The UK's County Tops. Jonny Muir
born in Bournemouth. She claimed two other Grand Slam titles during her professional career: the US Open in 1968 and the Australian Open in 1972.
Interesting fact
With an area of 14km2, Poole Harbour lays claims to being the largest natural harbour in the world. Four rivers – the Corfe, the Frome, the Piddle and the Sherford – drain into it.
Route
Walk W along a single-track road towards Higher Brimley Coombe Farm. At the brow of the hill, go through a gate on the right to join a footpath leading onto Crabb’s Hill. Two paths breaking off to the left will soon be met. Follow the second route, which climbs through woodland, steeply at first, before the gradient eases and a National Trust signpost is reached. The way climbs steeply again, partly over a path of exposed tree routes, with a final sharp pull bringing the walker onto the summit plateau. The highest point of Lewesdon Hill, an unmarked grassy protrusion, is roughly half a dozen steps forward of the lip of the plateau.
Descent
Return by the same route.
Woodland on Lewesdon Hill
5 SUSSEX
Black Down 280m SU 9195 2963
| Location | North Downs, 4km SSE of Haslemere |
| Start | Black Down National Trust car park, near Aldworth, SU 9209 3058 |
| OS maps | Landrangers 186 (Aldershot & Guildford) and 197 (Chichester & the South Downs), Explorer 133 (Haslemere & Petersfield) |
| Difficulty | 2 |
| Enjoyment | *** |
| Distance | 3km (1.8 miles) |
| Ascent | 30m |
| Time | 30–45mins |
Perched on the west periphery of Sussex, Black Down is an area of heath and woodland, where tantalising views of the South Downs and Low Weald peep through trees. Black Down was the scene of a major air disaster in 1967 when all 37 people on board a flight bound for Gatwick died when the plane crashed on the hill’s southern slopes. There are numerous paths on Black Down, including one which follows the line of the Sussex border, making route-finding surprisingly tricky. The route described here, starting from close to Aldworth – the former home of the Victorian Poet Laureate Alfred Lord Tennyson – should make locating the summit simple.
National Trust sign on Black Down
Did you Know?
Famous native
Tony Hawks, the author of Round Ireland with a Fridge, was born in Brighton in 1960. The story of the 1997 journey, which was inspired by a drunken bet, was made into a film – with Hawks playing himself – in 2010.
Interesting fact
Rising 162m above the English Channel, Beachy Head, close to the seaside resort of Eastbourne, boasts the tallest chalk cliffs in Britain. The area is part of the eastern section of the South Downs National Park, which was established in 2009.
Route
Walk S along a track to meet a gate and a National Trust information board shortly after. Some 500m from the start, a fork in the track will be reached, where the lower route – signposted the Serpent Trail – should be followed. Continue along this path, ignoring various offshoots and the temptation to strike across rough ground in search of the summit. The land to the E drops away steeply, with glimpses of rolling Sussex countryside sporadically appearing through the trees. Immediately after passing a pond, follow an uphill path that breaks off to the right. At the brow of the hill, turn to the N and follow a narrow but well-walked path that meanders through woodland to the summit trig pillar of Black Down, which stands on a grassy knoll. A mound a short distance to the NNE appears slightly higher than the trig.
Trig pillar on Black Down summit
Descent
Return by the same route.
6 SURREY
Leith Hill 294m TQ 1394 4319
| Location | North Downs, 7km SSW of Dorking |
| Start | Windy Gap National Trust car park, Abinger Road, TQ 1382 4288 |
| OS map | Landranger 187 (Dorking & Reigate), Explorer 146 (Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate) |
| Difficulty | 2 |
| Enjoyment | **** |
| Distance | 800m (0.5 miles) |
| Ascent | 66m |
| Time | 20–30mins |
Crowned by an 18th-century Gothic tower, Leith Hill – the second highest point in southeast England – is justifiably one of the UK’s most iconic county tops. Even without the tower – a fortified folly – the grassy summit is a lovely place, with the English Channel, St Paul’s Cathedral on Ludgate Hill in the City of London, the Wembley arch and Gatwick Airport all visible on a clear day. The hill, a mix of farm, heath and woodland, is managed by the National Trust, and dark red Sussex cattle – thought to descend from stock living in the Wealden forests at the time of William the Conqueror – can be seen grazing on its slopes. Some hills display greatness and splendour when glimpsed from their summits, others when viewed from below. Leith Hill is certainly the former.
Route
Follow a footpath up dozens of steps to ascend Leith Hill’s steep and forested S slopes. Soon after passing a bench, the edge of the wooded area will be reached, with magnificent views to the S being revealed, while the top of Leith Hill Tower will also appear ahead. Once on the summit plateau, proceed along an obvious track to the tower. The highest point is marked by a bench and a square stone block a few metres to the NE of the tower in open ground; it is said that on a clear day 13 counties are visible.
Descent
Return by the same route.
Other routes
The route described here is one of the shortest and Leith Hill can be climbed from any of the plentiful parking areas surrounding the peak. A popular route for those arriving by train is to walk from Holmwood station, passing through the picturesque village of Coldharbour en route.
Looking towards Leith Hill Tower
Did you Know?
Famous native
Delia Smith, celebrity