Beacon Hill Newbury Circular Walk
This circular walk climbs to the Beacon Hill viewpoint in the grounds of Highclere Castle in Hampshire.
Start the walk from the car park at Old Burghclere, just to the south east of the castle. From here you can pick up a footpath heading west up to the hill top. This includes some steps to begin with before coming to a more open section leading to the 261 metre high summit. Here you will find the remains of an ancient Iron Age hut circle with splendid views over the Hampshire and Berkshire countryside.
You can follow a circular footpath around the ramparts before descending back to the car park.
The hill is not to be confused with the Beacon Hill Nature Reserve in Meonstoke which is also in Hampshire but some way to the south.
Postcode
RG20 9LP - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsPlease click here for more information
Beacon Hill Newbury Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Beacon Hill Newbury Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Beacon Hill Newbury OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Beacon Hill Newbury Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
The hill lies just south of the expansive Highclere Estate. The house here is famous as the location of period drama 'Downton Abbey'. The estate includes miles of footpaths taking you to woodland, parkland and gardens.
Head south from the hill and you could pick up the Wayfarer's Walk. If you follow the waymarked trail east it will take you to one of the highlights of the area at Watership Down. The hill was made famous by Richard Adams' 1972 novel and the subsequent animated film.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Northern edge of Beacon Hill hillfort. In the foreground and on the left is the inner rampart on the northern edge of the Iron Age hillfort, and below it the ditch and counterscarp bank. The chalk scarp on the north side of the hill is naturally steep and would have made a good natural defence. On the right in the distance, lit up by the sun, is Highclere Castle.
View north from Beacon Hill. The farm in the middleground is Ivory Farm. The dual carriageway in the distance is the A34 leading towards Newbury.
Footpath heading up Beacon Hill
Summit of Beacon Hill. The trig pillar on the summit of Beacon Hill is 261 metres above sea level. It is not the highest summit in the county of Hampshire, but it may be the tallest hill that is wholly within the county (Pilot Hill at 286m is the highest summit, but its northern side is in the county of Berkshire). In the foreground are the earthwork remains of an Iron Age hut circle.
Descending from Beacon Hill on a clear summer day
The modern ascent to Beacon Hill iron-age hillfort, Burghclere. This view shows the incredible steepness of the modern approach from the car park and picnic area, signposted off the A34 (also visible in the picture). The original entrance through the defences was at the southern tip of the fort, approached along the ridge to the south which is much less steep.
Lord Carnarvon's grave. The hill is also the location of the grave of Lord Carnarvon. Nearby Highclere has been the family's home since 1679
Southern defences of Beacon Hill