Trip summary
Finding my Marilyn total on 289 decided to fit in a short duration "local" trip to reach the 300 mark for the year end.
15 summits available including 3 remaining Area 42: South-East England & the Isle of Wight mainland summits to the west and all 12 of what is the blank canvas of Area 41: South Central England.
Don't expect to visit them all but will be more than happy with the 11 required.
After two days - lots of driving but very little walking managed 6 so far so am thinking might manage the 13 bringing year end Marilyn total to 302 and half way to the Marilyn Hall of Fame (MarHoF). Not that it will make much difference other than one less bite of the elephant. We will see.
Finishing on 299 at end of final full day expected to manage 3 more on way home. As it turned out only did the one and if that had not been the 300th would not have bothered with that.
Anyway no room for beating myself up - I did what I set out to do i.e. reach 300 Marilyns.
That's it for this year, but already thinking to myself about objectives for 2017. The obvious one is matching the 300 and MarHof, but happy to see where the journey leads.
Day 01 Sunday 18 December 2016
15 summits available including 3 remaining Area 42: South-East England & the Isle of Wight mainland summits to the west and all 12 of what is the blank canvas of Area 41: South Central England.
Don't expect to visit them all but will be more than happy with the 11 required.
After two days - lots of driving but very little walking managed 6 so far so am thinking might manage the 13 bringing year end Marilyn total to 302 and half way to the Marilyn Hall of Fame (MarHoF). Not that it will make much difference other than one less bite of the elephant. We will see.
Finishing on 299 at end of final full day expected to manage 3 more on way home. As it turned out only did the one and if that had not been the 300th would not have bothered with that.
Anyway no room for beating myself up - I did what I set out to do i.e. reach 300 Marilyns.
That's it for this year, but already thinking to myself about objectives for 2017. The obvious one is matching the 300 and MarHof, but happy to see where the journey leads.
Walk Statistics
Walk Date - 18 December 2016
Walkers - Steve Smith
Accommodation - Littlehampton Caravan Club Site, Littlehampton, West Sussex
Start Point - Various (see maps below)
Finish Point - Various (see maps below)
Total Duration - 1hrs 16mins
Overall Average pace - 1.90mph
Total Distance Walked - 2.41 miles
Total Height Ascended - 198.10metres
Peaks visited
Marilyns (175E - 1556E,W&S)
Crowborough (109E - 290E,W&S)
Chanctonbury Ring [Chanctonbury Hill] (110E - 291E,W&S)
Deweys (180E - 421E&W)
NONE
HuMPs (445E - 2975EW&S)
E,W&S:England,Wales & Scotland
Walkers - Steve Smith
Accommodation - Littlehampton Caravan Club Site, Littlehampton, West Sussex
Start Point - Various (see maps below)
Finish Point - Various (see maps below)
Total Duration - 1hrs 16mins
Overall Average pace - 1.90mph
Total Distance Walked - 2.41 miles
Total Height Ascended - 198.10metres
Peaks visited
Marilyns (175E - 1556E,W&S)
Crowborough (109E - 290E,W&S)
Chanctonbury Ring [Chanctonbury Hill] (110E - 291E,W&S)
Deweys (180E - 421E&W)
NONE
HuMPs (445E - 2975EW&S)
Crowborough (143W - 378E,W&S)
Chanctonbury Ring [Chanctonbury Hill] (144W - 379E,W&S)
TuMPs 200-299 (948E)
NONE
Chanctonbury Ring [Chanctonbury Hill] (144W - 379E,W&S)
TuMPs 200-299 (948E)
Crowborough (36E)
Chanctonbury Ring [Chanctonbury Hill] (37E)
Historic County Tops (49E - 95E,W&S)Chanctonbury Ring [Chanctonbury Hill] (37E)
NONE
W: Wales.
E,W: England & Wales. E,W&S:England,Wales & Scotland
Crowborough
0.33 miles, 7.13m ascent, Start Time 13:25pm, Finish Time 13:38pm, 0 hours 13 minutes, 1.52 mph
Parked on summit (almost) on roadside outside Warren Oak. Looked higher on opposite side of road next to gas utility street furniture, but from there high point looked to be in front garden of Warren Oak. Managed to make a walk of it by turning left on A26 and visiting bonus bag of Crowborough (Old GR) and bigger bonus trig pillar.
