Primrose Hill

Significance: Greater London Protected Sightline to St. Paul’s Cathedral and The Palace of Westminster
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Haddington Hill (Wendover Woods). NHN = Hampstead Heath
Elevation: 65m
Date “climbed”: December 3rd 2021
Coordinates: 51° 32' 19'' N, 0° 9' 40'' W
Nearest Station: Chalk Farm (Northern Line): 0.8 km
On route of: N/A. The Regents Canal / Jubilee Greenway is 0.5 km to the south
Map: OS Explorer Map (173) London North, The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford
Links: Wikipedia, Peakbagger

I visited Primrose Hill on my day of bagging the Central London Borough High Points. All of those were dull spots on uninspiring roads so although it’s not high Primrose Hill is at least a proper hill view a view. It’s also has protected sighlines to both St Paul’s Cathedral and The Palace of Westminster.

The hill’s name comes from the botanical specimens found on its slopes. We've often seen it written in trivia books that the mound was once known as Greenberry Hill and that, by a stunning coincidence, a high-profile murder was committed on the hill by three men known as Green, Berry and Hill. We suspect it was the other way around, and the hill was briefly dubbed Greenberry Hill as a dark jest after the murder. Source: How London’s Hills Got Their Names).

Richard gowerTrek, London, EnglandComment
Central London Five Summits

London skyline from Primrose Hill, near the high point of the City of Westminster.

Two weeks after completing the North London Seven Summits, I was back in the capital to tick off the central London peaks. As with the previous collection this was a pretty arbitrary grouping. It could have also included High Holborn, the high point of the City of London, but I had already bagged that one on an earlier trip.

The advantage of this group is that they can all be easily accessed by London Underground, or central London Overground stations. The disadvantage is that they’re all exceedingly dull summits. Even boroughs like Kensington and Chelsea that sound like they should be pleasant manage to have their high points in their most under-whelming corners.

Harrow Road

Significance: Highest peak in London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Haddington Hill (Wendover Woods). NHN = Saint Johns Wood Park
Historic County: Middlesex (of which Bushey Heath is the County Top)
Elevation: 45m
Date “climbed”: 3rd December 2021
Coordinates: 51° 31' 49'' N, 0° 13' 43'' W
Nearest Station: Kensal Green (Overground and Bakerloo Line): 0.3 km
On route of: N/A. Grand Union Canal Towpath is 1.8 km to the south
Map: OS Explorer Map (173) London North, The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford
Links: Wikipedia (Kensington and Chelsea), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

Harrow Road and College Park come as a pair as they are only a few minutes walk apart on Harrow Road. The high point of Kensington and Chelsea, called “Harrow Road”, can be easily identified by the engraved 1865 boundary markings on 691a and 691c.

College Park

Significance: Highest peak in London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Haddington Hill (Wendover Woods). NHN = Saint Johns Wood Park
Historic County: Middlesex (of which Bushey Heath is the County Top)
Elevation: 45m
Date “climbed”: 3rd December 2021
Coordinates: 51° 31' 51'' N, 0° 13' 51'' W
Nearest Station: Kensal Green (Overground and Bakerloo Line): 0.5 km
On route of: N/A. Grand Union Canal Towpath is 1.6 km to the south
Map: OS Explorer Map (173) London North, The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford
Links: Wikipedia (Hammersmith and Fulham), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

From the Harrow Road Kensington and Chelsea high point continue north-west along Harrow Road until you reach Travis Perkins opposite the bus stop at the end of Victor Road. Congratulations, you’re at the high point of Hammersmith and Fulham. After a well deserved celebration, return to Kensal Green Station to visit the next boring summit.

Saint John's Wood Park

Significance: Highest peak in London Borough of City of Westminster
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Haddington Hill (Wendover Woods). NHN = Primrose Hill
Historic County: Middlesex (of which Bushey Heath is the County Top)
Elevation: 52m
Date “climbed”: 3rd December 2021
Coordinates: 51° 32' 22'' N, 0° 10' 26'' W
Nearest Station: South Hampstead (Overground): 0.5 km
On route of: N/A. The Regents Canal / Jubilee Greenway is 1.1 km to the south
Map: OS Explorer Map (173) London North, The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford
Links: Wikipedia (City of Westminster), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

The high point of the City of Westminster is no more interesting than the previous two. The upside is that if you can continue the walk to Primrose Hill (a proper summit) and pass some very nice houses along the way. The City of Westminster High point is at the south corner of Boundary Road and St Johns Wood Road.

Seven Sisters Road

Significance: Highest peak in London Borough of Hackney
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Haddington Hill (Wendover Woods). NHN = Highgate Hill
Historic County: Middlesex (of which Bushey Heath is the County Top)
Elevation: 39m
Date “climbed”: 3rd December 2021
Coordinates: 51° 34' 8'' N, 0° 5' 54'' W
Nearest Station: Manor House (Piccadilly Line): 0.2 km
On route of: N/A. The Capital Ring is 0.4 km to the north-west
Map: OS Explorer Map (173) London North, The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford
Links: Wikipedia (Hackney), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

Although Manor House is the closest Tube to this high point I got off at Finsbury Park to fully take in the vibrant splendor that is the Seven Sisters Road. Had I been bagging these high points earlier I could have done this one a few years ago as it’s just off the Finsbury parkrun course.

Hillbagging comments that there’s an alternative top 300m NE on Woodberry Grove, near Manor House Station. I didn’t visit that one. The excitement of the Seven Sisters Road was enough for me.

Swanfield Street

Significance: Highest peak in London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Haddington Hill (Wendover Woods). NHN = High Holborn
Historic County: Middlesex (of which Bushey Heath is the County Top)
Elevation: 18m
Date “climbed”: 3rd December 2021
Coordinates: 51° 31' 31'' N, 0° 4' 23'' W
Nearest Station: Old Street (Great Northern Rail, Northern Line): 1.1 km
On route of: N/A. The Regents Canal / Jubilee Greenway is 1.6 km to the north
Map: OS Explorer Map (173) London North, The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford
Links: Wikipedia (Tower Hamlets), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

For the grand finale of the Central London high point trip I visited gentrified Shoreditch for the summit of Tower Hamlets. The bandstand on the route from Old Street Station is worth a visit. It’s higher than Swanfield Street but doesn’t count as it’s man-made. Look out for the mural on Rhoda Street next to the grassy mount that is the high point.

The Friends of Arnold Circus website tells of the fascinating history of Swanfield Street and the surrounding area. The street was at the heart of the weaving area. In the 18th century the area became a slum as cheaper imports impacted the industry and the slums were eventually replaced by the Victorian Boundary Estate. Thanks to Andy Sutcliffe for sharing this.

Richard gowerLondon Borough High Point, London, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Shiplake, Binfield Heath and Sonning Eye

Sonning Eye

Start & Finish: Shiplake Station, Lower Shiplake, Henley-on-Thames RG9 3LF
Distance: 13.1 km (8.1 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 105m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): The Chiltern Way Berkshire Loop, Thames Path, The Wokingham Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Chilterns Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Baskerville (Shiplake), The Flowing Spring (at 6.2km), Waterwheel Bar at The Mill, Sonning Eye
Map: OS Explorer Map (171) Chiltern Hills West, Henley-on-Thames and Wallingford
Links: Shiplake, Shiplake Station, Binfield Heath, Sonning Eye

For our latest Thames Path walk in the Chilterns we picked up the route at Shiplake Station. From here we retraced our steps from the Henley to Shiplake Circular, returning up Northfield Avenue, across the A4155 Reading Road and onto the Chiltern Way Berkshire Loop.

Follow the Berkshire Loop for 1.8km to High Wood where you’ll leave the Loop and take the south path at a split. Follow this to Binfield Health Village Centre, then take Dunsden Way south for 800m. Be careful here, it’s a quiet road but there’s no pavement so watch out for cars. After Binfield Heath Church take a left off the road and onto a footpath, following it downhill for 1km until the Flowing Spring pub on the A4155. Cross the main road carefully and continue south along Spring Lane. Cross over the B478 Playhatch Road when you reach it and follow the road through the village, returning back to the B478 at the river.

This is a good place to stop for a rest with a few pubs and restaurants around the bridges. We chose the Waterwheel Bar in The Mill as it looked a bit more walker-friendly than the other posher places. From The Mill, cross over the B478 and over the wooden footbridge to the other side of the river. You’ll now be on the Thames Path which you can follow for 5.4km back to Shiplake Station.

  • Previous Thames Path Section (west): Reading and Sonning

Richard gowerComment
Windsor Great Park: Queen Anne's Ride, Gravel Hill and Spring Hill

Cumberland Lodge

Start & Finish: Long Walk Gate Car Park, Crown Cottages, Kings Road, Windsor, SL4 2BQ
Distance: 10.3 km (6.4 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 89m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Three Castles Path
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 4, Round Berkshire Cycle Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: None
Map: OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell
Links: Windsor, Windsor Great Park, Office of The High Sheriff, Cumberland Lodge

For the latest in our series of short walks around Windsor Great Park we returned the the Long Walk Gate Cark Park. This walk covers the full length of Queen Anne’s Ride, the buildings around Gravel Hill and back via the Deer Park.

From the car park, follow Queen Anne’s Ride in a south-westerly direction all the way to the Queen Elizabeth statue. Along the way you’ll pass a donut shaped sculpture commemorating the 1000 years of the Office of The High Sheriff and the replanting of the trees along the ride in 1992/1993. The equestrian statue at the top of Queen Anne’s Ride was sculpted by Philip Jackson to mark the Golden Jubilee in 2002.

At the top of the Ride take the path to the left now heading west to Gravel Hill. Continue past The Royal School and Cumberland Lodge to the Cow Pond. Turn left onto Rhododendron Drive and follow it north to Bishop’s Gate. Take a left following the path along the Deer Park fence to the north of Bishopsgate Road and find the pedestrian entrance to the Deer Park.

Here you can either take the road to the Copper Horse Statue, and return via the Long Walk or, as we did, cut through the Deer Park. Having been to the Copper Horse Statue many times, the Deer Park walk was more interesting. Keep to the left side of the wooded Gore Plantation and cut through Withy Bed. Eventually you’ll re-join the Long Walk where you’ll follow it north toward the castle. After the Double Gate leave the Long Walk and take the path on the left to return to the car park.

