Folly of the Week

This morning the sun was shining so on impulse we decided to conquer two more County Tops - Surrey (Leith Hill) & West Sussex (Black Down). We headed to Leith Hill (not far from Dorking) first as it has the most stunning folly built on the top. Leith Hill is the highest point in South East England and on a good day you can see St. Paul's Cathedral in London and The English Channel through the Shoreham Gap.

Our first glimpse of the Tower after a steep climb up the hillside from Windy Gap.

Leith Hill Tower in all it's glory. The gothic tower was built by Richard Hull in 1765 because he wanted to make Leith Hill over 1000ft tall. The hill is 965ft and the tower is 64ft high. On his death in 1772 he was interred under the tower, it is rumoured he was buried vertically, head down. The tower fell into disuse and was filled with concrete and rubble.

In 1864 a Mr Evelyn sought to reopen the tower but the concrete made it difficult, so the turreted side tower was added to give access to the top.

The Tower was fully restored by the National Trust in 1984.


As dogs aren't allowed in the Tower we took turns to keep Charlie company. Alan went first and took this picture of me from the top.


Two panoramas from the rooftop.




Looking North towards Box Hill (the hill with three stripes of chalk just left of centre) where the Bennet's had a picnic in Pride & Prejudice. Behind Box Hill and further in the distance the ghostly outline of Canary Wharf in London can be seen.


My turn! And a picture of Alan relaxing with Charlie.


About two-thirds of the way across (left to right) on the horizon is Black Down, where we were heading next.


Walking down the perilously steep spiral staircase. It's only lit by the camera flash in this picture and a couple of small and ineffective windows.


The gothic style window in one of the two rooms at the top of the tower used as exhibit rooms


The steep steps back to the car and on to our next destination


View from the top of Black Down


Some boys never grow up and will always climb trees!


Charlie took a dip and a drink in the only water he could find on the top of Black Down, I wonder if that's how it got it's name??? We were on our way back to the car and had water for him there but he saw the mud and slipped in.


Walking back down the hill, we found a less steep route back than the one we'd taken to the top


As we walked on, through a gap in the trees we caught a glimpse of the car. Serendipity, we managed to end up coming out of the hill at almost the same spot we had set off! It seems sometimes we do much better without a map!


On the road to Haslemere we found grass growing in the middle of the road.