Canal at Honeystreet.
Google Map
goo.gl
Alton Barnes White Horse.
Westbury White Horse
The oldest white horse in Wiltshire, cut in 1778 replacing an older one on the same spot. The original chalk horse has been concreted over for easier maintenance.
Location: England - Wiltshire - Westbury
View from the A350 Melksham to Westbury road.
Google Map
goo.gl
Westbury White Horse.
Kilburn White Horse
Cut in 1857. Designed and funded by a Victorian businessman who had seen the famous chalk hill figures of southern England and wanted to create something similar for his home village.
Location: England - Yorkshire - Kilburn
Google Map
goo.gl
Kilburn White Horse, North Yorkshire.
Resources
There are other white horses in Wiltshire but I have written about the main historic ones that we have seen. I have also included the Kilburn White Horse in North Yorkshire which we saw in 1988.
There are other hill drawings in England that are not horses. The most well known is the Cerne Giant near Dorchester in Dorset, an anatomically correct huge man overlooking the village.
Uffington White Horse
The Uffington White Horse is not in Wiltshire but I include it here because it is nearby and is the best one. It was carved over 3,000 years ago (Iron Age) and is the oldest of the Wiltshire White Horses. It has the same shape today as it did originally. It is a more abstract drawing than the other white horses.
The Uffington White Horse is part of a group of ancient remains on White Horse Hill:
- Uffington Castle Hill Fort, built 2700 years ago (8 acres in size).
- Dragon Hill, below the hill figure, is a conical hill thought to be man-made (like Silbury Hill in Avebury).
- The Manger, a valley below the hill figure with ripple formations formed by the last ice age.
- Wayland's Smithy, a neolithic chambered tomb, is nearby.
- Several prehistoric Burial Mounds are found in the area. They were later used for Roman and Anglo-Saxon burials.
- The Ridgeway long distance trail passes through White Horse Hill and follows an ancient footpath that runs from Avebury to Hertfordshire.
Located near the village of Uffington, in Oxfordshire, near the border of Wiltshire, east of Swindon. The best place to view it is from the lanes near Uffington.
The car park is off the B4507. From the car park it is a short walk out to the white horse. It can get cold and windy up on this hill.
You can see the Uffington White Horse from the train that runs from Swindon to London. It is clearly visible for a few miles. Watch for it after the Swindon station, south of the train line.
Google Map
Uffington Castle - White Horse & Dragon Hill · Dragon Hill Rd, Faringdon SN7 7QJ, United Kingdom
âââââ · Historical landmark
The Uffington White Horse.
Broad Town White Horse
Thought to be cut in 1864. Covered during WWII so German planes could not locate their position by it. Restored in 1992.
Location: England - Wiltshire - Broad Town
On the A4361 from Swindon to Avebury in Broad Town.
Google Map
Broad Town White Horse · Broad Town, Swindon SN4 7RJ, United Kingdom
Broad Town, Swindon SN4 7RJ, United Kingdom
Broad Town White Horse.
Hackpen White Horse
Cut in the side of Hackpen Hill to celebrate the coronation of Queen Victoria in 1837.
Location: England - Wiltshire - Broad Hinton
Near the town of Broad Hinton, just off the A4361.
Google Map
Hackpen White Horse · 45 Wiltshire Cres, Swindon SN4 9PF, United Kingdom
âââââ · Places of interest
Hackpen White Horse.
Alton Barnes White Horse
Cut by a local farmer in 1812.
Location: England - Wiltshire - Alton Barnes
Can be seen from the Kennet and Avon Canal at Honeystreet.
Google Map
The Alton Barnes White Horse · 30 Long St, Devizes, Marlborough SN10 1NW, United Kingdom
âââââ · Historical landmark
Alton Barnes White Horse.
Westbury White Horse
The oldest white horse in Wiltshire, cut in 1778 replacing an older one on the same spot. The original chalk horse has been concreted over for easier maintenance.
Location: England - Wiltshire - Westbury
View from the A350 Melksham to Westbury road.
Google Map
Bratton Camp & White Horse · Port Way, Bratton, Westbury BA13 4TA, United Kingdom
âââââ · Historical landmark
Westbury White Horse.
Kilburn White Horse
Cut in 1857. Designed and funded by a Victorian businessman who had seen the famous chalk hill figures of southern England and wanted to create something similar for his home village.
Location: England - Yorkshire - Kilburn
Google Map
Kilburn White Horse · Low Town Bank Rd, Kilburn, Thirsk YO61 4AN, United Kingdom
âââââ · Historical landmark
Kilburn White Horse, North Yorkshire.
Resources
- National Trust - White Horse Hill - Uffington White Horse
- Wiltshire White Horses
- Visit Thirsk - White Horse - Kilburn White Horse in Yorkshire
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