Richard gowerTrek, Windsor, Berkshire, EnglandComment
Langdon Shaw: Bexley Borough High Point

Significance: Highest peak in London Borough of Bexley
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Botley Hill. NHN = Shooters Hill
Historic County: Kent (of which Betsom’s Hill is the County Top)
Elevation: 83 to 93m (10-meter closed contour)
Date “climbed”: 20th November 2021
Coordinates: 51° 25' 18'' N, 0° 5' 44'' E
Nearest Station: Sidcup (southeastern rail): 1.7 km
On route of: N/A. The London Loop is 1 km to the east
Map: Greenwich & Gravesend Map | East End, Docklands, Bromley, Sidcup & Thurrock | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 162
Links: Wikipedia (Bexley), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

This was another dull drive-by and a long way from home so I needed another reason get out that way. Luckily there was a new parkrun at Sutcliffe that started in September 2021. I bagged Bexley as a very short diversion on the way.

The high point is in the grounds of the house in the corner of Langdon Shaw called Shalamar, on the corner of a small road called The Vista. This can also be visited on a small diversion from The London Loop between Foots Cray and Scadbury Park or a 2km walk from Sidcup Station.

Richard gowerLondon Borough High Point, London, EnglandComment
North London Seven Summits

City skyline from Hainhault Country Park on ascent to Cabin Hill

The North London Seven Summits sounds like it should be a recognized challenge. It’s not. It’s just a collection of the Greater London Borough High Points that I decided to visit by car on a grey November afternoon. Although none are particularly inspiring, there’s a few interesting places along the way.

There’s some obvious missing boroughs when you look at the map. Hillingdon, Harrow, Harringey and Waltham Forest are not in this collection as I had already completed them before. They’re also on more interesting routes like the London Loop, Capital Ring and Greenwich Meridian Trail. Click on the links on the borough names above for details on those.

Wakemans Hill Avenue

Significance: Highest peak in London Borough of Brent (alternative)
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Haddington Hill (Wendover Woods). NHN = Highwood Hill
Historic County: Middlesex (of which Bushey Heath is the County Top)
Elevation: 92m
Date “climbed”: 19th November 2021
Coordinates: 51° 35' 10'' N, 0° 15' 31'' W
Nearest Station: Kingsbury (Jubilee Line): 1.6 km
On route of: N/A. Capital Ring is 1.5 km to the south-west
Map: OS Explorer Map (173) London North, The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford
Links: Wikipedia (Brent), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

Having already visited Subury Hill, the other high point in Brent, I was keen bag the other. The coordinates took me to the corner of Wakemans Hill Avenue and Mount View. The Wikipedia article on the Kingsbury district of Brent says that the hill “peaks at an elevation of 302 feet (92 m) near the crossing of Buck Lane and Wakemans Hill Avenue”, but the road definitely seems to peak at Mount View Road. Other road signs like Summit Avenue, Sunny View and Hill View Gardens confirm that you’re on a high point. Not much to see here so I took a quick photo and moved on to Barnet.

Highwood Hill

Significance: Highest peak in London Borough of Barnet
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Haddington Hill (Wendover Woods). NHN = Bushey Heath Boundary
Historic County: Middlesex (of which Bushey Heath is the County Top)
Elevation: 146m
Date “climbed”: 19th November 2021
Coordinates: 51° 37' 58'' N, 0° 14' 26'' W
Nearest Station: Edgware (Northern Line): 4.2 km
On route of: Dollis Valley Greenwalk. London Loop is 0.2 km to the north
Map: OS Explorer Map (173) London North, The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford
Links: Wikipedia (Barnet), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

The high point of Barnet is in private property in Mote End Farm Livery Stables. Having read the reports of people being denied access to the summit, I decided to get as far as I could via public access. The closest accessible spot is the stile by the main gates to the farm at the end of the lane off Nan Clark’s Lane.

Although it’s possible to park on Nan Clark’s Lane, it’s narrow with few spots that won’t annoy the neighbours. I parked round the corner at Crown Close and walked the 600m to the gate following the Dollis Valley Greenwalk Link.

Look out for the blue plaque on the corner of Highwood Hill Road and Nan Clark’s Lane marking the “site of Hendon Park residence of William Wilberforce from 1826 to 1831”. See the blog by Adam Yamey for more on this.

Bournwell Hill-West Slope

Significance: Highest peak in London Borough of Enfield
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Haddington Hill (Wendover Woods) NHN = Bournwell Hill - West Slope
Historic County: Middlesex (of which Bushey Heath is the County Top)
Elevation: 119m
Date “climbed”: 19th November 2021
Coordinates: 51° 39' 50'' N, 0° 11' 7'' W
Nearest Station: Hadley Wood (Great Northern, Thameslink): 1 km
On route of: N/A. London Loop and Pymmes Brook Trail are 0.7 km to the south-west
Map: OS Explorer Map (173) London North, The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford
Links: Wikipedia (Enfield), Wikipedia (Monken Hadley Common), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

The high point of Enfield can be found at the white gates marking the entrance to Monken Hadley Common on Camlet Way. Look out for the “Enfield welcomes you” sign on the north side of Camlet Way. You can’t park on the roads around the Common so I stopped a the side of the road once the double yellow lines had run out further up Camlet Way. Hillbagging logs say that there’s a lamp-post with a “congratulatory and explanatory notice taped to lamp post by www.londons-peaks.com” although I didn’t see it on the day I was there. Looks like the website has gone too as I got an “account has expired” error when I tried to check it.

Wanstead Flats

Significance: Highest peak in London Borough of Newham
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Haddington Hill (Wendover Woods). NHN = Beckton Alps
Historic County: Essex (of which Chrishall Common is the County Top)
Elevation: 15m
Date “climbed”: 19th November 2021
Coordinates: 51° 33' 22'' N, 0° 1' 20'' E
Nearest Station: Wanstead Park (Overground): 0.6 km
On route of: N/A. Greenwich Meridian Trail is 0.3 km to the north-west
Map: Epping Forest & Lee Valley Map | Hertford & Harlow | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 174
Links: Wikipedia (Newham), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

I would have already bagged this one a few years ago if I had known that this high point is close to the start of Wanstead Flats parkrun. Not close enough to count though so I had to do a return trip.

Closest parking is at the Centre Road Car Park although you may find some on-street parking closer. The lowest high point of all Greater London Boroughs is by a group of trees at the edge of the common next to Sydney Road.

Note that Beckton Alp is often recognised as the high point of Newham. However, that’s an artificial hill rather than the natural high point on Wanstead Flats. Based on the description I think I’ll give it a miss unless I happen to be passing by it.

Cabin Hill

Significance: Highest peak in London Borough of Redbridge
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Haddington Hill (Wendover Woods). NHN = Havering Atte Bower Church
Historic County: Essex (of which Chrishall Common is the County Top)
Elevation: 90m
Date “climbed”: 19th November 2021
Coordinates: 51° 37' 25'' N, 0° 8' 10'' E
Nearest Station: Grange Hill (Central Line): 4.2 km
On route of: Three Forests Way. The London Loop is 0.1 km to the south-east

Walk Start & Finish: Hainault Forest Country Park Car Park, Fox Burrow Road, Chigwell, IG7 4QL
Walk Distance: 3.3 km (2.0 miles)
Walk Elevation change: +/- 64m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
OS Trig Pillar: TP2802 - Dog Kennel Hill
Map: Epping Forest & Lee Valley Map | Hertford & Harlow | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 174
Links: Wikipedia (Redbridge), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

Cabin Hill is the outlier of this group as it includes a short but pleasant walk, not just a quick drive-by. From the Hainault Forest Country Park car park take the footpath that heads up the hill to the south-east behind the cafe. After 200m from the cafe take a left onto a footpath up through the woods, emerging at the golf course. Here you’ll meet the Dog Kennel Hill Trig Pillar. From the pillar return to the edge of the woods and follow the boundary path north until you meet the London Loop at the northern edge of the country park. The actual summit wasn’t obvious, so I visited several contenders: the clearing where the coordinates take you, the big tree, the gate to the park and a post in the woods. There’s not too much to see here but you’ll get some great views of the London skyline as you descent back to the car park.

Marks Gate

Significance: Highest peak in London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Haddington Hill (Wendover Woods). NHN = Cabin Hill
Historic County: Essex (of which Chrishall Common is the County Top)
Elevation: 43m
Date “climbed”: 19th November 2021
Coordinates: 51° 35' 16'' N, 0° 8' 29'' E
Nearest Station: Chadwell Health (TFL Rail, Greater Anglia): 4.3 km
On route of: N/A. The London Loop is 3.8 km to the north
Map: Epping Forest & Lee Valley Map | Hertford & Harlow | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 174
Links: Wikipedia (Barking and Dagenham), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

This wins the prize for the most uninspiring of the day’s uninspiring summits. The high point of Barking and Dagenham is on a sad mound between the A1112 and Kingston Hill Avenue. Nothing to see here, so park on Kingston Hill Avenue, bag the summit and move on quickly.

Atte Bower Farm

Significance: Highest peak in London Borough of Havering
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Haddington Hill (Wendover Woods). NHN = Langdon Hill- Southwest Slope
Historic County: Essex (of which Chrishall Common is the County Top)
Elevation: 105m
Date “climbed”: 19th November 2021
Coordinates: 51° 36' 59'' N, 0° 11' 18'' E
Nearest Station: Harold Wood (TFL Rail, Greater Anglia): 5 km
On route of: N/A. The London Loop is 0.4 km to the north
Map: Epping Forest & Lee Valley Map | Hertford & Harlow | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 174
Links: Wikipedia (Havering), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

Alternative = Havering Atte Bower Church

Parent Peak: Haddington Hill (Wendover Woods). NHN = Shooters Hill
Coordinates: 51° 36' 57'' N, 0° 10' 58'' E
Links: Peakbagger, Hillbagging

After the underwhelm of Marks Gate, the high point of Havering was at least in a more pleasant location. The official high point is in the grounds of Atte Bower Farm. I got as far as the entrance to the farm to take a photo of the water tower but didn’t enter the property. A better alternative is to visit the Church of St. John The Evangelist in Havering-Atte-Bower village. This was previously the twin high-point but, according to to Hillbagging, was de-twinned in October 2020.

