Tan Hill

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Tan Hill
Wiltshire

Downland on the west slope of Tan Hill
Range: Marlborough Downs
Summit: 965 feet SU080640
51°22’30"N, 1°53’11"W

Tan Hill is a hill on the Marlborough Downs in Wiltshire and which is found just to the north of the village of Allington in the parish of All Cannings.

The summit of Tan Hill reaches 965 feet above sea level, which makes it the second highest point of the county and of the Marlborough Downs, in each case second only to its neighbouring hill, Milk Hill. Milk Hill is 967 feet high.

Tan Hill is reckoned to be the third highest point between Bristol and London. To the south, it adjoins Clifford's Hill.

On 23 August 2009, the BBC programme Countryfile featured an item on analysis by Ordnance Survey to determine whether Milk or Tan Hill is the highest. It was confirmed that Milk Hill is 10 inches higher than Tan Hill.[1]

Access

Walking up Tan Hill

There are footpaths all around the hill and Milk Hill giving easy access from each direction. A great deal of the slope is access land also.

Along the north side of Tan Hill runs a section of the Wansdyke, an earth rampart which runs east to west across much of southern Britain.

Tan Hill formerly had a white horse.

References

  1. "23/08/2009". Countryfile. BBC One. 2009-08-23.