Posts tagged Hampshire
St Boniface Down: Isle Of Wight High Point

Significance: Highest peak on the Isle of Wight (Present Day County Top), Isle of Wight National Landscape High Point
Member of: Marilyn, Hardy
Parent Peak: n/a.
Nearest Higher Neighbour: Butser Hill
Historic County: Hampshire (of which Pilot Hill is the County Top)
Elevation: 241m
Date climbed: 6th July 2014
Coordinates: 50° 36' 13'' N, 1° 11' 51'' W
OS Trig Pillar: TP0352 - Wroxall Down
Map: OS Explorer OL29 Isle of Wight
Guidebook: Walking the County High Points of England (David Bathurst)
Links: Wikipedia (Isle of Wight), Wikipedia (St Boniface Down), Peakbagger, Hillbagging, National Trust

This was another drive-by County Top bagging for us. We were on a weekend trip for my mum's birthday and I convinced her that the diversion to the top of a hill to see a radar station was a good thing to do. As it turned out the views to the south coast of the island were fantastic that day.

Having seen David Bathurst's book since that trip, I've been inspired to go back one day and try a longer circular route to the top. I also completely missed bagging the Trig Pillar so I definitely have some unfinished business up there.

Richard gowerTrek, UK County Tops, Trig Pillar, Coast, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England, National Trust, Island High PointsComment
Walbury Hill and Pilot Hill: Berkshire & Hampshire County Tops
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Walbury Hill

Significance: Highest peak in Berkshire (Historic County Top), North Wessex Downs National Landscape High Point
Member of: Marilyn, Hardy
Parent Peak: Beacon Batch
Nearest Higher Neighbour: Cleeve Hill
Elevation: 297m
Coordinates: 51°21′08″N 1°27′57″W
OS Trig Pillar: TP0302 - Inkpen
Links: Wikipedia (Berkshire), Wikipedia (Walbury Hill), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

Pilot Hill

Significance Highest peak in Hampshire (Historic CT)
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Walbury Hill.
Nearest Higher Neighbour: Walbury Hill
Elevation: 286m
Coordinates:  51°20′19″N 1°25′48″W
OS Trig Pillar: TP5448 - Pilot
Links: Wikipedia (Hampshire), Wikipedia (Pilot Hill), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

For both peaks:

Date climbed: 25th March 2012
Route Start / End: Combe Gibbett & Walbury Hill Car Park, Combe, Hungerford, RG17 9EH
Route Distance: 9.9 km (6.1 miles)
Route Elevation Change: +/- 150m
Subsidiary tops on route: none
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Wayfarers Walk, Brenda Parker Way, Test Way
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 246
Map: OS Explorer 157 - Marlborough & Savernake Forest
Guidebook: The UK's County Tops (Jonny Muir), Walking the County High Points of England (David Bathurst)

The high points of the Historic Counties of Berkshire and Hampshire can be bagged in one short walk. This was the first trip to intentionally bag County Tops, although I had already completed Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon before.

From the Combe Gibbett & Walbury Hill Car Park follow the Wayfarers Walk in a north-westerly direction for 1km. At a path junction take a left and follow the path in a south-easterly direction for 0.5 km to the summit of Walbury Hill

Leave the summit by continuing along the path which will soon curve to the north-east. The path will re-join the Wayfarers Walk ~400m before the car park. Take a right back onto the Wayfarers Walk and follow it for 1.7 km to a path junction. Take the path on the right and follow it as it snakes through Eastwick Copse to the summit of Pilot Hill. Note that the Trig Pillar that marks the summit is in a farmer's field rather than on the path so you'll need to approach it carefully.

From the summit continue along the path until it returns to the Wayfarers Walk. Take a left onto the Wayfarer's Walk and follow it back to the car park.

Other High Points In BERKSHIRE


Other High Points In Hampshire

Richard gowerTrek, UK County Tops, Trig Pillar, England, Berkshire, HampshireComment