Look out for the plaque at the eastern entrance to the church that refers to Havering Palace: “A royal palace once stood near here for about six hundred years from the time of Edward the Confessor until the end of the civil war.”

Richard gowerTrek, London Borough High Point, London, Middlesex, Essex, Trig Pillar, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Middle Assendon, Bix and Crocker End

Start & Finish: The Rainbow Inn, Middle Assendon, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 6AU
Distance: 10.9 km (6.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 190m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Way Southern Extension, Chiltern Way, Oxfordshire Way
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Other Pubs / Cafes on route: The Rainbow Inn at start and finish.
Map: Chiltern Hills West Map | Henley-on-Thames & Wallingford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 171
Links: Middle Assendon, Bix, Maidensgrove, Warburg Nature Reserve, Bix Brand Old Church

For our latest Chiltern Walk we returned to the Oxfordshire Way. This is a 66 mile long-distance path connecting Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds with Henley-on-Thames. Our plan is to start with the Chilterns section, taking it on in short circular walks of around 10km. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

Start at the Rainbow Inn where there’s a small car park and also free on-street parking. Walk south down the B480 for 50m then take the footpath on your right, leading up the hill. Follow this path in a westerly direction as it takes you onto White Lane and Rectory Lane along the edge of Bix Common Field. At the end of Rectory Lane continue onto a path through a field, following it through the woods until you reach the small village of Catslip.

At Catslip take a right and follow the lane north to Crocker End. Here you’ll meet the Chiltern Way Southern Extension. Follow this north out of Crocker End for 1.7km. When you reach the bottom of the field in the banner photo above take a right onto the Chiltern Way following it in an easterly direction. At Park Lane, keep on the Chiltern Way, now following it in a south-easterly direction. When you reach the end of the driver at the converted farmhouses, continue south, now on the Oxfordshire Way and leaving the Chiltern Way. Follow the Oxfordshire way in a south-easterly direction, descending past Bix Bottom until you reach the B480 again. Take a right on the B480 and you’ll be back at the Rainbow Inn.

At Bix Bottom take a moment to have a look around the grounds of the abandoned Church of St. James. The information sign at the gate describes how the walls became unstable and it was closed in 1874. The outer walls are still there but nothing else. The 1971 horror film The Blood on Satan’s Claw was filmed in the grounds of the church.

Oxfordshire Way Previous Section (south): Henley, Middle Assendon and Lambridge Wood
Oxfordshire Way Next Section (north): Russell's Water, Pishill and Maidensgrove

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Oxfordshire, EnglandComment
The English County Tops

The counties of England have evolved with the most significant changes occurring over the last 100 years. The main groupings are:

  • Historic Counties. Also referred to as Traditional Counties or Former Counties. These have been in existence since the Middle Ages.

  • Administrative Counties. Established by the Local Government Act 1888. These closely matched the Historic Counties but with some sub-divisions such as Yorkshire being split into the North, East and West Ridings.

  • Ceremonial Counties. Areas of England to which lord-lieutenants are appointed and defined by the Lieutenancies Act 1997

  • Metropolitan and Non-Metropolitan counties. Established by the Local Government Act 1972 and subsequent changes, the 1888 Administrative Counties were replaced by 82 metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties plus Isles of Scilly and Greater London.

  • Unitary Authorities. Established by the Local Government Act 1992, they are responsible for the provision of all local government services within a district.

This post shows the highest point in each of England’s counties based on the above groupings. As the Venn diagram shows there is a lot of overlap between the different types of county.

Contact me if you spot a mistake on this page or you have new information and I will make a donation to one of my causes.

Key to abbreviations in the lists below

  • HC = Historic County.

  • AC = Administrative County.

  • CC = Ceremonial County.

  • UA = Unitary Authority or Metropolitan and Non-Metropolitan County.

England’s Historic County Tops

Also referred to as Traditional Counties or Former Counties. These have been in existence since the Middle Ages. More details on Historic Counties.

  1. Scafell Pike. 978 metres. HC, AC = Cumberland. CC = Cumbria.

  2. Helvellyn. 950 metres. HC, AC = Westmorland.

  3. The Cheviot. 815 metres. HC, AC, CC = Northumberland.

  4. The Old Man of Coniston. 803 metres. HC, AC = Lancashire.

  5. Mickle Fell. 790 metres. HC = Yorkshire. AC = North Riding of Yorkshire. CC, UA = County Durham.

  6. Burnhope Seat. 747 metres. HC, AC = County Durham.

  7. Black Mountain. 703 metres. HC, AC, CC = Herefordshire. Also of defunct county of Hereford and Worcester.

  8. Kinder Scout. 636 metres. HC, AC, CC = Derbyshire.

  9. High Willhays. 621 metres. HC, AC, CC = Devon.

  10. Black Hill. 582 metres. HC, AC = Cheshire. CC = West Yorkshire. UA = Kirklees

  11. Brown Clee Hill. 540 metres. HC, AC, CC = Shropshire.

  12. Cheeks Hill. 520 metres. HC, AC, CC = Staffordshire.

  13. Dunkery Beacon. 519 metres. HC, AC, CC = Somerset.

  14. Worcestershire Beacon. 425 metres. HC, AC, CC = Worcestershire.

  15. Brown Willy. 420 metres. HC, AC, CC = Cornwall.

  16. Cleeve Hill. 330 metres. HC, AC, CC = Gloucestershire.

  17. Walbury Hill. 297 metres. HC, AC, CC = Berkshire. UA = West Berkshire.

  18. Leith Hill. 295 metres. HC, AC, CC = Surrey.

  19. Milk Hill. 294 metres. HC, AC, CC = Wiltshire.

  20. Pilot Hill. 286 metres. HC, AC, CC = Hampshire.

  21. Black Down. 280 metres. HC = Sussex. AC, CC = West Sussex.

  22. Lewesdon Hill. 279 metres. HC, AC, CC = Dorset.

  23. Bardon Hill. 278 metres. HC, AC, CC = Leicestershire.

  24. Haddington Hill. 267 metres. HC, AC, CC = Buckinghamshire.

  25. Ebrington Hill. 261 metres. HC, AC, CC = Warwickshire.

  26. Bald Hill. 257 metres. HC = Oxfordshire.

  27. Betsoms Hill. 251 metres. HC, AC, CC = Kent.

  28. Pavis Wood. 244 metres. HC, AC, CC = Hertfordshire.

  29. Dunstable Downs. 243 metres. HC, AC, CC = Bedfordshire. UA = Central Bedfordshire.

  30. Arbury Hill. 225 metres. HC, AC, CC = Northamptonshire. UA = West Northamptonshire. Alternative = Big Hill - Staverton Clump

  31. Silverhill or Newtonwood Lane. 205 metres. HC, AC, CC = Nottinghamshire.

  32. Cold Overton Park. 197 metres. HC, AC, CC, UA = Rutland.

  33. Normanby Top. 168 metres. HC, CC = Lincolnshire. AC = Parts of Lindsey.

  34. Bushey Heath. 153 metres. HC, AC = Middlesex.

  35. Chrishall Common. 147 metres. HC, AC, CC = Essex.

  36. Great Chishill. 146 metres. HC, AC, CC = Cambridgeshire.

  37. Great Wood. 128 metres. HC, CC = Suffolk. AC = West Suffolk.

  38. Beacon Hill. 105 metres. HC, AC, CC = Norfolk.

  39. Boring Field. 80 metres. HC, AC = Huntingdonshire.

England’s Administrative County Tops

The Local Government Act 1888 split some Historic Counties into new Administrative Counties. The list below shows only the counties that were split with their highest points. All of the Historic Counties in the list above have the same Administrative County name and same highest point. More details on Administrative Counties.

Cambridgeshire Historic County, split into:

Cornwall Historic County, split into:

  • Cornwall Administrative County. High Point = Brown Willy. 420 metres.

  • Isles of Scilly Administrative County. High Point = Higher Newford. 51 metres.

Hampshire Historic County, split into:

Lincolnshire Historic County, split into:

  • Parts of Lindsey Administrative County. High Point = Normanby Top. 168 metres.

  • Parts of Kesteven Administrative County. High Point = Viking Way. 151 metres.

  • Parts of Holland Administrative County. High Point = Pinchbeck Marsh. 8 metres.

London, previous parts of Middlesex, Essex and Surrey

Northamptonshire Historic County, split into:

Suffolk Historic County, split into:

  • West Suffolk Administrative County. High Point = Great Wood. 128 metres.

  • East Suffolk Administrative County. High Point = Wattisham Airfield. 90 metres.

Sussex Historic County, split into:

Yorkshire Historic County, split into:

  • North Riding Administrative County. High Point = Mickle Fell. 790 metres. Also the CC High Point of Durham

  • West Riding Administrative County. High Point = Whernside. 736 metres. Also the CC High Point of North Yorkshire

  • East Riding Administrative County. High Point = Bishop Wilton Wold (Garrowby Hill). 248 metres.

  • The City of York which remained independent from the three Ridings. UA = Stock Hill, 44 metres.

England’s Ceremonial County Tops

Ceremonial Counties area areas of England to which lord-lieutenants are appointed and defined by the Lieutenancies Act 1997. They are more commonly referred to as the Present Day counties. Many of the counties share the same name and geography as the Historic and Administrative Counties. Some of the “new” Administrative Counties such as East and West Suffolk remained while others Isle of Ely and Soke of Peterborough no longer exist as counties. Yorkshire was redivided again into 4 Ceremonial Counties vs the 3 Ridings of the Administrative Counties. More details on Ceremonial Counties.

Counties with the same name as an Historic or Administrative and have the same high point are not shown but are noted in the relevant sections above.

  • Gragareth. 628 metres or Green Hill. 628 metres. CC = Lancashire. HC = Lancashire (of which Old Man of Coniston is higher).

  • Shining Tor. 559 metres. CC = Cheshire. HC = Cheshire (of which Black Hill is higher). UA = Cheshire East.

  • High Stones. 550 metres. CC = South Yorkshire. AC = West Riding of Yorkshire (of which Whernside is higher). UA = Sheffield.

  • Black Chew Head. 542 metres. CC = Greater Manchester. AC = West Riding of Yorkshire (of which Whernside is higher). UA = Oldham.

