About
Wayland's Smithy is a Neolithic chambered long barrow beside the Ridgeway above the Vale of the White Horse. Its first tomb, a mortuary structure of stone and wood built between about 3590 and 3555 BC, held the remains of 14 people and was used for no more than 15 years. Between about 3460 and 3400 BC a far larger barrow with a monumental facade of huge stones was raised over it, and it is this that you explore today. A Saxon charter of AD 955 already called it Weland's Smithy, and tradition says that if you leave your horse here with a small coin, the invisible smith will reshoe it while you are away. Reviewers love the old beech trees around the mound and stepping into the small burial chambers. Park at the National Trust's White Horse Hill car park, free to English Heritage members, and walk just over a mile along the Ridgeway. Dogs on leads are welcome.
Open in daylightFrom English Heritage's calendar
- Open any reasonable time in daylight
From English Heritage's published calendar, updated 1 October 2026, with dates up to 16 March 2027.
Opening times may change at short notice.
Open any reasonable time during daylight hours.
Reached on foot along the Ridgeway from the National Trust's White Horse Hill car park, which the National Trust manages.
Accessibility: Exposed hillside site reached by a walk of just over a mile along the Ridgeway; the chambers are small.
Parking: White Horse Hill car park is charged but free for English Heritage and National Trust members.
Photo: August Schwerdfeger. CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wayland%27s_Smithy.jpg. Resized for display.
PricingFreeFree for all visitors
Free entry for everyone
Entry
Free for everyone
Pricing details
Free to everyone; open access site. English Heritage membership is not needed.
ParkingFree for members
National Trust pay and display car park at White Horse Hill, just over a mile away; free for English Heritage members displaying their card. Otherwise 2.00 up to two hours, 4.00 all day.
Parking details
Charged National Trust car park at White Horse Hill, free to English Heritage members: display your card (without personal details showing) in the windscreen. Otherwise 2.00 up to two hours or 4.00 all day by contactless card or the JustPark app.
Driving arrival: White Horse Hill Car Park (sat nav SN7 7QJ); Wayland's Smithy is just over a mile west along the Ridgeway, which is closed to vehicles.
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Walking routes1 route
The Ridgeway from White Horse Hill to Wayland's Smithy(opens the full route on the National Trust site)
WalkDog access not confirmed
