Two Tops

This figure of 8 circuit loops around the highest points in both Hampshire and Berkshire. It starts at the pub in the village of Faccombe and circles Pilot Hill, returns to the pub and continues around Walbury Hill before returning the the pub.

Leaving the pub carpark, we turned right then left to go north on Faccombe Lane. This runs fast and straight until a fork right at the brow of the hill where we could see far across Berkshire. Then the road dropped down in sweeping curves before climbing again through woods. The roads back to Faccombe were mostly single track and empty of cars but we did stop frequently for pheasants.

Back at Faccombe we drove past the pub along Netherton Hill and turned right at the junction. The road is quick and easy to drive, but there was a surprisingly sharp hairpin at St Swithun's church that would, I think, be possible to slide around.

At the end of Church Lane there's a carpark for walking to the top of Walbury Hill, or do as we did and walk to Gallows Down where, in 1676, a gibbet was put up to display the bodies of two lovers hanged for murder. It never had any other purpose but each time it has fallen down over the last 350 years it has been replaced. Memories are long around here.

We left the carpark on a green lane that took us over Walbury Hill, and as Walbury is the highest point in southern England, that byway must be the highest road. It was offroad-lite, but there's an obvious tarmac alternative. At the end of the byway we headed south on Faccombe Road, which we had driven north on the first loop, until we got back to the pub. And repeat.

The film is here.

Two Tops route for GPS