Beacon Hill National Nature Reserve, Hampshire

679 foot Beacon Hill is part of the high ground of the South Downs, towards the west edge of South Downs National Park - an eastwards projection off a broad ridge, lined by steep slopes to the north, east and south. The 100-acre national nature reserve containing the hill comprises a strip of beech/ash woodland (Beacon Hill Beeches) on top, and grassland across the sides; the hill itself plus an adjacent slope to the north. Part is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Within the site are two tumuli and some ancient earthworks, but its main point of interest is the varied plant life, with such rare species as field fleawort, man orchid and round-headed rampion. The plants, combined with the varied aspects and the high elevation also make the place good for birds, and butterflies including brown argus, chalkhill blue, green hairstreak, grizzled skipper and silver-spotted skipper.

The Reserve

The reserve is reached by Beacon Hill Lane, near the villages of Warnford and Corhampton, parking at the entrance, in a grove below tall beech trees. A track, part of the long distance South Downs Way, heads southeast along the southern edge of the woodland for a third of a mile to a viewpoint on the highest point of the hill, where the main route continues south, out of the reserve. A narrower path goes further east along the top of the largest area of grassland, south-facing, where the majority of the interesting wildflowers are found. The path also exits the reserve, to the east; there are no trails in the area further north, which has generally taller grass and more undergrowth, but can still be explored easily enough.