Walbury Hill: Difference between revisions
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'''Walbury Hill''' is the [[county top|highest point]] in [[Berkshire]], rising to 974 feet above sea level. It is | '''Walbury Hill''' is the [[county top|highest point]] in [[Berkshire]], rising to 974 feet above sea level. It is 5 miles southeast of [[Hungerford]], the closest town and very close to the [[Hampshire]] border; indeed Hampshire's own county top, [[Pilot Hill]], lies just a mile and a half away, the two joined by the Wayfarer's Path, a long-distance footpath which follows the top of the ridge of the Downs. | ||
On the summit is an Iron Age hill fort known as '''Walbury Camp'''. [[Combe Gibbet]] stands on the adjoining [[Gallows Down]], names suggesting a dark history. | |||
Walbury Hill is also reckoned to be the highest point all of Southeast England, though this is disputed by [[Leith Hill]] in [[Surrey]] (which, subject to detailed measurement, may be ten feet below in as to its natural height if higher when the Leith Hill tower is measured). | |||
The hill's true summit is marked by a triangulation pillar about 100 yards from the main Test Way. | The hill's true summit is marked by a triangulation pillar about 100 yards from the main Test Way. | ||
Revision as of 17:51, 28 October 2011
| Walbury Hill | |
| Berkshire | |
|---|---|
 The South Western Slopes of Walbury Hill | |
| Summit: | 974 feet SU373616 |
Walbury Hill is the highest point in Berkshire, rising to 974 feet above sea level. It is 5 miles southeast of Hungerford, the closest town and very close to the Hampshire border; indeed Hampshire's own county top, Pilot Hill, lies just a mile and a half away, the two joined by the Wayfarer's Path, a long-distance footpath which follows the top of the ridge of the Downs.
On the summit is an Iron Age hill fort known as Walbury Camp. Combe Gibbet stands on the adjoining Gallows Down, names suggesting a dark history.
Walbury Hill is also reckoned to be the highest point all of Southeast England, though this is disputed by Leith Hill in Surrey (which, subject to detailed measurement, may be ten feet below in as to its natural height if higher when the Leith Hill tower is measured).
The hill's true summit is marked by a triangulation pillar about 100 yards from the main Test Way.
Walbury Hill is sometimes used by the BBC as a temporary relay station during major sporting events. There is also a small low level circular brick building, approximately 6 feet high, on the south side of the hill. This appears to be a disused reservoir. No metalled road passes across the hill, but the byway is open to all traffic and maintained with a hard gravel surface, probably because of its use by outside broadcast vehicles. The ridged summit is also popular with paragliding enthusiasts.
The hill is the start point for both the Test Way and the Wayfarers Walk.
Pictures
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View to the west with Combe Gibbet centre top on the skyline -
The view from Walbury Hill, looking towards Combe Gibbet -
View over Southern Berkshire from Walbury Hill Car Park -
Looking across the crest of the hill towards the area of the longbarrow
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Walbury Hill) |