The town of Old Sarum has long gone but when you climb the ramparts for views over the Wiltshire plains and stand in the footprint of Salisbury’s original cathedral, it is easy to imagine the 2,000 years of history that have seen Romans, Normans and Saxons leaving their mark.

(image taken from the English Heritage website)

Explore the hillfort that rises up from plains, cross the old wooden bridge and spend time inside what was once a bustling medieval castle. There are lots of enthusiastic staff on site ready to share their knowledge and plenty of information boards to fill in the gaps.

Any families with a history buff in their midst will be in for a treat, but for those that don’t, Old Sarum is the perfect place to run around in the fresh air, while engaging in some role play and getting a hands-on feel for British medieval history. There’s nothing quite like a moat (or two) to capture a child’s imagination!

This afternoon out got a definite thumbs up all round from our boys and I think next time we visit, we’ll be bringing some swords and shields to have even more fun!