Walbury Hill, Berkshire 297m and Pilot Hill, Hampshire 286m August 15 2016
Given that I live a mere 10 miles south of these tops it didn't take much thought to drive up to the top of Hampshire helped by the beautiful sunshine. The two county tops are only a couple of miles apart and they share the same "massif". Heading south from Oxfordshire into North Hampshire the land rises from around 160m in the first row of chalk downs. Behind these valleys and downs are the norm until you reach Andover but the first encountered is the biggest. A quirk of county boundary drawing means that the Berkshire top, Walbury Hill is to the NW of Hampshire's top, Pilot Hill. In fact the county boundary straddles the parent "lump" and so it only takes 90 minutes to bag both.
There is a car park between the 2 peaks (much closer to Walbury Hill). From there I turned right and headed roughly westward up an excellent track identified on the OS map as the "Wayfarer's Walk". The chalk and flint path soon crested and I passed through the walls of the ancient hill fort. Just beyond a gate on the left exposed the trig point and a quick stroll across the field meant the top was attained. In reality the ground was a little higher beyond the trig point and I felt I had truly "summited" when I headed beyond.
Retracing my tracks to the car park the route to Pilot Hill was easy to follow. The route initially followed a road ESE and then at a fork in the road a bridleway bisected the fork. This was the worst part; I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt and the abundance of nettles and narrowness of the path caused a little concern. However after 400 m this opened up along a field boundary and very soon a "col" was reached. The views north from here are impressive; the chalk downs rising sharply out of the vale to the north and affords the panoramic views. Birds of prey circled overhead (identification still needed - possibly Red Kites) and just added to the idyllic setting. From this escarpment the track headed SE through a copse and then up to the summit plateau. A large corn field occupies the top of the hill and an uncomfortable stroll through a ripe cornfield with bare legs showed the trig point. However the actual high point seemed to be around 290 m towards the north of the field.
Retracing my route I returned to my car about 90 minutes and 6.6 km after starting. On a warm, sunny summer's day it is a super little walk. Well worth the effort (though minimal!).
The only caution I would offer is that the roads heading to these hills are narrow, windy and with high hedges making progress slow and tedious.
Given that I live a mere 10 miles south of these tops it didn't take much thought to drive up to the top of Hampshire helped by the beautiful sunshine. The two county tops are only a couple of miles apart and they share the same "massif". Heading south from Oxfordshire into North Hampshire the land rises from around 160m in the first row of chalk downs. Behind these valleys and downs are the norm until you reach Andover but the first encountered is the biggest. A quirk of county boundary drawing means that the Berkshire top, Walbury Hill is to the NW of Hampshire's top, Pilot Hill. In fact the county boundary straddles the parent "lump" and so it only takes 90 minutes to bag both.
There is a car park between the 2 peaks (much closer to Walbury Hill). From there I turned right and headed roughly westward up an excellent track identified on the OS map as the "Wayfarer's Walk". The chalk and flint path soon crested and I passed through the walls of the ancient hill fort. Just beyond a gate on the left exposed the trig point and a quick stroll across the field meant the top was attained. In reality the ground was a little higher beyond the trig point and I felt I had truly "summited" when I headed beyond.
Retracing my tracks to the car park the route to Pilot Hill was easy to follow. The route initially followed a road ESE and then at a fork in the road a bridleway bisected the fork. This was the worst part; I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt and the abundance of nettles and narrowness of the path caused a little concern. However after 400 m this opened up along a field boundary and very soon a "col" was reached. The views north from here are impressive; the chalk downs rising sharply out of the vale to the north and affords the panoramic views. Birds of prey circled overhead (identification still needed - possibly Red Kites) and just added to the idyllic setting. From this escarpment the track headed SE through a copse and then up to the summit plateau. A large corn field occupies the top of the hill and an uncomfortable stroll through a ripe cornfield with bare legs showed the trig point. However the actual high point seemed to be around 290 m towards the north of the field.
Retracing my route I returned to my car about 90 minutes and 6.6 km after starting. On a warm, sunny summer's day it is a super little walk. Well worth the effort (though minimal!).
The only caution I would offer is that the roads heading to these hills are narrow, windy and with high hedges making progress slow and tedious.
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