Swyre Head
| Swyre Head | |||
| Dorset | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Swyre Head, seen from the South West Coast Path on the western side of St Aldhelm's Head | |||
| Range: | Purbeck Hills | ||
| Summit: | 682 feet SY934784 50°36’21"N, 2°5’40"W | ||
Swyre Head is the highest point of the Purbeck Hills and the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset. The hill Swyre Head lies about a mile south-west of the village of Kingston, about three miles south of that of Corfe Castle and five miles west of Swanage.
Although not very high, its relative height is such that it nearly qualifies as a Marilyn. The chalk hill is part of the extensive Southern England Chalk Formation.
Swyre Head by Kingston should not be confused with another Dorset hill called Swyre Head, at an elevation of 322 feet, on the coast, located at SY799805, to the west of Durdle Door. The two Swyre Heads are about four hours' walk apart from each other; that is, 12 miles.
The hill commands extensive views, including west past the Isle of Portland to Dartmoor, and east to the Isle of Wight, as well as north across the Purbeck Hills to Poole Harbour and the other Purbeck Marilyn, Nine Barrow Down. To the west, the folly of Clavell Tower can also be seen.
Set back about half a mile from the coast, the hill is not on the South West Coast Path, but can be reached easily from the villages of Kingston or Kimmeridge.
The hill has a trig point at 666 feet on Ordnance Survey maps, but a tumulus, now fully grassed over, forms the highest point, 682 feet above sea level.