Inkpen Hill Explained

Inkpen Hill
Elevation M:291
Elevation Ref:[1]
Location:Berkshire, England
Range:North Hampshire Downs
Map:United Kingdom Berkshire
Label Position:right
Coordinates:51.3555°N -1.4913°W
Grid Ref Uk:SU354620
Topo:OS Explorer 158

Inkpen Hill is a summit in Berkshire, England, with a maximum elevation of 291m (955feet). The hill is about southwest of Newbury on the Hampshire/Berkshire border and is part of the north-facing scarp of the North Hampshire Downs, a chalk ridge within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It lies between Walbury Hill, the county top of Berkshire, to the east and Ham Hill to the west. Parts of the hill lie within the Inkpen and Walbury Hills SSSI.[1] [2]

Inkpen Hill is accessible on foot from a car park on a minor road just to the west of Walbury Hill, by a byway that passes by Combe Gibbet before reaching the summit of Inkpen Hill. The Test Way long distance footpath passes along this byway, on its way from Walbury Hill to Eling in Hampshire. A triangulation pillar stands near to, although curiously not at, the summit of the hill, whilst a dew pond, known as Wigmoreash Pond, lies between the summit and Combe Gibbet.[1] [2]

The hill lies within the civil parishes of Inkpen (which includes the summit), Combe and Buttermere. Inkpen and Combe are both within the unitary authority area of West Berkshire and the ceremonial county of Berkshire, whilst Buttermere is in the unitary authority area and ceremonial county of Wiltshire.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Explorer 158: Newbury & Hungerford . . 9780319243510.
  2. Web site: North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - Integrated Landscape Character Assessment . PDF . 2017-02-05 . dead . 2017-02-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170206022212/http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/north-wessex-downs-aonb-lca-smaller.pdf.