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Upload your photos. We may feature them.Today is the start of our series of interviews with the world's top guidebook
writers. We're asking each writer a single question:
"Think about a famous tourist attraction. Now what would you recommend as an alternative?With any luck, each answer will surprise and enlighten you. But don't get us wrong. These guidebook writers (and their publishers) are not dismissing any attraction that's rightfully famous. Everyone agrees you can have fantastic experiences at well known attractions. All we're trying to do here is recognize that—under some circumstances and for certain types of travelers—lesser known attractions may have their own appeal, offering comparable experiences.
We begin our series with Stonehenge—a set of massive rocks arranged in circles between 3,500 and 5,000 years ago.
We asked Anto Howard, co-author of Fodor's Ireland 2009. Here's what he had to say:
Newgrange in Ireland (about an hour north of Dublin) is believed to be at least 500 years older. It's also a more impressive feat of engineering. The passage tomb is combined with an extraordinary astronomical machine to perfectly filter and amplify the few precious moments of dawn light on the winter solstice every year and cast them upon the ashes of the dead. The sunlight at dawn on that day is deflected by the exact design of the passageway and floods the burial chamber in the most perfect golden light, weather permitting.Here's the kicker—unlike at Stonehenge, where officials prohibit up-close encounters (with rare exceptions), at Newgrange you, the visitor, can go right into the heart of the tomb itself. At Stonehenge you're an awed spectator, at Newgrange you're an awed participant.
Both places are man made, but the Irish alternative is certainly a more intricate and complex construction.
Tip: Go near the winter solstice to feel the mystical effects. (The next one is December 21.) There are fewer visitors in the off-season. If you want to enter on the solstice itself, though, you'll have to enter a lottery, which you can do by visiting the office that's on the grounds of the site. For more info, see Newgrange's official website.
Prefer an alternative to Stonehenge that's in England itself? Don't miss Avebury, about 25 miles from Stonehenge. It has its own group of impressive earthworks and megalithic monuments. In fact, the entire town—pub and all—sits within an ancient stone circle.
Rather visit Stonehenge anyway? A guided day tour from London run by Stonehenge Tour Company has a starting price of $110. You'll save a bit of money by hopping the hourly rail service from Waterloo Station to Salisbury (90-minutes each way, $45 round-trip, off-peak, nationalrail.co.uk). From there, a 10-mile taxi ride to Stonehenge costs roughly $30; the bus (route 3) is about a third of that price. General access costs about $10. (For more info, visit this Stonehenge website.)
Feel free to chime in with your own thoughts by posting a comment below.
MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL
Better than Buckingham Palace? [Link added to this post on June 18]
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Dublin, Air/4 Nights, From $399 A short getaway to the Irish capital, where you can visit ancient castles and St. Patrick's Cathedral, sample Guinness, or explore the lush countryside.
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What a great series! Love the alternative option.
Posted By Amy @ The Q Family on June 17, 2009, 3:11 PM
Thanks for the compliment! We hope to provide you with some fun reading and travel inspiration.
Posted By Blog Editor on June 17, 2009, 3:19 PM
I paid a little extra and saw Stonehenge at sunrise with my son....We were able to walk thru the ruins, touch them and take as many pictures as we wanted! Definitely worth the cost! But I'd like to see Newgrange as well!
Posted By CindyF on June 18, 2009, 11:11 AM
If you do make the trip to Salisbury do not miss the church, much more impressive than stonehenge in my opinion. It was the tallest building in the world for 1400 years. All stone construction and loaded with statues. The main columns of the sanctuary actually bow under their own weight.
Posted By Brad Qualls on June 18, 2009, 11:23 AM
DEFINITELY worth seeing...you really "feel" the ancients at this place.
Posted By Lauryi on June 18, 2009, 11:40 AM
What a fabulous idea for a series of articles! Keep up the good work!
Posted By Jennifer on June 18, 2009, 12:34 PM
A very good all day tour that leaves from Bath and goes to Stonehenge, Avebury Circle, Lacock Abbey and several other sights in the area is run by Mad Max Tours. http://www.madmax.abel.co.uk/ They run small vans with maybe 14 people per tour and we had a wonderful guide who told us great stories while driving between sights.
