Wiltshire

Wiltshire (; abbreviated to Wilts) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It borders Gloucestershire to the north, Oxfordshire to the north-east, Berkshire to the east, Hampshire to the south-east and south, Dorset to the south, and Somerset to the west. The largest settlement is Swindon, and Trowbridge is the county town.

The county has an area of and had a population of in . The county is mostly rural, and the centre and south-west are sparsely populated. Swindon is located in the north-east, the city of Salisbury in the south-east, and the towns of Trowbridge and Chippenham in the west. For local government purposes the county comprises two unitary authority areas, Swindon and Wiltshire.

Wiltshire is divided geologically between the north-west, which contains part of the limestone Cotswolds, and the chalk downlands that characterise much of the rest of the county. The Marlborough Downs occupy the north-northeast of the county and contain Savernake Forest. To their south is the Vale of Pewsey, and beyond is Salisbury Plain. In the south-west of the county are the West Wiltshire Downs, which are separated from Cranborne Chase in the far south of the county by the Vale of Wardour. The south-east contains part of the New Forest. The county's two major rivers are both called the Avon; the northern Avon enters the county in the north-west and flows in a south-westerly direction before leaving it near Bradford-on-Avon, its vale separating the Cotswolds from the rest of the county. The southern Avon rises on Salisbury Plain and flows through Salisbury, then into Hampshire. Much of the county is protected: the Marlborough Downs, West Wiltshire Downs, Vale of Wardour, Cranbourne Chase and the Cotswolds are each part of national landscapes, and the New Forest is a national park.

Salisbury Plain is noted for the Stonehenge and Avebury stone circles, which together are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and other ancient landmarks. Much of the plain is a training area for the British Army. The city of Salisbury is notable for its medieval cathedral. Large country houses open to the public include Longleat, where there is also a safari park, and the National Trust's Stourhead. Provided by Wikipedia