Suggested route from Bath to Stonehenge, etc.

I don't have actual route ideas for you but my sister and I are planning the same thing next June. Bath to Stonehenge, then Salisbury and Old Sarum, then up to Avebury and West Kennet Long Barrow, and back to Bath. If you are not planning on Salisbury and Old Sarum I would think you would have time for Castle Combe and Leacock.

Are you thinking of doing Stonehenge, Avebury, Lacock and Castle Combe all in the same day? That sounds like an awful lot.

I would figure out my priorities (you may want to consider Old Sarum and Salisbury as well). Stonehenge is probably the most popular, so I would plan around that. Do Stonehenge first, then fit the other sites in. I would rather do fewer sites thoroughly than rush around to many sites. I think a day with a focus on Stonehenge and Avebury would be nice, with perhaps a short stop in Lacock on the way back if you have the energy. Or a day to Stonehenge and Old Sarum with a quick stop at the Salisbury Cathedral (or spend more time at the cathedral and skip or do a quick stop at Old Sarum) would work.

As far as routes go, the best route really depends on your experience driving on the left side and on narrow roads. If you don't have a lot of experience, you may enjoy a day where your tourist sites are closer to each other so you don't have to drive so much. A day with a long drive and many sites sounds stressful to me. I would rather leave time for something unexpected to happen. I enjoyed a morning stop at a grocery store and ATM machine in Marlborough, which is not a tourist town, but a busy place to see people just going about their business. That's as interesting to me as some of the big tourist sites.

I don't mean to be discouraging. You can't do everything so you have to choose. My choice would be to do less, but do what you do thoroughly.

To your original question, is it reasonable to go to Lacock and Castle Comb the same day? I agree with the previous comment, no, you'd regret it because you'd be rushing like mad. I'd take one full day for Stonehenge and Avebury. I've done the two, starting at Stonehenge after breakfast, and ended up almost getting locked out of the Avebury car park at the end of the day. And that didn't count visiting Durrington Walls and Woodhenge, which we did on another day! If you're really energetic, you could also fit in Old Sarum (south of Stonehenge, putting Stonehenge in the middle of your 3 destinations).

Be aware that the secondary roads (designated A) are not anywhere near as fast as the main roads (also designated A, often with 2 digits), let alone the motorways (designated M). From Bath if you drive on the A4 east it will take you to Avebury. Then you have a choice to make after Avebury when you reach Marlborough: whether to head south on the A346 to the A338 -- which takes you through part of the Savernake Forest -- or continue to the roundabout at Newbury to pick up the A34 south and then double back westward to Stonehenge on the A303. The latter is a MUCH faster drive because it's a dual carriageway. But, it means driving several miles further east on the A4 to pick up the A34.

We really enjoyed an afternoon in Wells and the Cathedral, and stayed for evensong. It was wonderful. We also took an early morning trip to Wales and toured Tintern Abbey. Be sure to take the free walking tour of Bath, I seem to remember is starts by the Abbey, very informative.

Thank you all for the information. As we have no experience with driving on the left, we will take the advice to take it slow and plan to see Stonehenge and Avebury. I appreciate the route instructions as well. As usual, the forum replies are the best! Thanks!

You could of course, take the train from Bath to Salisbury - from where a shuttle bus operates to Stonehenge. Then, before returning to Bath on the train, go and see the magnificent medieval Salisbury Cathedral.

www.nationalrail.co.uk (BTH > SAL).

You could of course, take the train from Bath to Salisbury - from where a shuttle bus operates to Stonehenge. Then, before returning to Bath on the train, go and see the magnificent medieval Salisbury Cathedral.
http://www.thestonehengetour.info/route
www.nationalrail.co.uk (BTH > SAL)
.http://www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/salisbury

" As we have no experience with driving on the left,"

In that case PLEASE read the relevant sections of the Highway Code before you do:

http://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/uploads/3/2/9/2/3292309/the-official-highway-code-with-annexes-uk-en-12-04.pdf

Thanks for the driving manual, harleydonski! Very informative, especially about the traffic signs. And you have to love a manual that has titles such as "animals being herded" :) I'm so looking forward to seeing the countryside. Appreciate all the help!

If you are in Bath and want to see Stonehenge, Avebury, Lacock and Castle Combe in one day it is doable. I would suggest you look at Mad Max Tours out of Bath. It is a small group tour that departs Bath early morning 7:30 area and gets back by supper time. We took this tour in May 2016 and it was a highlight of our trip to England.