  • Turners Hill. 271 metres. CC = West Midlands. HC = Staffordshire (of which Cheeks Hill is higher). UA = Sandwell.

  • Whitehorse Hill. 261 metres. CC = Oxfordshire. HC = Berkshire (of which Walbury Hill is higher).

  • Currock Hill. 259 metres. CC =Tyne and Wear. HC = County Durham (of which Burnhope Seat is higher). UA = Gateshead.

  • Westerham Heights. 245 metres. CC = Greater London. HC = Kent (of which Betsom’s Hill is higher).

  • Billinge Hill. 179 metres. CC = Merseyside. HC = Lancashire (of which Old Man of Coniston is higher). UA = St. Helens.

  • Dundry Hill East. 160 metres. CC = Bristol. HC = Somerset (of which Dunkery Beacon is higher). UA = Bristol.

  • High Holborn. 22 metres. CC = City of London. HC = Middlesex (of which Bushey Heath is higher).

England’s Metropolitan Borough Tops

A Metropolitan Borough, created by the Local Government Act 1972, is a subdivision of a metropolitan Ceremonial County. These exclude the 32 Boroughs of Greater London (see here for details). Each borough is effectively a Unitary Authority. More details on Metropolitan Boroughs.

Merseyside Metropolitan and Ceremonial County, split into 5 Metropolitan Boroughs:

  • Billinge Hill. 179 metres. St Helens.

  • Poll Hill. 108 metres. Wirral.

  • Knowsley Park. 97 metres. Knowsley.

  • Woolton Hill. 89 metres. Liverpool.

  • Melling Mount. 36 metres. Sefton.

Greater Manchester Metropolitan and Ceremonial County, split into 10 Metropolitan Boroughs:

  • Black Chew Head. 542 metres. Oldham.

  • Hoarstone Edge. 497 metres. Tameside.

  • Blackstone Edge. 474 metres. Rochdale. Alternative is Hail Storm Hill-Southeast Slope

  • Winter Hill Boundary. 445 metres. Bolton.

  • Scholes Height and Bull Hill. 415 metres. Bury.

  • Mellor Moor. 327 metres. Stockport. Alternative is Robin Hood's Picking Rods

  • Billinge Hill North Top. 169 metres. Wigan.

  • Newcombe Drive, Greenheys. 116 metres. Salford.

  • Heaton Park. 108 metres. Manchester.

  • Green Walk (Bowdon). 67 metres. Trafford. Alternative is Devisdale.

South Yorkshire Metropolitan and Ceremonial County, split into 4 Metropolitan Boroughs:

  • Howden Edge / High Stones. 550 metres. Sheffield.

  • Howden Edge / Hoar Stones. 514 metres. Barnsley.

  • Fir Hill / Harthill Field. 157 metres. Rotherham.

  • Foredoles Hill. 144 metres. Doncaster.

Tyne and Wear Metropolitan and Ceremonial County, split into 5 Metropolitan Boroughs:

  • Currock Hill. 259 metres. Gateshead.

  • Warden Law. 182 metres. Sunderland.

  • Westerhope. 131 metres. Newcastle upon Tyne.

  • Silverlink Park. 94 metres. North Tyneside.

  • Boldon Hills. 90 metres. South Tyneside.

West Midlands Metropolitan and Ceremonial County, split into 7 Metropolitan Boroughs:

West Yorkshire Metropolitan and Ceremonial County, split into 5 Metropolitan Boroughs:

  • Black Hill. 582 metres. Kirklees.

  • Waystone Edge. 480 metres. Calderdale.

  • Withins Height. 455 metres. Bradford.

  • Burley Moor. 340 metres. Leeds.

  • Woolley Edge. 176 metres. Wakefield.

England’s Non-Metropolitan County & Unitary Authority Tops

The list below shows the highest points of the Non-Metropolitan counties that were established following the Local Government Act 1972 and Unitary Authorities established following the Local Government Act 1992. More details on Non-Metropolitan Counties and Unitary Authorities.

Counties with the same name as an Historic, Administrative or Ceremonial County and have the same high point are not shown but are noted in the relevant sections above.

  • Winter Hill. 456 metres. Blackburn with Darwen: formerly part of the Historic County of Lancashire.

  • The Wrekin. 407 metres. Telford and Wrekin: formerly part of the Historic County of Shropshire.

  • Gisborough Hill. 328 metres. Redcar and Cleveland: formerly part of the Historic County of Yorkshire (AC = North Riding of).

  • Liddington Hill. 277 metres. Swindon: formerly part of the Historic County of Wiltshire.

  • Niver Hill. 264 metres. Bath and North East Somerset: formerly part of the Historic County of Somerset and the former Ceremonial County of Avon.

  • Meir Heath. 250 metres. Stoke-on-Trent: formerly part of the Historic County of Staffordshire.

  • Blagdon Hill Farm. 240 metres. North Somerset: formerly part of the Historic County of Somerset and the former Ceremonial County of Avon.

  • Hanging Hill. 237 metres. South Gloucestershire: formerly part of the Historic County of Gloucestershire and the former Ceremonial County of Avon.

  • Raw Head. 227 metres. Cheshire West and Chester: formerly part of the Historic County of Cheshire.

  • Dere Street. 218 metres. Darlington: formerly part of the Historic County of County Durham.

  • Beacon Hill. 196 metres. Torbay: formerly part of the Historic County of Devon.

  • Bullock Hill. 195 metres. Brighton and Hove: formerly part of the Historic County of Sussex. (AC = East Sussex).

  • Whitehill - Butterfield Green: 178 metres. Luton: formerly part of the Historic County of Bedfordshire.

  • Bow Brickhill. 171 metres. Milton Keynes: formerly part of the Historic County of Buckinghamshire.

  • Holly Hill. 170 metres. Medway (Towns): formerly part of the Historic County of Kent.

  • Woolwell Road. 162 metres. Plymouth: formerly part of the Historic County of Devon.

  • Mill Hill. 161 metres. North Northamptonshire: formerly part of the Historic County of Northamptonshire.

  • Ashley Hill. 144 metres. Windsor & Maidenhead: formerly part of the Historic County of Berkshire.

  • Whelly Hill. 142 metres. Hartlepool: formerly part of the Historic County of County Durham and the former Ceremonial County of Cleveland.

  • Bowsey Hill. 140 metres. Wokingham: formerly part of the Historic County of Berkshire.

  • Allestree Park. 135 metres. Derby (City): formerly part of the Historic County of Derbyshire.

  • Nottingham M1 Motorway. 130 metres. Nottingham: formerly part of the Historic County of Nottinghamshire.

  • Surrey Hill. 128 metres. Bracknell Forest: formerly part of the Historic County of Berkshire.

  • Fort Southwick. 122 metres. Portsmouth: formerly part of the Historic County of Hampshire.

  • Wold Newton. 117 metres. North East Lincolnshire: formerly part of the Historic County of Lincolnshire.

  • Langdon Hill-Southwest Slope. 115 metres. Thurrock: formerly part of the Historic County of Essex.

  • Nether Hall. 110 metres. Leicester (City): formerly part of the Historic County of Leicestershire.

  • The Slipe. 107 metres. Bedford (Borough): formerly part of the Historic County of Bedfordshire.

  • Appleton Park. 105 metres Warrington: formerly part of the Historic County of Cheshire.

  • Park Lane, Tilehurst. 103 metres. Reading: formerly part of the Historic County of Berkshire.

  • Saxby Wold. 102 metres. North Lincolnshire: formerly part of the Historic County of Lincolnshire.

  • Halton Castle. 100 metres. Halton: formerly part of the Historic County of Cheshire.

  • Quarry Hill. 100 metres. Middlesbrough: formerly part of the Historic County of Yorkshire (AC = North Riding of) and the former Ceremonial County of Cleveland.

  • Boy Hill. 82 metres. Stockton-on-Tees (alt): formerly part of the Historic County of County Durham and the former Ceremonial County of Cleveland.

  • Thorpe Larches. 82 metres. Stockton-on-Tees (alt): formerly part of the Historic County of County Durham and the former Ceremonial County of Cleveland.

  • Basset Avenue. 82 metres. Southampton: formerly part of the Historic County of Hampshire.

  • Corfe Hills. 78 metres. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: formerly part of the Historic County of Dorset.

  • Heath Mount. 60 metres. Southend-on-Sea (alt): formerly part of the Historic County of Essex.

  • London Road. 60 metres. Southend-on-Sea (alt): formerly part of the Historic County of Essex.

  • East Burnham Park. 51 metres. Slough: formerly part of the Historic County of Berkshire.

  • Stock Hill. 44 metres. York: formerly part of the Historic County of Yorkshire (AC = North Riding of).

  • Warbreck Reservoir. 30 metres. Blackpool: formerly part of the Historic County of Lancashire.

  • South Field. 12 metres. Kingston upon Hull: formerly part of the Historic County of Yorkshire (AC = East Riding of).

Defunct Counties

  • Herford and Worcester. Formerly parts of the Historic & Administrative Counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. High Point = Black Mountain. 703 metres.

  • Avon. Formerly parts of the Historic Counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset. High Point = Niver Hill. 264 metres.

  • Humberside. Formerly parts of the Administrative Counties of East Riding of Yorkshire, West Riding of Yorkshire, and Parts of Lindsey, (Lincolnshire). High Point = (to be verified) Bishop Wilton Wold (Garrowby Hill). 248 metres.

  • Cleveland. Formerly part of the Historic Counties of County Durham and Yorkshire (AC = North Riding of). High Point = Whelly Hill. 142 metres.

  • Huntingdon and Peterborough. Formerly the Administrative Counties of Huntingdonshire and Soke of Peterborough. High Point = Racecourse Road. 81 metres.

The Rapes of Sussex

The Rapes of Sussex were major land divisions of the county, thought to pre-date the Norman Conquest. More details here

More High Points

Richard gowerTrek, UK County Tops, Mountain, Trig Pillar, EnglandComment
The Scottish County Tops

Compared to England, the Scottish Counties have had few changes over the years. There’s 3 main groupings of Scottish County:

  • Scottish Shires. Historic subdivisions of Scotland established in the Middle Ages and used as administrative divisions until 1975.

  • Historic Counties. Also referred to as Traditional Counties or Former Counties. Established by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 and abolished by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

  • Scottish Council Areas. Also referred to as Present Day Counties. Established by the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994.

