Watlington Hill and the White Mark
Chalk downland and yew woods above a Chilterns market town, with red kites overhead.
- Distance
- 4.8 km
- Ascent
- 150 m
- Time
- 1.5–2 h
- Grade
- Easy
- Route
- Circular
- High point
- 242 m
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Route mapped on from OpenStreetMap paths, with heights from EU-DEM terrain data; not yet checked on the ground by TRXO. Added to TRXO on . For planning only: always navigate with an up-to-date map such as OS Explorer or Harvey. How we make our routes.
About this walk
Watlington Hill and the White Mark is an easy 4.8 km circular walk with 150 m of ascent, taking 1.5 to 2 hours. It starts at Watlington Hill car park (grid reference SU 695 941).
Watlington Hill is a National Trust stretch of chalk grassland and yew wood on the Chilterns escarpment, with the White Mark, a 270-foot chalk obelisk cut into the hillside in 1764, below its brow. Red kites, reintroduced near here in the 1990s, are never out of the sky. The loop crosses the hill and returns by the Ridgeway.
Route
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1
The hill
Cross Watlington Hill to the viewpoint above the White Mark and return by the Ridgeway.
Summit
Questions about this walk
- How long does Watlington Hill and the White Mark take?
- Most walkers take 1.5–2 hours for the 4.8 km route, which has 150 m of ascent. That allows for short stops; give yourself longer in winter, in poor weather or with a group.
- Where does the walk start, and where can I park?
- It starts at Watlington Hill car park (grid reference SU 695 941). National Trust car park on Hill Road.
- Can I get there by public transport?
- Buses to Watlington from Oxford; a 1.5 km climb to the hill. Check times on Traveline.
- How hard is it?
- It's graded easy. Grassy and woodland paths, steep in places.
- Can I take my dog?
- Yes, dogs are welcome on this walk. Before you go: Sheep graze here: keep dogs on a lead near livestock, especially at lambing time (March to May).
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