Lewesdon Hill is a hill in west Dorset, England. With a maximum elevation of 279 m (915 ft), it is the highest point in Dorset.[1][2]

Lewesdon Hill
Lewesdon Hill from the west
Highest point
Elevation	279 m (915 ft)[1]
Prominence	185 m (607 ft)
Parent peak	Staple Hill
Listing	Marilyn, Hardy, County Top
Coordinates	50°48′28″N 2°47′59″W
Geography
Lewesdon Hill Lewesdon Hill in Dorset
Location	Dorset, England
OS grid	ST437011
Topo map	OS Landranger 193 Explorer 116
Climbing
Easiest route	From Beaminster on the Wessex Ridgeway

Geography

Location

Lewesdon Hill stands about 4 km west of Beaminster, 1½ km south of Broadwindsor, 2 miles south of Mosterton, 1½ km west-northwest of Stoke Abbott and 3 km east of another hillfort-topped eminence, Pilsdon Pen. To the south of the hill is the Marshwood Vale and to the north is the valley of the River Axe.

Summit

Lewesdon is the county top of Dorset.[1] Its summit is an elongated ridge surrounded by beech woods. The actual summit is a low grassy mound at the east end of the ridge.[3] For many years, nearby Pilsdon Pen (277 m) was thought to be Dorset's highest hill, until modern survey revealed that Lewesdon Hill was 2 metres higher.[2] Dorset's third highest point is Bulbarrow Hill (274 m). Lewesdon's topographic prominence of 185 metres qualifies it as a Marilyn.[3]

Geology

The hill is formed from upper greensand which is more resistant to erosion than the surrounding clay.

History

Like many of the high hills in Dorset, including its neighbour Pilsdon Pen, it is the site of an Iron Age hillfort. Parts of the original bank and ditch are still visible although they have been disturbed by gravel quarrying and timber removal.[4] The remains of the hillfort are a scheduled monument.[5]

Lewesdon was also the site of one of the Armada Beacons in 1588 used to warn of impending attack by Spain.[4]

Access

It is a National Trust property.[6] There are two main footpaths leading up to the summit, one from the village of Broadwindsor, and one from Coombe Lane (off the B3162 between Broadwindsor and Bridport, just before the Four Ash crossroads). The Coombe Lane footpath leads to the hill via another, smaller hill, Crabb's Hill, which is privately owned. The east–west footpath is part of the Wessex Ridgeway.[7]

References

Gallery

• 
  Lewesdon Hill from the south
• 
  View of Lewesdon Hill from Leweston Farm in 1963