This post shows the highest point in each of Scotland’s counties based on the above groupings. As the Venn diagram shows there is a lot of overlap between the different types of county.

Contact me if you spot a mistake on this page or you have new information and I will make a donation to one of my causes.

Scotland’s Historic County Tops

Also referred to as Traditional Counties or Former Counties. Established by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 and abolished by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. More details on Scotland’s Historic Counties.

The highest points of these Historic Counties are:

  1. Ben Nevis. 1,344 metres. Completed. Historic County = Invernessshire, Present Day County = Highland.

  2. Ben Macdui. 1,309 metres. Historic Counties = Aberdeenshire and Banffshire. Present Day Counties = Aberdeenshire and Moray.

  3. Ben Lawers. 1,214 metres. Completed. Historic County = Perthshire. Present Day County = Perth and Kinross.

  4. Carn Eige. 1,183 metres. Historic County = Ross and Cromarty.

  5. Bidean nam Bian. 1,150 metres. Historic County = Argyll.

  6. Glas Maol. 1,068 metres. Completed. Historic County = Angus.

  7. Ben More Assynt. 998 metres. Historic County = Sutherland.

  8. Ben Lomond. 974 metres. Completed. Historic County = Stirlingshire.

  9. Ben Vorlich. 943 metres. Completed. Historic County = Dunbartonshire.

  10. Goatfell. 874 metres. Completed. Historic County = Buteshire. Present Day County = North Ayrshire.

  11. Merrick. 843 metres. Completed. Historic County = Kirkcudbrightshire. Present Day County = Dumfries and Galloway.

  12. Broad Law. 840 metres. Completed. Historic Counties = Peeblesshire and Selkirkshire. Present Day County = Scottish Borders.

  13. White Coomb. 821 metres. Completed. Historic County = Dumfriesshire.

  14. Kirriereoch Hill-North West Slope. 782 metres. Completed. Historic County = Ayreshire. Present Day County = South Ayrshire.

  15. Mount Battock. 778 metres. Completed. Historic County = Kincardineshire.

  16. Culter Fell. 748 metres. Completed. Historic County = Lanarkshire. Present Day County = South Lanarkshire.

  17. Hangingstone Hill. 743 metres. Completed. Historic County = Roxburghshire.

  18. Ben Cleuch. 721 metres. Completed. Historic County = Clackmannanshire. Present Day County = Clackmannanshire.

  19. Carn a'Ghille Chearr. 710 metres. Historic County = Morayshire.

  20. Morven. 706 metres. Historic County = Caithness.

  21. Carn Glas-choire. 659 metres. Historic County = Nairnshire.

  22. Blackhope Scar. 651 metres. Completed. Historic County = Midlothian. Present Day County = Midlothian.

  23. Meikle Says Law. 535 metres. Completed. Historic County = East Lothian. Present Day County = East Lothian.

  24. Meikle Says Law (boundary). 532 metres. Completed. Historic County = Berwickshire.

  25. West Lomond. 522 metres. Completed. Historic County = Fife. Present Day County = Fife.

  26. Hill of Stake. 522 metres. Completed. Historic County = Renfrewshire. Present Day County = Renfrewshire.

  27. Innerdouny Hill. 497 metres. Completed. Historic County = Kinross-shire.

  28. Ward Hill. 481 metres. Historic County = Orkney. Present Day County = Orkney.

  29. Ronas Hill. 450 metres. Historic County = Shetland. Present Day County = Shetland.

  30. Craigairie Fell. 321 metres. Completed. Historic County = Wigtownshire.

  31. Cairnpapple Hill. 312 metres. Completed. Historic County = West Lothian.

Scotland’s Present Day County Tops

Scotland has 32 Unitary Authorities that replaced the 33 County Councils that existed from 1890 to 1975. More details on Present Day counties of Scotland.

The list above shows where a peak is both an Historic and a Present Day County Top. The 14 peaks shown below are distinct from the Historic County Tops.

  1. Ben More. 1,174 metres, Stirling.

  2. Ben Cruachan. 1,132 metres, Argyll and Bute.

  3. An Cliseam / Clisham. 799 metres, Western Isles.

  4. Blackcraig Hill. 700 metres, East Ayrshire.

  5. East Cairn Hill. 567 metres, Edinburgh.

  6. West Cairn Hill. 562 metres, West Lothian.

  7. Cort-ma Law East Top. 527 metres, North Lanarkshire.

  8. Creuch Hill. 441 metres, Inverclyde.

  9. Duncolm. 407 metres, West Dunbartonshire.

  10. Corse Hill. 376 metres, East Renfrewshire.

  11. Darrach Hill. 357 metres, Falkirk.

  12. Brimmond Hill. 265 metres, Completed. Aberdeen.

  13. Cathkin Hill. 200 metres, Glasgow.

  14. Gallow Hill. 175 metres, Completed. Dundee.

Scottish Counties Prior to 1890 (Shires)

The Shires were historic subdivisions of Scotland established in the Middle Ages and used as administrative divisions until 1975. More details on the Scottish Shires.

The mountains below are the high points of the Scottish Shires that are distinct from either Historic or Present Day County Tops.

  1. Sgurr Mor. Sgurr Mor 1003m, Cromartyshire.
    - Carn Eige is the Historic & Present Day County Top of Ross and Cromarty.

  2. Dun Rig. 774m, Selkirkshire.
    - Broad Law is the Historic County Top of Selkirkshire and the Present Day County Top of Scottish Borders.

  3. Carn nam Bain-tighearna. 634m, Nairnshire
    - Ben Nevis is the County Top of Present-Day Highland

More High Points

Richard gowerTrek, UK County Tops, Mountain, Trig Pillar, ScotlandComment
The Welsh County Tops

Compared to England, the Welsh Counties have had few changes over the years. There’s 3 main groupings of Welsh County:

  • Historic Counties. Also referred to as Traditional or Ancient Counties.

  • Principal Areas. Also referred to as Present-Day Counties. Established by the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994.

  • Preserved Counties. Established by the Local Government Act 1972 and used for local government and other purposes between 1974 and 1996.

This post shows the highest point in each of Wales’ counties based on the above groupings. As the Venn diagram shows there is a lot of overlap between the different types of county.

Contact me if you spot a mistake on this page or you have new information and I will make a donation to one of my causes.

Wales’ Historic County Tops

The 13 Historic Counties of Wales were used for administrative purposes for centuries with different times of origin. They were replaced by the Principal Areas which were established by the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994. More details on the Historic Counties of Wales

  1. Snowdon. 1,085 metres. Completed. Historic County = Caernarvonshire. Present Day County = Gwynedd.

  2. Aran Fawddwy. 905 metres. Completed. Historic County = Merionethshire.

  3. Pen y Fan. 886 metres. Completed. Historic County = Brecknockshire. Present Day County = Powys.

  4. Cadair Berwyn. 830 metres. Completed. Historic County = Denbighshire. Present Day County = Denbighshire.

  5. Moel Sych. 827 metres. Completed. Historic County = Montgomeryshire.

  6. Fan Foel. 781 metres. Completed. Historic County = Carmarthenshire. Present Day County = Carmarthenshire.

  7. Plynlimon. 752 metres. Completed. Historic County = Cardiganshire. Present Day County = Ceredigion.

  8. Chwarel y Fan. 679 metres. Completed. Historic County = Monmouthshire. Present Day County = Monmouthshire

  9. Great Rhos. 660 metres. Completed. Historic County = Radnorshire.

  10. Craig y Llyn. 600 metres. Completed. Historic County = Glamorganshire. Present Day County = Neath Port Talbot.

  11. Moel Famau. 555 metres. Completed. Historic County = Flintshire. Present Day County = Flintshire.

  12. Foel Cwmcerwyn. 536 metres. Completed. Historic County = Pembrokeshire. Present Day County = Pembrokeshire.

  13. Holyhead Mountain. 220 metres. Completed. Historic County = Anglesey. Present Day County = Isle of Anglesey.

Wales’ Present Day County Tops

These 22 Principal Areas, also referred to as the Present Day Counties, were established by the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994. Ten of these areas share a County Top with a Historic County that it replaced. These are shown in the list above. The list below shows the 12 high points of Present Day Counties that are distinct from the Historic County Tops. More details on the Present Day Counties of Wales

  1. Carnedd Llewelyn. 1,064 metres, Conwy

  2. Craig Berwyn. 790 metres, Wrexham

  3. Craig y Lynn Boundary. 590 metres, Rhondda Cynon Taff. Completed

  4. Coity Mountain. 581 metres, Blaenau Gwent

  5. Coity Mountain East Slope. 578 metres, Torfaen

  6. Mynydd Llangeinwyr /Werfa. 568 metres, Bridgend. Completed

  7. Pen March 535 metres. Caerphilly

  8. Merthyr Common. 530 metres, Merthyr Tydfill

  9. Mynydd y Betwys. 373 metres, Swansea

  10. Wentwood. 309 metres, Newport

  11. Garth Hill. 307 metres, Cardiff

  12. Tair Onnen. 137 metres, Vale of Glamorgan

Wales’ Preserved Counties

There are 8 preserved counties of wales, each fully containing between 1 and 5 of the Principal Areas (“Present Day Counties”). There are no high points that are unique to the Preserved Counties as all are County Tops of Principal Areas and some are also Historic County Tops. More details on the Preserved Counties of Wales

The high points of the Preserved Counties are:

  • Clwyd: Moel Famau

  • Dyfed: Plynlimon

  • Gwent: Coity Mountain

  • Gwynedd: Snowdon

  • Mid Glamorgan: Craig Y Lynn Boundary

  • Powys: Pen y Fan

  • South Glamorgan: Craig y Llyn

  • West Glamorgan: Myndydd y Betwys

More High Points

Richard gowerTrek, UK County Tops, Mountain, Trig Pillar, WalesComment
Windsor Great Park: Spittal Meadow & Queen Anne's Ride

Start & Finish: Long Walk Gate Car Park, Crown Cottages, Kings Road, Windsor, SL4 2BQ
Distance: 6.6 km (4.1 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 46m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 4
Pubs / Cafes on route: None
Map: OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell
Links: Windsor, Windsor Great Park

This is a nice short walk in the Great Park with easy access to Windsor Town Centre. Start at the Long Walk Gate Car Park and take the path that leads in a north-westerly direction along the edge of the field. After ~700m take a left, heading south-west between the football club and the raised flood defense. About halfway across the next field, cross over the Bourne Ditch and trace the edge of the field as it curves round to the south-east. Follow this boundary path until it connects with the A332 and the Ranger Gate Car Park.