Posted By Paul Brower on June 18, 2009, 1:54 PM
Definitely do Avebury Circle. I was much more impressed by that than Stonehenge and it is a lovely village to wander around. See if you can find the green man in the village church.
Posted By sara on June 18, 2009, 2:25 PM
I am reading Edward Rutherfurd's "Sarum" for the second time, chewing slowly. I have never been abroad, but would dearly love to see Salisbury and environs, including Stonehenge. I am envious of all who have had this experience.
Posted By Nora Z on June 18, 2009, 6:10 PM
I love the idea for this series and can't wait to read more.
And for your first suggestion, I couldn't agree more: Newgrange is awesome! My fiancee and I went there when we drove across Ireland in November of 2002, and it was THE highlight of our trip. We went to Stonehenge in 2006, and though it was awe-inspiring from the touristy "I can't believe I'm really here" aspect, it really was not as memorable as going into the passage tomb at Newgrange and witnessing first-hand the feat that the ancients accomplished.
Posted By Anita on June 18, 2009, 9:05 PM
My wife and I went to Newgrange in 2003 and loved it. The size of it is amazing but we also loved the fact that you could go inside and look around. There are several other (smaller) ones around the same area as Newgrange but they are not in as good as condition or as big. We took a lot of great pictures of Newgrange but unfortunately, we had to take all of our film out at the airport when flying home and the airport security lost that roll of film for us. So I guess we will have to go back again.
Posted By Steve on June 19, 2009, 11:07 AM
Wales has many alternatives to Stonehenge, smaller but much more accessible. Just stroll the path out of a village and you can picnic in the midst of the amazing and mysterious monoliths.
Posted By carolee on June 19, 2009, 1:29 PM
I visited Newgrange on a sunny day in March. It is well worth the visit to such a fascinating place. The guides were very friendly and informative. Once inside the tomb, your guide shuts off the main lights, then powers another light to give you a feel for what it is like to be in the tomb during the solstice. The visitor's center is also well done with informative displays, a short movie in different languages, gift shop and a place to grab a bite to eat.
Posted By Miki on June 19, 2009, 3:07 PM
I had the pleasure of taking my 74 year old Mom to Ireland in October 2000. We went to Newgrange and it was truly amazing to stand inside a structure of such substance. It was amazing to us that this could be built thousands of years ago with materials that were not readily available near this site. Truly worth the trip if you are in Ireland. Of course, a trip to Ireland is grand in itself!
Posted By Heidi on June 20, 2009, 1:31 AM
Been to Newgrange, Avebury, and Stonehenge and would do all of them again - each is unique. Isn't that what travel is all about -- stretching our minds, seeing something outside our everyday routines? The British Isles are loaded with alternatives - some big, some small, some isolated, some crowded. The most moving ones are enjoyed alone or with just a few people. That's why I like early morning, misty weather, or evening visits.
Posted By Artist Kathy on June 22, 2009, 5:00 PM
Cheers, LOVE this idea for a series of articles. I have lived way off the beaten path in Japan for the last 3 years, and done a good bit of traveling while I've been here. If you're interested in doing any posts about Japan and would like some suggestions that take readers outside of the usual Tokyo-Osaka-Kyoto circuit, do give a holler. All the best!
Posted By Stephanie Boegeman on June 23, 2009, 1:33 AM
They may not be as massive as Stonehenge, but the Callanish Stones on the Isle of Lewis & Harris in Scotland are more intimate, plus the setting on a windblown hill overlooking the sea is wonderfully evocative. Worth the ferry ride from the Isle of Skye.
Posted By Garvin Preston Filbert on June 23, 2009, 2:50 PM
Newgrange is indeed the finest work of its kind in Europe. But the info here is wrong, You are NOT allowed to go inside of this. It is limited to summer solstice and getting tickets is extremely difficult and very limited. That said, you can see far more off it, get closer than Stonehenge. Also, unlike Stonehenge, it as a great museum. Stonehenge is pathetic -- just a souvenir shop.
Posted By David Coursey on June 25, 2009, 3:40 PM
Just had to say that I love this series too! I now have new suggestions in case I go back to England or Italy. Thanks!!!
Posted By Love2SeeNewThings on June 26, 2009, 2:40 PM