Chanctonbury Ring [Chanctonbury Hill]
2.08 miles, 190.97m ascent, Start Time 14:52pm, Finish Time 15:55pm, 1 hours 03 minutes, 1.98 mph
Started from Chanctonbury car park & picnic site (TQ 14589 12479)as summit nearby kept trainers on which I subsequently regretted on very steep chalky stone, muddy ascent covered in wet Autumn leaves. Visited summit on SW corner of iron age fort rampart then on to trig point 500m west. Returned to summit and decided to walk round northern rampart in case higher point found. Soon became obvious was lower and in fact ground to right within fort was higher, possibly higher than obviously man made (but ancient rampart)so headed in to fog for that and found high ground in middle of large clump of brambles (TQ 13941 12073) apparently it is the same height. Spookily heard sound of metal clanging which I jokingly passed off to myself as an echo from the past but subsequently heard mention of other strange goings on.
Day 02 Monday 19 December 2016
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| Parked on roadside of Warren Road outside Warren Oak. Crowbororough summit looks like is in front garden of Warren Oak
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GPX can be downloaded from www.shareyouradventure.com |
Parked on summit (almost) on roadside outside Warren Oak. Looked higher on opposite side of road next to gas utility street furniture, but from there high point looked to be in front garden of Warren Oak. Managed to make a walk of it by turning left on A26 and visiting bonus bag of Crowborough (Old GR) and bigger bonus trig pillar.
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| Chanctonbury Ring [Chanctonbury Hill] summit by tree on SW corner of hill fort ramparts
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GPX can be downloaded from www.shareyouradventure.com |
Started from Chanctonbury car park & picnic site (TQ 14589 12479)as summit nearby kept trainers on which I subsequently regretted on very steep chalky stone, muddy ascent covered in wet Autumn leaves. Visited summit on SW corner of iron age fort rampart then on to trig point 500m west. Returned to summit and decided to walk round northern rampart in case higher point found. Soon became obvious was lower and in fact ground to right within fort was higher, possibly higher than obviously man made (but ancient rampart)so headed in to fog for that and found high ground in middle of large clump of brambles (TQ 13941 12073) apparently it is the same height. Spookily heard sound of metal clanging which I jokingly passed off to myself as an echo from the past but subsequently heard mention of other strange goings on.
Walk Statistics
0.84 miles, 30.61m ascent, Start Time 10:52am, Finish Time 11:15am, 0 hours 23 minutes, 2.19 mph
Parked in Butser Hill car park. Did not have any change to pay parking charge but as it was December and thick fog parked on northern edge and followed one of many paths west to radio tower access road continuing NW along path until the trig appeared out of the gloom. Returned same way. Quick visit and saved £1.80
Nine Barrow Down
1.65 miles, 105.98m ascent, Start Time 13:04pm, Finish Time 14:01pm, 0 hours 57 minutes, 1.74 mph
Plenty of parking at viewing point on B3351 north of summit. Short walk back along road to Swanage to pick up bridleway to summit. Summit on fence line west of radio masts 30m NE of water tank in middle of fied which looks higher. apparently there is a demolished trig point despite wandering all around field and towards radio mast saw no sign of it even though the fog had made an attempt to clear.
Hardown Hill
0.79 miles, 52.58m ascent, Start Time 15.27pm, Finish Time 15.48pm, 0 hours 21 minutes, 2.26 mph
Nice easy short walk from road and layby to south of Ryall. Turning left off road path signposted to right contouring round the summits NE flank. At boundary to Open Access I turned left at path junction then headed straight over heather to summit, though if stay on path for a little longer will pick up vehicle track which heads south taking you more or less to summit on your left. Highest point is on fence line to west of coppice. Wandered around coppice looking for higher natural high point which I reckon is adjacent to highest point on fence line mentioned above.
Lewesdon Hill
1.29 miles, 138.46m ascent, Start Time 16:13pm, Finish Time 16:49pm, 0 hours 36 minutes, 2.15 mph
Very little walking and lots of driving today starting in Littlehampton. Final Marilyn of 4 on close to shortest day of year so ended up on summit in the dark. Only one of modern technology bagging criteria satisfied plus the good old fashioned physical presence verified by myself. Phone battery flat so could not log summit on www.peakhunter.com, nearly dark so could not take decent photos but did manage to create a track log on spare tablet. May return at a later date but for now this visit will have to do.
Day 03 Tuesday 20 December 2016
Walk Statistics
1.50 miles, 43.8m ascent, Start Time 10:08am, Finish Time 10:43am, 1 hours 35 minutes, 2.57 mph
Parked at very end of Hill Road (SS 91032 47673) walked back along road to footpath opposite memorial hut heading NW to Selworthy Beacon and trig point visible from road. Rather than return via same route made a short circular walk by following South West Coast Path for a few 100m before turning left and south to car park and van.
