Wheatham Hill

About Wheatham Hill

At 249m, Wheatham Hill is one of the highest hills in the county of Hampshire, England. It is part of the North Hampshire DownsMuch of the hill is covered in mixed forest and there is a trig point at 244 metres, which is also the site of Cobbett's View. According to a nearby information panel: "The excellent views from this hilltop were first noted in 1822 when William Cobbett rode through here, and subsequently published his "Rural Rides". ". . . out we came, all in a moment, at the very edge of the hanger! And never, in all my life, was I so surprised and so delighted! I pulled up my horse, and sat and looked; and it was like looking from the top of a castle down into the sea; except that the valley was land not water. "Until 2010 this viewpoint had been lost for many years under recent tree growth. Yet an old trig point (triangulation station) remained to indicate that the view had once been visible for OS maps to be surveyed. And so Countryside Rangers felled these trees to reveal the spectacular views that Cobbett so much admired. "There is a minor track over the summit. It is located in a Special Area of Conservation known as the East Hampshire Hangers. On the southeastern spur of the hill in the woods is a tumulus, evidence of prehistoric settlement in the area. Stoner Hill (233m) is a subsidiary summit of Wheatham Hill (249m).

Wheatham Hill Description

At 249m, Wheatham Hill is one of the highest hills in the county of Hampshire, England. It is part of the North Hampshire DownsMuch of the hill is covered in mixed forest and there is a trig point at 244 metres, which is also the site of Cobbett's View. According to a nearby information panel: "The excellent views from this hilltop were first noted in 1822 when William Cobbett rode through here, and subsequently published his "Rural Rides". ". . . out we came, all in a moment, at the very edge of the hanger! And never, in all my life, was I so surprised and so delighted! I pulled up my horse, and sat and looked; and it was like looking from the top of a castle down into the sea; except that the valley was land not water. "Until 2010 this viewpoint had been lost for many years under recent tree growth. Yet an old trig point (triangulation station) remained to indicate that the view had once been visible for OS maps to be surveyed. And so Countryside Rangers felled these trees to reveal the spectacular views that Cobbett so much admired. "There is a minor track over the summit. It is located in a Special Area of Conservation known as the East Hampshire Hangers. On the southeastern spur of the hill in the woods is a tumulus, evidence of prehistoric settlement in the area. Stoner Hill (233m) is a subsidiary summit of Wheatham Hill (249m).