Cross the A332 and enter the park through the Ranger’s Gate. Don’t follow the road, but take the sandy bridleway to the left. Continue until you pass Russell’s Pond and meet Queen Anne’s Drive. Take a left and follow Queen Anne’s Drive all the way back to the Long Walk Gate Car Park.

Richard gowerTrek, Windsor, Berkshire, EnglandComment
Woolwell Road: Plymouth High Point

Significance: Highest peak in the Unitary Authority of Plymouth
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: High Willhays NHN = Sheeps Tor
Historic County: Hampshire (of which Pilot Hill is the County Top)
Elevation: 162m
Date “climbed”: 22nd October 2021
Coordinates: 50° 26' 6'' N, 4° 6' 25'' W
Map: Lower Tamar Valley & Plymouth Map | Tavistock & Callington | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 108
Links: Wikipedia (Plymouth), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

There’s not much to say about this one. The high point of Plymouth is in the middle of a grassy roundabout near the entrance to a large Tesco’s. Visit on the way to somewhere much more interesting.

Richard gowerTrek, UK County Tops, Berkshire, EnglandComment
Newlands Corner and Chilworth Gunpowder Mills Circular
Fields between Newlands Corner and Guildford Lane

Fields between Newlands Corner and Guildford Lane

Start & Finish: Newlands Corner Car Park, A25 Shere Road, Newland's Corner, Albury, GU4 8SF
Distance: 10.6 km (6.6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 209m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): North Downs Way, Scholar’s Trail, Tillingbourne at Work SCC
Other routes touched (cycle): none
OS Trig Pillar: TP4779 - Merrow Downs
Pubs / Cafes on route: Newlands Cafe or The Plucky Pheasant at the start/finish.
Map: Godalming & Farnborough | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 145
Links: Newlands Corner, Merrow Downs, St Martha’s Hill, Chilworth Gunpowder Mills

There’s a lot of options for circular walks from Newland’s Corner. This one is a variation on most as it takes in the Merrow Downs Trig Pillar and Chantries Wood. The route is a mix of large well-signed trails and cuts though woods with lots of similar looking paths. For these I’d recommend a GPX route or Explorer map to keep you on track.

From the Newland’s Corner Car Park take the path that heads north to the right of the Visitor's Centre. Follow paths to the edge of Merrow Downs Golf Course where you’ll find the OS Trig Pillar. From the pillar head west then south through the woods until you reach the North Downs Way. Follow the North Downs Way as it south-west past St Martha’s Church and down to Halfpenny Lane.

Cross over Halfpenny Lane and leave the North Downs Way, heading south-west through Chantries Wood. After the campsite, take a path heading steeply downhill to the south-west until you meet a path T-junction after a hedge. Take a left, heading east along the hedge until you get back to Halfpenny Lane. Take a right onto Halfpenny Lane, then a right immediately onto a footpath rather than following the Lane.

At the end of the footpath you’ll re-join Halfpenny Lane. Follow this south for 100m crossing the Tilling Bourne stream where you’ll see the entrance to the Gunpowder Mills on the left. Enter the Gunpowder Mills and follow the path through it for ~1km until you meet the Downs Link. Take some time here to see the remains of the old East India Company Mills. There’s information signs at the main entrances with leaflets explaining the different remains.

Once you reach the Downs Link you’ll need to leave the Mills and continue east though a field remaining parallel to the Tilling Bourne. Continue through an estate of some very nice houses set around Postford Lake and Waterloo Pond. You’ll emerge onto the A248 Chilworth Road. Follow the road east for 200m and take a left onto Guildford Lane. Follow Guildford Lane north-west for 500m then take a path on the right. Follow this path for just over 1km through woods, past a farm and then the final ascent to Newlands Corner.

For a shorter version of this you could save ~1km by heading directly west from Newlands Corner, missing out the Trig Pillar. Another 1k can be saved by walking south down Halfpenny Lane instead of the Chantries Wood section. I highly recommend the full route though as it takes in several of the main points of interest in the area.

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Richard gowerTrek, Trig Pillar, Surrey Hills, Surrey, EnglandComment
Walking The Three Castles Path Part 1: Windsor to Greywell
Windsor Castle and the start of the Three Castles Path

Windsor Castle and the start of the Three Castles Path

The Three Castles Path is a 60 mile trail from Windsor to Winchester, inspired by the travels of King John. The three castles that it refers to are Windsor Castle, Winchester Castle, and King John’s own Odiham castle at the half way point. The trail is very well described in the short guidebook The 3 Castles Path by Heron Maps.

Our journey along the path was a reunion of our small group that did the Caminos Ingles and Finisterre in 2019. The Covid lockdowns had thwarted many of our plans for long trips so we covered this first section of the path in sections around the Lockdowns. Our trip was based on roughly 10k sections with good parking options at either end. These are different sections to those described in the guidebook which also details public transport options.

We’ll get to the second half of the path another time. It’s further from home with fewer parking options on some sections so will need some more planning.

Section 1. Windsor Castle to Ascot

Start: Windsor Castle, Castle Hill, Windsor
Finish: Free car parking, High Street, Ascot, SL5 7HS
Distance: 11.6 km (7.2 miles)
Elevation change: +128m / -90m. Net +38m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 4, Ascot To Windsor Cycle Route, Round Berkshire Cycle Route 52
Pubs / Cafes on route: None on route but several in Windsor and Ascot High Streets
Map: OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell
Links: Windsor, Windsor Castle, Windsor Great Park, Ascot, Ascot Racecourse

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Section 2. Ascot to Swinley Forest

Start: Free car parking, High Street, Ascot, SL5 7HS
Finish: The Look Out Discovery Centre, Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, RG12 7QW
Distance: 8.3 km (5.2 miles)
Elevation change: +68m / -41m. Net +27m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Ramblers’ Route
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 422, Ascot To Windsor Cycle Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: None on route but The Look-out has a cafe and Horseshoe Lake has a kiosk.
Map: OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell
Links: Ascot, Ascot Racecourse, North Ascot, Swinley Forest, The Lookout Discovery Centre

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Section 3. Swinley Forest to Horeshoe Lake

Start: The Look Out Discovery Centre, Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, RG12 7QW
Finish: Horseshoe Lake Car Park, Sandhurst, GU47 8JW
Distance: 10 km (6.1 miles)
Elevation change: +74m / -127m. Net -53m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Ramblers’ Route, The Wokingham Way, Ambarrow Hill Circuit, Ambarrow Court Circuit
Other routes touched (cycle): Swinley Forest Mountain Bike Routes
Pubs / Cafes on route: None on route but The Look-out has a cafe and Horseshoe Lake has a kiosk.
Map: OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell and OS Explorer Map (159) Reading, Wokingham and Pangbourne
Links: Swinley Forest, The Lookout Discovery Centre, Broadmoor Hospital, Sandhurst, Horseshoe Lake

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Section 4. Horseshoe Lake to Hartley Wintney

Start: Horseshoe Lake Car Park, Sandhurst, GU47 8JW
Finish: Cricket Green, Hartley Wintney, Hook RG27 8QB. Parking at Hartley Wintney Long Stay, 484 Monachus Lane, Hartley Wintney, RG27 8NN
Distance: 12 km (7.5 miles)
Elevation change: +103m / -91m. Net -12m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): The Wokingham Way, Blackwater Valley Park
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: None on route but several in Hartley Wintney and Horseshoe Lake has a kiosk.
Map: OS Explorer Map (159) Reading, Wokingham and Pangbourne and OS Explorer Map (144) Basingstoke, Alton and Whitchurch
Links: Horseshoe Lake, Blackwater Valley, River Blackwater, River Hart, Hartley Wintney

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Section 5. Hartley Wintney to Greywell

Start: Cricket Green, Hartley Wintney, Hook RG27 8QB. Parking at Hartley Wintney Long Stay, 484 Monachus Lane, Hartley Wintney, RG27 8NN
Finish: Fox & Goose Pub, The Street, Hook, RG29 1BY
Distance: 11.9 km (7.5 miles)
Elevation change: +79m / -61m. Net -18m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Basingstoke Canal Towpath
Other routes touched (cycle): Odiham Circular
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several on Hartley Wintney High Street at start, the Waterwitch in Odiham and The Fox and Goose at the end.
Map: OS Explorer Map (144) Basingstoke, Alton and Whitchurch
Links: Hartley Wintney, Basingstoke Canal, Odiham, Odiham Castle, Greywell, Greywell Tunnel

Richard gowerTrek, Canal, Berkshire, Hampshire, England, English HeritageComment
Downs Link Ultra Marathon
Crossing The Old Shoreham Toll Bridge on the last mile

Crossing The Old Shoreham Toll Bridge on the last mile

When: October 10th 2021
Start: Church of St Martha-on-the-Hill, Halfpenny Lane, Guildford, GU4 8PZ
Finish: 3rd Shoreham Sea Scouts, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 5LT
Distance: 61.3 km (38.1 miles)
Elevation change: +456m / -622m (Net -166m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): North Downs Way, Tillingbourne At Work (SCC), Wey South Path, The Fox Way, Greensand Way, Sussex Border Path, West Sussex Literary Trail, South Downs Way
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 22, 223
Maps:
- OS Explorer Map (145) Guildford and Farnham
- OS Explorer OL34 Crawley & Horsham
- OS Explorer OL11 Brighton and Hove
Finish time: 8 hours 32 minutes
Links: Downs Link (Wikipedia), The Cranleigh Line, The Steyning Line, St Martha’s Hill, Surrey Hills AONB, Wey and Arun Canal, South Downs National Park

This was a return to familiar territory for Mark and I. We’d cycled the Downs Link in July and passed by St Martha’s church on the Hardest of Snails 10k shortly after. Running the whole of the 38 mile trail was an altogether bigger challenge. This was also Mark’s first Ultra and my first running one with a friend.

I had worked out a plan to get us through it at a steady pace with 30 minutes contingency for the 10 hour cut-off. I have a consistent pace for Ultras, but not knowing how Mark would get on I didn’t know whether we would be able to stick together or not.

