Old Sarum, mentioned in my previous blog, lies on a hilltop 2 miles north of Salisbury. Throughout the ages, men chose this windswept summit as their settlement, from Iron-Age times, through control by Romans, Saxons, Danes, and then Normans. 

Today, within a huge circular mound lie the foundations of the Norman castle and cathedral that once stood there. However, the holders of the castle and the clergy did not get along, so in 1220, the bishop elected to move the cathedral into the lush valley below to a place that is now known as Salisbury. The stones and materials from the cathedral at Old Sarum were transported south to be utilized in building Salisbury’s new cathedral and surrounding buildings. 

While only rocky ruins now cluster about the hilltop of Old Sarum, remnants of the castle's and cathedral's past glory, the view of the valley below is spectacular. From atop the old castle walls, one can see out over the city of Salisbury, easily picking out the spire of the new cathedral through the morning mist. Grand, old trees cluster around the hilltop, populated by ravens. You can see them wheeling through the sky in this picture taken looking out over Salisbury. Though often overlooked in favor of the more famous tourist attractions nearby, Old Sarum is worth a visit on a fair-weathered day, if only to take a picnic and enjoy the beautiful panorama of the Wiltshire countryside.