Periton Hill
2.20 miles, 204.03m ascent, Start Time 11:46am, Finish Time 12:50pm, 1 hours 04 minutes, 2.06 mph
Parked just west of post office in lovely village of Wooton Courtenay and bought a Euro lottery ticket and won £3.70. heading east out of village took MacMillan Way West Path across field following it all the way to summit in forest. Well signposted and easy to navigate highest point is just off road in middle of pine forest apparently though difficult to tell so stood on highest point on side of road before visiting trig point slghtly further NNE. Could have returned down Roadway Lane but decided to pick up ascent route to return to village.
Dunkery Beacon
1.39 miles, 125.91m ascent, Start Time 13:30pm, Finish Time 14:08pm, 0 hours 38 minutes, 2.19 mph
Highest point of Somerset and Exmoor, also the only Dewey of this trip. parking in Dunkery Gate car park (SS 89565 40618) from where summit is visible, easy walk to summit up very well trodden path. No sign of trig point probably on site of toposcope. Obvious summit solidly built cairn on tumulus NNW of toposcope. Returned by same route.
Could/should have made it a circular route and bagged sub-Dewey Great Rowbarrow approx 1.6km along ridge to the west.
Wills Neck
1.51 miles, 172.2m ascent, Start Time 15:06pm, Finish Time 15:57pm, 0 hours 51 minutes, 1.78 mph
Planned to start from car park to the north but having put Tricombe in to Sat Nav found I was wrong side of the hill. No suitable parking in Trinscombe other than Blue Bell pub car park for customers only so headed south past quarry and parked on off road parking opposite PROW. No obvious path off PROW up derelict fence through Bagborough Plantation before picking up decent path heading east along tree line. Would have been better to have gone higher to PROW and picking up Macmillan Way West to summit. After visiting trig point and highest point looked for tumulus to the WNW. Could not find in heather looks lower than trig anyway.
Day 04 Wednesday 21 December 2016
Staple Hill
1.42 miles, 27.45m ascent, Start Time 13:25pm, Finish Time 14:10pm, 0 hours 45 minutes, 1.89 mph
GB Marilyn 300. Was advised not to wear trainers for this one. Parking at south entrance to North Down Plantation (ST 23238 16289) following forest track almost to summit wondered if I had been advised correctly. Soon found out I had. Following marked track heading SE to the west of summit. Nothing more than a boggy firebreak. Trig and summit difficult to see from track until nearly on top of it. Returned to track (firebreak) and checked if better route along south boundary of wood. It is not.
Walk Date - 19 December 2016
Walkers - Steve Smith
Accommodation - Minehead Caravan Club Site, Minehead, Somerset
Start Point - Various (see maps below)
Finish Point - Various (see maps below)
Total Duration - 2hrs 17mins
Overall Average pace - 2.00mph
Total Distance Walked - 4.57 miles
Total Height Ascended - 327.63metres
Peaks visited
Marilyns (175E - 1556E,W&S)
Butser Hill (111E - 292E,W&S)
Nine Barrow Down (112E - 293E,W&S)
Hardown Hill (113E - 294E,W&S)
Lewesdon Hill (114W - 295E,W&S)
Deweys (180E - 421E&W)
NONE
HuMPs (445E - 2975EW&S)
E,W&S:England,Wales & Scotland
Butser HillWalkers - Steve Smith
Accommodation - Minehead Caravan Club Site, Minehead, Somerset
Start Point - Various (see maps below)
Finish Point - Various (see maps below)
Total Duration - 2hrs 17mins
Overall Average pace - 2.00mph
Total Distance Walked - 4.57 miles
Total Height Ascended - 327.63metres
Peaks visited
Marilyns (175E - 1556E,W&S)
Butser Hill (111E - 292E,W&S)
Nine Barrow Down (112E - 293E,W&S)
Hardown Hill (113E - 294E,W&S)
Lewesdon Hill (114W - 295E,W&S)
Deweys (180E - 421E&W)
NONE
HuMPs (445E - 2975EW&S)
Butser Hill (145E - 380E,W&S)
Nine Barrow Down (146E - 381E,W&S)
Hardown Hill (147E - 382E,W&S)
Lewesdon Hill (148E - 383E,W&S)
TuMPs 200-299 (948E)
Lewesdon Hill (41E)
Historic County Tops (49E - 95E,W&S)
Lewesdon Hill (39E - 55E,W&S)
Nine Barrow Down (146E - 381E,W&S)
Hardown Hill (147E - 382E,W&S)
Lewesdon Hill (148E - 383E,W&S)
TuMPs 200-299 (948E)
Butser Hill(38E)
Nine Barrow Down (39E)
Hardown Hill (40E)Nine Barrow Down (39E)
Lewesdon Hill (41E)
Historic County Tops (49E - 95E,W&S)
Lewesdon Hill (39E - 55E,W&S)
W: Wales.