The first 6.4k to the old railway path is steep and hilly. With a lot of runners packed tightly into narrow paths you have to go at the speed of the group. This was a comfortable pace for a short race but faster than I had planned for this. I couldn’t see Mark at all in this first section and was worried that I was getting a long way ahead. I needn’t have worried as he arrived at the first Aid Station 30 seconds behind me.

This was the pattern for the first half of the race. I was slightly ahead on each section and we met up at the Aid Stations. Somewhere between Henfield and Steyning we’d both slowed to a fast walk and kept together to the end. By the finish point at Shoreham-by-Sea we were a hour ahead of our planned time and well within the official cut-off.

This is billed as a great Ultra for first timers and I’d argue that it’s a great one all round. After the first 6.4k it’s mostly flat and on good ground. There’s a few long straight stretches that got a bit boring but made up for by the remains of the old stations along the way. See my post on the cycle trip for more about these.

Running and crossing the finishing line with a friend made it special for me. Well done Mark on joining the Ultra club and huge thanks for Mark’s family for supporting us along the way.

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Richard gowerRun, Ultramarathon, Canal, Railway, Disused Railway, Coast, South Downs, National Park, National Trust, Surrey, Sussex, England, Surrey HillsComment
Scottish Borders County Tops
View to Loch Trool from Bruce’s Stone at the start of the Merrick Trail

View to Loch Trool from Bruce’s Stone at the start of the Merrick Trail

With all of the County Tops in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in the bag, I “just” have Scotland to do. The problem is that they’re now a long way from home and getting taller. Before this trip I’d only done 3 of the 33 Historic County Tops of Scotland. I’d done Ben Nevis a couple of times, Goatfell once and, most recently Hangingstone Hill as an add-on to the Cheviot walk.

The remaining 30 would need to be grouped into longer weekends around natural groupings. With easy access from Glasgow Airport, the 6 summits of this trip was an obvious place to start. Broad Law covers 2 counties each giving a total of 7 historic counties over a 4-day trip.

Craigairie Fell

Significance: Highest peak in Wigtownshire (Historic County Top)
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Beneraird
Nearest Higher Neighbour: Beneraird
Elevation: 321m
Date climbed: 23rd September 2021
Coordinates: 55° 1' 34'' N, 4° 45' 40'' W

Route Start / End: Parking space at end of road west from Polbae (DG8 6RZ)
Route Distance: 7.5 km (4.6 miles)
Route Elevation Change: +/- 159m
Subsidiary tops on route: None
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Southern Upland Way
Other routes touched (cycle): None
OS Trig Pillar: TP2507 - Craigairie Fell
Map: OS Explorer Map (310) Glenluce and Kirkcowan
Guidebook: The UK's County Tops (Jonny Muir)
Links: Wikipedia (Wigtownshire), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

Craigairie Fell was our warm-up peak for the trip. With a total elevation of 321m, it’s a hill rather than a mountain and can be bagged in less than 2 hours. We tackled this one first as we flew into Glasgow in the morning and it was a 2-hour drive to the start of the walk.

There’s a good parking spot about a mile west along the road from Polbae. It’s more of a track than a road so don’t attempt it in a car with low clearance. You’ll notice it soon after the Forestry Commission sign saying “No Unauthorized Vehicle Access”. It’s an odd place to have the sign as it’s on a random part of the road with no place to turn around. The first place to turn further along is a junction with a track to a farm where the obvious parking spot is.

From the parking spot, navigation is very easy as you follow the Southern Upland Way all the way to the Trig Pillar at the top. The actual route is slightly shorter than the one on the map as there’s a short-cut of the Southern Upland Way that cuts off the hairpin bend near the D of Derry on the map.

Although our views from the top were a little misty, it was significantly better than the other summits in the trip with no views at all.

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Merrick

Significance: Highest peak in Kirkcudbrightshire (Historic County Top), Highest peak in Dumfries and Galloway (Present Day County Top)
Member of: Marilyn, Corbett, Donald
Parent Peak: Helvellyn
Nearest Higher Neighbour: Goatfell
Elevation: 843m
Coordinates: 55° 8' 21'' N, 4° 28' 6'' W
OS Trig Pillar: TP4777 - Merrick
Links: Wikipedia Kirkcudbrightshire), Wikipedia (Dumfries and Galloway), Wikipedia (Merrick), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

Kirriereoch Hill-Northwest Slope

Significance: Highest peak in Ayrshire (Historic County Top), Highest peak in South Ayrshire (Present Day County Top)
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Kirriereoch Hill
Nearest Higher Neighbour: Kirriereoch Hill
Elevation: 782m
Coordinates: 55° 9' 11'' N, 4° 28' 53'' W
Links: Wikipedia (Ayrshire), Wikipedia (South Ayrshire), Wikipedia (Kirrieroch Hill), Peakbagger, Hillbagger

For both peaks:
Date climbed: 24th September 2021
Route Start / End: Upper Bruce's Stone Car Park, Newton Stewart, DG8 6SU
Route Distance: 16.7 km (10.4 miles)
Route Elevation Change: +/- 1,114m
Subsidiary tops on route: Benyellary (719m), Kirriereoch Hill (786m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Merrick Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 7 passes through Upper Bruce’s Stone Car Park
Map: OS Explorer Map (318) Galloway Forest Park North
Guidebook: The UK's County Tops (Jonny Muir)

After an overnight in nearby Newton Stewart we tackled the big climb of the trip. Merrick is the highest point in the Historic County of Kirkcudbrightshire, the Present-Day County of Dumfries and Galloway and both the highest peak in the Southern Uplands and Southern Scotland.

The Merrick Trail is a well marked path leading from Upper Bruce’s Stone Car Park to the summit. Before you start the walk, take 10 minutes to see the carved granite stone that commemorates victory over an English army during the Scottish Wars of Independence in 1307.

On a clear, warm day this would have been a wonderful walk. From the summit you can see Snowdon, 144 miles away on the longest line of sight in the British Isles. This wasn’t the day to see anything. After the bothy and the forest section, the mist turned to cloud and we only saw what was 10m in front of us. By the time we reached the Trig Pillar at the summit there was also strong wind and rain. This would have been a great time to turn back and head down to a warmer, clearer elevation.

There was no turning back though as we still had another County Top to visit. The high point of Ayrshire is just beyond the summit of Kirriereoch Hill approximately 2km from the summit of Merrick. We relied on the GPX track as the path was hard to make out in the fog. Kirriereoch Hill’s summit is well marked by a pile of stones. From here, the County Top of Ayrshire is 100m to the north just beyond the remains of an old stone wall. The map on my phone showed the county boundary about 20m beyond the wall. Although it wasn’t completely clear exactly where the County Top was, we at least stopped by several possibilities.

From Kirriereoch Hill, the path continues north to a series of other summits. We had already got what we came for and turned back to re-trace our steps back over Merrick and down to the Bruce’s Stone. With the big one done, we drove 2 hours north-east to Strathaven, our overnight stop before the next set of peaks.

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Culter Fell

Significance: Highest peak in Lanarkshire (Historic County Top), Highest peak in South Lanarkshire (Present Day County Top)
Member of: Marilyn, Graham, Donald
Parent Peak: Broad Law
Nearest Higher Neighbour: Broad Law
Elevation: 748m
Date climbed: 25th September 2021
Coordinates: 55° 32' 46'' N, 3° 30' 10'' W


Route Start / End: Layby on right hand side of minor road south of Culter Allers Farm
Route Distance: 7.1 km (4.4 miles)
Route Elevation Change: +/- 484m
Subsidiary tops on route: None
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): None
OS Trig Pillar: TP2681 - Culter Fell
Map: OS Explorer Map 336 Biggar and Broughton
Guidebook: The UK's County Tops (Jonny Muir)
Links: Wikipedia (Lanarkshire), Wikipedia (South Lanarkshire), Wikipedia (Culter Fell), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

Culter Fell was our first of 3 peaks, covering 4 counties, located close together to the north-east of Moffat. It’s possible to do all three on a single day with an early start and enough light. It was a Saturday and we also needed to get in a parkrun, so we did a combination of Lanark Moor parkrun, with Culter Fell and Broad Law.

There’s enough parking for several cars on a large layby near Culter Allers Farm. From here you can follow the road south, crossing over Culter Water stream. You’re now on private land which is open to walkers but occasionally closed for shooting. You can call 01899 204010 to check access or to request permission for groups of over 4.

Approximately 1km from the layby leave the road and follow a track, then a path, ascending to the south-east. The path to the Trig Pillar at the summit is well marked and difficult to miss even in low visibility as we had. Options at the summit are to return the same way, as we did, or continue south, then south-west to Coulter Head Reservoir and return back along the road.

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Broad Law

Significance: Highest peak in Peeblesshire and Selkirkshire (Historic County Top), Upper Tweeddale NSA High Point
Member of: Marilyn, Corbett, Donald
Parent Peak: Merrick
Nearest Higher Neighbour: Merrick
Elevation: 840m
Date climbed: 25th September 2021
Coordinates: 55° 29' 53'' N, 3° 21' 10'' W


Route Start / End: Layby next to Megget Stone, Biggar, ML12 6QR
Route Distance: 7.4 km (4.6 miles)
Route Elevation Change: +/- 372m
Subsidiary tops on route: None
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): None
OS Trig Pillar: TP1647 - Broad Law
Map: OS Explorer Map 330 Moffat and St Mary's Loch
Guidebook: The UK's County Tops (Jonny Muir)
Links: Wikipedia (Peeblesshire), Wikipedia (Selkirkshire), Wikipedia (Broad Law), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

Looking back on our Broad Law walk a week after we did it, it’s hard to distinguish it from our Culter Fell walk. With a similar distance, elevation change and exactly the same thick fog, both have blurred into one. With better visibility I’m sure the view from Broad Law would have been impressive given its height, just 3m lower than Merrick. We couldn’t even see the large air navigation beacon close to the Trig Pillar on the summit.

Navigation is very easy as the path follows the boundary fence all the way from the road to the summit. The fence is low at the top making it very easy to cross the border to make sure you’ve bagged both of the County Tops on this peak.

White Coomb, our next peak is less than 9km as the crow flies from the Broad Law summit or a 30 minute drive between each parking spot. We’d had enough adventure for one day so came back the following day for the final peak of the trip.

