Fifty-Seven - Conway - Carnedd Llywelyn (1064m)

Another two year hiatus, but we've finally got round to climbing the last, and toughest, County Top in Wales. This involves climbing two other peaks and a bit of scrambling - quite a test for W's brand new boots which were a distress purchase the day before.

Looking down on Tryfan and the Ogwen valley

From the park up next to Lyn Ogwen we walked to Tal y Lyn Ogwen farm at the east end of the lake. The climb up the Snowdonia Slate Trail here is next to Afon Lloer which hurtles down the hillside in a series of little waterfalls. Then it was a turn to the west and a short scramble up through a gully to reach the scree paths leading to the top of Pen Yr Ole Wen (978m). The views of Tryfan and the Glyderau as we climbed up were superb, and eventually Eryri comes into view as well. Once at the summit, we were also rewarded by sunshine and the sight of the Menai Strait below to the North West.

View from Pen-Yr-Ole-Wen, with Llywelyn
peeking out over the right shoulder of Dafydd

Then it was off to the next peak along the ridge, Carnedd Dafydd (1044m), along some rather rubbly scree paths to the stone shelter at the top. The mountain is named after Prince Dafydd ap Gruffud who was captured in 1283 during the conquest of Wales by Edward I and executed at Shrewsbury. This put an end to the independent nation of Wales after 700 years of rule by the House of Gwynedd.

Our final peak was Carnedd Llywelyn (1064m), variously cited as being named after Dafydd's elder brother, father or grandfather. Although only 20m higher than its younger brother, there's a descent and another slog of a climb to reach the summit. On the way we passed the first small patches of snow we'd seen on our walk, and although we did have a stop for a sandwich and a chat with some fellow walkers it was brief due to the cold.

Last remnants of the winter snow

Stone cairn at the County Top

Obligatory selfie at the summit!

From here we made our way back down Penywaun- wen (another bit of a scrambly descent) and across Bwylch Eryl Farchog ridge where a steep path to the right took us down to the reservoir below and back along the waterboard path to the main road.

Fifty-Six - Dorset - Lewdson Hill (279m)

The climb to the top is via Lewsdon Hill Lane through ancient beech and oak woods, and walking up the beautiful, deep set footpath feels like entering Middle Earth.

Dark, ancient woodland

The summit is a grassy mound in a clearing at the top of the hill which is the site of an Iron Age hillfort.

View from the top. The sea just
visible between the trees on the horizon

In 1942. Belgian pilot Jean de Clodet tragically crashed his Spitfire on the hill in thick fog. The gap in the trees where he came gown is still here.

Memorial to Jean de Clodet

Fifty-Five - West Sussex - Blackdown Hill (279m)

Having learnt our lesson yesterday trying to park close to Ditchling Beacon, today we headed into the town of Haslemere to park, and from there had a great, circular walk up to the Sussex Border Trail and the Serpent Trail. 

Once out of the town and up on the National Trust land at Blackdown it's clear the area is very popular with Sunday walkers and their dogs, though no one follows us as we head off-piste for 5 minutes to locate the trig point on a quieter overgrown path through the trees. There are lovely views across to the West, and later southwards from the Temple of the Four Winds and its semi circular stone seat, although in the pub the night before the locals were telling us about the tragedy of the Blackdown air crash in 1967 when all on board an Iberian Airlines flight were killed after their plane flew into the hill just below. We walked back through the woods and along tree-lined Tennyson's Lane which is named after the poet who built a home here.

Triangulation Point at Blackdown Hill
 now surrounded by tall trees

View to the west with
unusual cloud formations

Fifty-Four - East Sussex - Ditchling Beacon (248m)

The National Trust carpark at Ditchling Beacon is compact to say the least, and on a Saturday afternoon, not far from Brighton, it was rammed with cars. Definitely no room for us in our campervan and so we spent a good 45 minutes driving round trying to find somewhere to park, as the lanes were so narrow and busy, eventually finding a layby on the B road towards Plumpton. This did actually work out really well, and although it was another there-and-back route we found a steep tarmacked path which took us up to Streathill Farm and a good walk across the South Downs Way. In the distance to the south we could see the curvy roof of Brighton velodrome and the levitating 360 viewing platform on the seafront. The weather was blustery and showery, but when the low, late-afternoon winter sun briefly emerged the views were lovely.

 

Lovely late afternoon sun

Trig point at Ditchling Beacon summit

Fifty-Two & Fifty-Three - Greater London - Westerham Heights (245m) & Kent - Betsom’s Hill (251m)

From looking at the map we knew these two County Tops were only of interest to “completists” such as the “PeakyFinders” and not for the quality of the walk or the views afforded. There's only 5 minutes walk between the two of them but it involves a walk along the dirty, busy A233 which has no parking and no footpath. Luckily for us, Westerham Heights Nurseries were kind enough to let us park in their carpark for half an hour (we did ask permission).

Highest point in Greater London next to 
Westerham Heights Farm on the A233

Highest point in Kent - very
unassuming, on a little lane off the A233

So after dodging cars, lorries and buses, we unsurprisingly agreed that these were the worst two peaks we've done, but at least they are both crossed of the list - so “mission accomplished”. Definitely better places for a stroll in Kent and Greater London!

Fifty-One - Surrey - Leith Hill (294m)

Pleasant walk from the National Trust carpark up through the woods to Leith Tower and then back through the fields past Leith Place, home to the Wedgewood family, although both buildings are closed at this time of year. 

Leith Hill Tower, with trig point to the right

Leith Tower was built with the express intention of increasing the height of Leith Hill to become the highest point in South East England and to allow the public a grand view of the surrounding counties. Apparently on a clear day you can see both the London Eye to the north-east and the sea near Shoreham to the south. Needless to say, it wasn't a clear day!

Tree sculpture

Wood carving on the path back down

Forty-Nine & Fifty - Berkshire - Walbury Hill (297m) & Hampshire - Pilot Hill (286m)

Two county tops for the price of one today, both located a few miles apart on the same ridge, together with an excursion to see some gruesome history.

Coombe Gibbet where in the 17th Century
the bodies of executed miscreants were hung
 as an example to others. 

Walbury Hill is the summit of the North Wessex Downs as well as the highest point in Berkshire, and the highest point in South East England.  At the summit is an iron age hill fort, Walbury camp, but the true summit is marked by a triangulation pillar which isn't actually on the main path, the Wayfarers Walk, and therefore involved a cheeky sprint south in order to bag it.

Summit of Walbury Hill (Berkshire)

It was a glorious sunny day, but bitterly cold, and carrying on eastwards along the ridge brought us just into Hampshire, and to  Pilot Hill, it's highest point. The spot marked by another trig point in the middle of a bolted cabbage field. 

Trig point at Pilot Hill (Hampshire) .......

...... surrounded by hundreds of bolted brassicas

From up here you can see Stargroves, which was the country house and recording studio of Mick Jagger back in the 70s. Looking further north, Newbury could just be seen in the distance. The various byeways, bridleways and footpaths were all really muddy and the best way back today seemed to be to simply retrace our steps back to where we had parked, though we did also walk up to Combe Gibbet to see the notorious double gibbet. This gave probably the best view of the whole seven mile walk!

View to the north from Pilot Hill