Walking Britain Hampshire Walk
Beacon Hill near Burghclere
Maps | |||
| Ordnance Survey Explorer 144 | Sheet Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Explorer 144 | Digital Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Ordnance Survey Landranger 174 | Sheet Map | 1:50k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Landranger 174 | Digital Map | 1:50k | BUY |
It is recommended you take a map. The preferred scale is 1:25k. | |||
Walk Route Description
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This short walk climbs Beacon Hill which is near the village of Burghclere and close to Watership Down, in north Hampshire. The hill was one of many Beacon Hills in England and beyond. Beacon Hill also has one of England's well-known hill forts on its slopes, which was constructed around 1000 BC. From the top of the hill there are some fine views which extend to much of Hampshire.
Access to the start is from the A34 following the brown signs for Beacon Hill. At the foot of the hill is a car park (grid ref. SU462577). To start the walk, exit the rear of the parking area and turn right through a gate. The path climbs, steeply in places, to reach the iron age embankments that form a circle on top of the hill. Of interest is the view to the north which includes Highclere Castle, where filming for the TV series Downtown was completed. After enjoying the view retrace your steps back to the start.
Note - If you want to spend more time on the hill and perhaps enjoy the view from a different perspective, then you can walk along the south ridge for about 500 metres before returning to the hill fort.
Other walks nearby
Walk 3595 Old Burghclere & Burghclere from Beacon Hill - easy/mod - 5.6 miles/9.1 km
Walk 2063 Watership Down and Ladle Hill from the Sydmonton Estate - easy - 4.5 miles/7.3 km
Walk 2114 Hampshire and Berkshire Heights - moderate - 15.0 miles/24.4 km
Walk 3413 North Wessex Downs & Source of the Test - moderate - 15.0 miles/24.4 km
Walk 1508 Hannington from Kingsclere - easy - 6.0 miles/9.8 km
Walk 2344 Newbury to Hungerford via Kennet & Avon Canal - easy/mod - 9.0 miles/14.6 km
Walk 1947 Coombe Gibbet & Walbury Hill near Inkpen - easy/mod - 6.2 miles/10.1 km
Walk 3720 Ham, Inkpen Hill & Lower Green Circular - easy/mod - 6.0 miles/9.8 km
Walk 1901 Around Aldermaston - easy - 5.0 miles/8.1 km
Walk 1847 Silchester Common & Calleva Atrebatum - easy/mod - 6.2 miles/10.1 km
Recommended Books & eBooks
Walking Hampshire's Test Way
Guidebook to walking the 71km (44 mile) Test Way in Hampshire from high on the chalk downs of Inkpen Beacon to the Eling Tide Mill near Southampton Water. Following the beautiful, crystal clear River Test, it passes picturesque villages and fascinating historic sites. Also includes 15 day walks to explore this lovely part of pastoral England.
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The National Trails
This inspirational guidebook looks at each of the UK's 19 National Trails, with information that allows ease of comparison and contrast, inspiring you to find out more and to take up a long-distance challenge. Some Trails are short and easy, others much longer, many have strong themes - they may follow a coastline, or traverse ranges of hills.
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