New shoes and an afternoon Exploring Avebury

Hubby has had the same pair of leather walking boots for close on 20 years. He cleans and waxes them regularly and loves them dearly. So it was with slight trepidation that I accepted the opportunity to try a pair of Men’s Salomon Hiking Shoes. Would he like them, or would I be subjected to a long lecture on how the old ways are the best ways?

I’ve been wearing walking shoes myself for some time now. They are comfortable, lightweight and the only maintenance they need is a quick rinse under the hose if we’ve been playing in the mud. I find them a brilliant all-purpose shoe. Perfect for scrambling about on a hillside and walking the dog, but also comfortable enough to drive in and presentable enough to wear on the school run.

Sunday was a perfect example of just how adaptable they are. We drove 60 miles to Salisbury so the kids could attend their Karate grading. Popped into a country pub for lunch before stopping off in Avebury on the way home to walk around the stones.

Avebury is the site of an incredible Neolithic Henge. Consisting of a large circular bank with an internal ditch it contains the largest megalithic stone circle in the world, which in turn encompasses two other separate circles. Situated in Wiltshire it is part of a remarkable wider prehistoric landscape which includes Silbury Hill and Stonehenge. It really is an astonishing site, and unlike its more famous neighbour (Stonehenge is 17 miles away) is totally accessible and free to visit (apart from parking).

While hubby and I took in the vastness and history of the site, the kids explored in their own ‘racing around madly’ way.

They were delighted to find these amazing beech trees with their exposed roots growing on top of the Henge. The Beech tree is considered the Mother of the Woods in folklore representing generosity of spirit and good luck as she gives both protection and nourishment. On our recent bushcraft day, the instructor shared a rather lovely sounding recipe for a beech leaf liqueur with me which I hope to make soon, although this wasn’t a place to be foraging.

These particular trees are clearly considered as a sacred place to many – we found offerings in all different forms around their bases as well as prayers written on ribbons hanging from their branches.

We had a wonderful afternoon. Wiltshire is a beautiful county steeped in history, and Avebury is a perfect example. The Salomon X Ultra LTR GTX Men’s Hiking Shoes are also a huge hit. After a month of wearing them, hubby is a convert! He tells me that they were comfortable from the moment he put them on, feel robust and supportive and that his feet remain dry in wet weather and cool in hot thanks to their Gortex and leather construction. You can find the full range of Salomon footwear including both men’s and women’s styles here.

Thanks to Millet Sports for sending hubby the pair of Salmon Hiking Shoes to try.