E,W: England & Wales. E,W&S:England,Wales & Scotland
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Butser Hill summit. At or near trig pillar ENE of radio station
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GPX can be downloaded from www.shareyouradventure.com |
Parked in Butser Hill car park. Did not have any change to pay parking charge but as it was December and thick fog parked on northern edge and followed one of many paths west to radio tower access road continuing NW along path until the trig appeared out of the gloom. Returned same way. Quick visit and saved £1.80
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| Nine Barrow Down. High point looks to be near water tank actually on fence boundary bottom rt. No sign of trig shown on OS 1:50000
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GPX can be downloaded from www.shareyouradventure.com |
Plenty of parking at viewing point on B3351 north of summit. Short walk back along road to Swanage to pick up bridleway to summit. Summit on fence line west of radio masts 30m NE of water tank in middle of fied which looks higher. apparently there is a demolished trig point despite wandering all around field and towards radio mast saw no sign of it even though the fog had made an attempt to clear.
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| Hardown Hill summit Near elevated fence boundary west of copice Click on photograph to view slide-show |
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GPX can be downloaded from www.shareyouradventure.com |
Nice easy short walk from road and layby to south of Ryall. Turning left off road path signposted to right contouring round the summits NE flank. At boundary to Open Access I turned left at path junction then headed straight over heather to summit, though if stay on path for a little longer will pick up vehicle track which heads south taking you more or less to summit on your left. Highest point is on fence line to west of coppice. Wandered around coppice looking for higher natural high point which I reckon is adjacent to highest point on fence line mentioned above.
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Lewesdon Hill at dusk from the north
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GPX can be downloaded from www.shareyouradventure.com |
Very little walking and lots of driving today starting in Littlehampton. Final Marilyn of 4 on close to shortest day of year so ended up on summit in the dark. Only one of modern technology bagging criteria satisfied plus the good old fashioned physical presence verified by myself. Phone battery flat so could not log summit on www.peakhunter.com, nearly dark so could not take decent photos but did manage to create a track log on spare tablet. May return at a later date but for now this visit will have to do.
Walk Statistics
Walk Date - 20 December 2016
Walkers - Steve Smith
Accommodation - Minehead Caravan Club Site, Minehead, Somerset
Start Point - Various (see maps below)
Finish Point - Various (see maps below)
Total Duration - 3hrs 08mins
Overall Average pace - 2.11mph
Total Distance Walked - 6.60 miles
Total Height Ascended - 545.94metres
Peaks visited
Marilyns (175E - 1556E,W&S)
Selworthy Beacon (115E - 296E,W&S)
Periton Hill (116E - 297E,W&S)
Dunkery Beacon (117E - 298E,W&S)
Wills Neck (118E - 299E,W&S)
Deweys (180E - 421E&W)
Dunkery Beacon (57E - 123E&W)
HuMPs (445E - 2975EW&S)
E,W&S:England,Wales & Scotland
Selworthy BeaconWalkers - Steve Smith
Accommodation - Minehead Caravan Club Site, Minehead, Somerset
Start Point - Various (see maps below)
Finish Point - Various (see maps below)
Total Duration - 3hrs 08mins
Overall Average pace - 2.11mph
Total Distance Walked - 6.60 miles
Total Height Ascended - 545.94metres
Peaks visited
Marilyns (175E - 1556E,W&S)
Selworthy Beacon (115E - 296E,W&S)
Periton Hill (116E - 297E,W&S)
Dunkery Beacon (117E - 298E,W&S)
Wills Neck (118E - 299E,W&S)
Deweys (180E - 421E&W)
Dunkery Beacon (57E - 123E&W)
HuMPs (445E - 2975EW&S)
Selworthy Beacon (149E - 384E,W&S)
Periton Hill (150W - 385E,W&S)
Dunkery Beacon (151E - 386E,W&S)
Wills Neck (152E - 387E,W&S)
TuMPs 300-399 (473E)
Dunkery Beacon (39E - 56E,W&S)
Periton Hill (150W - 385E,W&S)
Dunkery Beacon (151E - 386E,W&S)
Wills Neck (152E - 387E,W&S)
TuMPs 300-399 (473E)
Wills Neck (22E)
TuMPs 200-299 (948E)
Butser Hill(42E)
Nine Barrow Down (43E)
Historic County Tops (49E - 95E,W&S)Nine Barrow Down (43E)
Dunkery Beacon (39E - 56E,W&S)
W: Wales.