Note that Dun Rig is another contender for the Historic County Top of the former county of Selkirkshire. See the reference to this in the Wikipedia article for Broad Law for details. Although I might return to bag that one later for completeness, I’m happy to claim Selkirkshire for now based on following the list in Jonny Muir’s UK County Tops book.

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White Coomb

Significance: Highest peak in Dumfriesshire (Historic County Top)
Member of: Marilyn, Corbett, Donald
Parent Peak: Broad Law
Nearest Higher Neighbour:
Elevation: 821m
Date climbed: 26th September 2021
Coordinates: 55° 25' 21'' N, 3° 19' 25'' W


Route Start / End: National Trust for Scotland Car Park, Grey Mare's Tail Nature Reserve, Moffat Water Valley, DG10 9LP
Route Distance: 6.3 km (3.9 miles)
Route Elevation Change: +/- 575m
Subsidiary tops on route: None
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Map: OS Explorer Map 330 Moffat and St Mary's Loch
Guidebook: The UK's County Tops (Jonny Muir)
Links: Wikipedia (Dumfriesshire), Wikipedia (White Coomb), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

The walk to White Coomb starts at the busy National Trust Car Park at Grey Mare’s Tail. From here the steep path to the right hand side of Tail Burn stream takes most walkers up to Loch Skeen. Follow this for 1.25km to the top of the waterfall where you can cross the stream via some stepping stones. You’ll see a faint path leading down to the stepping stones and the stone dyke wall on the other side. Once crossed, follow the well marked path to the right of the wall to the flat grassy top of White Coomb. You’ll need to leave the path and cross the dyke for the final 20m to the summit which is marked by a pile of stones.

A return option from the summit would be to return to the path and continue on it in a clockwise direction around the loch then back to the car park. With only a few hours until our flight back from Glasgow we returned by the same route, completing the walk within 2 hours.

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Other High Points in the Scottish Borders Area

Other High Point in the Historic County of Lanarkshire

Richard gowerTrek, UK County Tops, Mountain, Trig Pillar, Wigtownshire, Ayrshire, Kirkcudbrightshire, Lanarkshire, Peeblesshire, Selkirkshire, Dumfriesshire, ScotlandComment
Banstead Heath Coal Duty Post Circular Walk
Post 144 between Banstead Heath and the golf course

Post 144 between Banstead Heath and the golf course

Start & Finish: The Blue Ball, Deans Ln, Walton on the Hill, Tadworth KT20 7UE
Distance: 8.8 km (5.5 miles)
Elevation change: + / - 147 m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): North Downs Way
Other routes touched (cycle): None
London Coal Duty Posts: 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 144a, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155
Pubs / Cafes on route: Blue Ball Tadworth or The Sportsman, Mogador
Map: Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate Map | Leatherhead & Caterham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 146
Links: Coal Duty Posts, Banstead Heath, Tadworth, Mogador

This walk follows the old boundary of the parish of Banstead, originally part of London. It’s a great trip for Coal Duty Post collectors as it has a very high concentration of them in such as short space. This one covers 20 in a walk of less than 9 km.

There’s a longer version of this walk on Martin Nail’s website that covers 26 posts over 13.5 km. His one starts at Tattenham Corner station and ends at Kingswood station, making it better for access via public transport. See Martin’s guide to the walk for more detailed descriptions of each post.

My walk starts at the Blue Ball pub at Walton On The Hill. Here you’ll find free road-side parking opposite the pub and the first post, 137. From the pub continue south down Dean’s Lane to Post 138. It’s in the garden of The Rise behind the brick wall facing the street. There’s a spot in the large bush above the wall that’s been cut back so you can see the post without entering the garden.

From Post 138 cross over the right onto the heath and take the Surrey CC Bridleway 87 in a south-easterly direction. This will pass over Dorking Road and along the boundary of Walton Heath Golf Course and the heath itself. You’ll find 11 posts on this path mostly right next to the path or just off.

The bridleway ends at Mogador Lane before a bridge over the M25. Cross over the bridge and follow Mogador Lane, passing 2 more posts (149 and 150) until you meet the North Downs Way. Here you’ll find Coal Post 151 which is both the most southerly Coal Post and has an OS Benchmark on it. Retrace your steps for a few metres and take the first path on the right to follow the North Downs Way to post 152. Retrace your steps again taking a path on the right towards Mogador Lane. Take a right onto the lane and follow it north, back over the M25 and past the bridleway where you previously joined it. Continue north to the junction of Mogador Road to post 153.

From post 153, follow Mogador Road north past The Sportsman Pub. This is a good place for a mid-way rest and a drink, especially in the summer in its busy beer garden. After the Sportsman you’ll re-enter the heath and follow the path in a north-easterly direction to post 154. Here you have a choice about visiting post 155. This post is on the eastern side of the very busy A217 Brighton Road. It’s a dual carriageway without any controlled crossing points at this part. We crossed it at the roundabout near post 154 and followed the pavement on the eastern side to the post which is by the bus stop. To return to the heath we continued north up the Brighton Road and crossed over to the first footpath entrance to the heath. There’s a grass verge between the 2 carriageways which helps the crossing. Be very careful if you do this though. An alternative would be to skip this post from the walk and do it as a drive-by, briefly pulling into the bus-stop.

Whether you include 155 or not, you’ll have visited your last post of the trip. There was another further north on the A217 at the junction with Mill Road and The Warren but is now missing. The final stretch of the walk is a pleasant crossing of the heath in a north-westerly direction back to the Blue Ball pub.

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Richard gowerTrek, Coal Duty Post, Surrey, London, EnglandComment
Clock house: Sutton Borough High Point

Significance: Highest peak in London Borough of Sutton
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Botley Hill. NHN = Sanderstead Plantation
Historic County: Surrey (of which Leith Hill is the County Top)
Elevation: 147m
Date “climbed”: 11th September 2021
Coordinates: 51° 19' 25'' N, 0° 9' 39'' W
Nearest Station: Woodmansterne (Southern Rail): 1 km
On route of: N/A. The London Loop is 0.6 km to the north-east
Map: Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate Map | Leatherhead & Caterham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 146
Links: Wikipedia (Sutton), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

Sutton’s High Point is another contender for least interesting Greater London Borough High Point. It’s in the southern corner of the Clock House Recreation Ground field. No marking, not much to see here.

Richard gowerTrek, London Borough High Point, London, EnglandComment
Paddleboarding on The Jubilee River
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The Jubilee River is an artificial channel built in the late 1990s and early 2000s to take overflow from the River Thames to prevent flooding around Maidenhead, Windsor, and Eton. I know it very well having ran, walked and cycled every part of the paths around it. It was the obvious place to try out our new SUPs. There’s a very gentle flow and no motorised boats allowed on it.

Here’s a guide to paddleboarding the Jubilee River in five short sections. We did full loops of each section for a total of 20km. The obvious alternative would be a 10km point-to-point trip but with a lot of portaging around the weirs.

The Jubilee River diverts from the River Thames just north of Ray Mill Island, Maidenhead. This first section isn’t accessible and the navigable part starts from Taplow Weir. For this section, the first access point is Amerden Lane. There’s not much in the way of parking here although you can park at nearby Engage Watersports only if you are renting equipment from them. Better parking is at the far end of this section at Marsh Lane Car Park.

For the other sections, there’s car parks at Marsh Lane, Lake End, The Riverside Centre and the Thames Valley Athletics Centre. Some have height restriction barriers so be careful if you are carrying your SUPs on a roof-rack. Each car-park has a good entry point to the river within a few minutes walk.

The final navigable section ends at Black Potts Weir just to the south of the Thames Valley Athletics Centre in Eton. Beyond this there’s a very short part of the Jubilee before it connects to the Thames at Home Park, Windsor. You can access this final part via the Thames but there was construction happening on this section during 2021. I’ll return another year to check this section out.

Paddleboarding The Jubilee River In 5 Sections

GPX Files: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East and OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell
Links: Jubilee River, Maidenhead, Taplow, Dorney, Eton Wick, Eton, Datchet, Engage Watersports, The Riverside Centre, Thames Valley Athletics Centre

Each colour below represents a different section described below. Top left is Taplow, bottom right is Black Potts Weir.

map source: Esri Topo via RideWithGPS

map source: Esri Topo via RideWithGPS

Section 1: Taplow Weir to Marsh Lane Weir

Entry and Exit Point: Marsh Lane Car Park, Taplow, SL6 0DH (SU 91412 80317) or on Amerden Lane (SU 90761 80915)
Section Length (one way): 2.1 km (1.3 miles)
Nearby pubs and Cafes: Lake House Cafe, Amerden Lane, Taplow, SL6 0EA

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Section 2: Marsh Lane Weir to Lake End Car Park

Entry and Exit Point: Marsh Lane Car Park, Taplow, SL6 0DH (SU 91412 80317) or Lake End Car Park, Dorney, SL4 6QT (SU 92888 79519)
Section Length (one way): 2.1 km (1.3 miles)
Nearby pubs and Cafes: The Pineapple, Lake End Road, Dorney, SL4 6QS

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Section 3: Lake End Car Park to Manor Farm Weir

Entry and Exit Point: Lake End Car Park, Dorney, SL4 6QT (SU 92888 79519)
Section Length (one way): 1.5 km (0.9 miles)
Nearby pubs and Cafes: The Pineapple, Lake End Road, Dorney, SL4 6QS

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Section 4: Manor Farm Weir to Slough Weir

Entry and Exit Point: The Jubilee River Riverside Centre Car Park, Slough Road, Slough SL1 2BP (SU 97021 78863)
Section Length (one way): 2.7 km (1.6 miles)
Nearby pubs and Cafes: Several on Eton High Street

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Section 5: Slough Weir to Black Potts Weir

Entry and Exit Point: Near Thames Valley Athletics Centre, Pococks Lane Eton, Windsor, SL4 6HN (OS Grid Ref: SU 97700 78264)
or Jubilee River Riverside Centre Car Park, Slough Road, Slough SL1 2BP (SU 97021 78863)
Section Length (one way): 1.75 km (1.1 miles)
Nearby pubs and Cafes: Several on Eton High Street

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Richard gowerSUP, Windsor, Berkshire, England Comments