E,W: England & Wales. E,W&S:England,Wales & Scotland
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Selworthy Beacon and cairn
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GPX can be downloaded from www.shareyouradventure.com |
Parked at very end of Hill Road (SS 91032 47673) walked back along road to footpath opposite memorial hut heading NW to Selworthy Beacon and trig point visible from road. Rather than return via same route made a short circular walk by following South West Coast Path for a few 100m before turning left and south to car park and van.
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| Periton Hill high point in forest. Just off track on the right which may be as high
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GPX can be downloaded from www.shareyouradventure.com |
Parked just west of post office in lovely village of Wooton Courtenay and bought a Euro lottery ticket and won £3.70. heading east out of village took MacMillan Way West Path across field following it all the way to summit in forest. Well signposted and easy to navigate highest point is just off road in middle of pine forest apparently though difficult to tell so stood on highest point on side of road before visiting trig point slghtly further NNE. Could have returned down Roadway Lane but decided to pick up ascent route to return to village.
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| Dunkery Beacon summit. No sign of trig point may have been replaced by toposcope
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GPX can be downloaded from www.shareyouradventure.com |
Highest point of Somerset and Exmoor, also the only Dewey of this trip. parking in Dunkery Gate car park (SS 89565 40618) from where summit is visible, easy walk to summit up very well trodden path. No sign of trig point probably on site of toposcope. Obvious summit solidly built cairn on tumulus NNW of toposcope. Returned by same route.
Could/should have made it a circular route and bagged sub-Dewey Great Rowbarrow approx 1.6km along ridge to the west.
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Wills Neck summit and trig pillar
Click on photograph to view slide-show
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GPX can be downloaded from www.shareyouradventure.com |
Planned to start from car park to the north but having put Tricombe in to Sat Nav found I was wrong side of the hill. No suitable parking in Trinscombe other than Blue Bell pub car park for customers only so headed south past quarry and parked on off road parking opposite PROW. No obvious path off PROW up derelict fence through Bagborough Plantation before picking up decent path heading east along tree line. Would have been better to have gone higher to PROW and picking up Macmillan Way West to summit. After visiting trig point and highest point looked for tumulus to the WNW. Could not find in heather looks lower than trig anyway.
Walk Statistics
Walk Date - 21 December 2016
Walkers - Steve Smith
Accommodation - Home, Martlesham Heath
Start Point - Various (see maps below)
Finish Point - Various (see maps below)
Total Duration - 0hrs 45mins
Overall Average pace - 1.89mph
Total Distance Walked - 1.42 miles
Total Height Ascended - 27.45metres
Peaks visited
Marilyns (175W - 1556E,W&S)
Staple Hill (119E - 300E,W&S)
Deweys (180E - 421E&W)
NONE
HuMPs (445E - 2975EW&S)
E,W&S:England,Wales & Scotland
Walkers - Steve Smith
Accommodation - Home, Martlesham Heath
Start Point - Various (see maps below)
Finish Point - Various (see maps below)
Total Duration - 0hrs 45mins
Overall Average pace - 1.89mph
Total Distance Walked - 1.42 miles
Total Height Ascended - 27.45metres
Peaks visited
Marilyns (175W - 1556E,W&S)
Staple Hill (119E - 300E,W&S)
Deweys (180E - 421E&W)
NONE
HuMPs (445E - 2975EW&S)
Staple Hill (153E - 388E,W&S)
TuMPs 300-399 (473E)
NONE
TuMPs 300-399 (473E)
Staple Hill (23E)
Historic County Tops (413E - 93E,W&S)NONE
W: Wales.
E,W: England & Wales. E,W&S:England,Wales & Scotland
Staple Hill
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| Staple Hill summit and trig. Difficult to see from firebreak and quite hard to see even when close by
Click on photograph to view slide-show
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GPX can be downloaded from www.shareyouradventure.com |
GB Marilyn 300. Was advised not to wear trainers for this one. Parking at south entrance to North Down Plantation (ST 23238 16289) following forest track almost to summit wondered if I had been advised correctly. Soon found out I had. Following marked track heading SE to the west of summit. Nothing more than a boggy firebreak. Trig and summit difficult to see from track until nearly on top of it. Returned to track (firebreak) and checked if better route along south boundary of wood. It is not.
