Gaze Hill

Hill, Mountain in Hampshire New Forest

England

Gaze Hill

Bowl barrow at Ashley Cross (Scales 1m) <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1012537?section=official-listing" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1012537?section=official-listing">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Bowl barrow at Ashley Cross Credit: Sandy Gerrard

Gaze Hill, located in Hampshire, England, is a prominent hill that forms part of the South Downs National Park. Standing at an elevation of approximately 200 meters (656 feet), it offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and the nearby village of West Meon.

The hill is covered in lush green meadows and grazing pastures, which provide a habitat for a variety of native wildlife, including deer, rabbits, and a wide array of bird species. The diverse flora also includes wildflowers, ferns, and ancient woodland, adding to the natural beauty of the area.

Gaze Hill is a popular destination for hikers, nature enthusiasts, and outdoor adventurers due to its easily accessible trails and stunning vistas. Several footpaths and bridleways traverse the hill, allowing visitors to explore its diverse landscape and enjoy the peaceful countryside.

At the summit of Gaze Hill, there is a viewpoint that offers uninterrupted views of the Hampshire countryside. On clear days, it is possible to spot distant landmarks, such as Winchester Cathedral and the Isle of Wight, adding to the appeal of this picturesque location.

The hill is also steeped in history, with evidence of prehistoric settlements and ancient burial mounds found in the vicinity. These archaeological remains provide insight into the rich cultural heritage of the area.

Overall, Gaze Hill in Hampshire is a natural gem, offering visitors the chance to immerse themselves in the beauty of the English countryside while enjoying stunning vistas and exploring its fascinating history.

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Gaze Hill Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 50.923498/-1.7112748 or Grid Reference SU2013. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Bowl barrow at Ashley Cross (Scales 1m) <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1012537?section=official-listing" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1012537?section=official-listing">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Bowl barrow at Ashley Cross
(Scales 1m) LinkExternal link
Track passing west of Island Thorns Inclosure
Track passing west of Island Thorns Inclosure
Cows and ponies on target The animals and photographer are standing on one of the major target areas of Ashley Walk Bombing Range. Fortunately it closed in 1946. For full details see <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4477882">SU2014 : (7d) A tour of the WWII Ashley Walk Bombing Range - Observation Shelter (detail)</a>.
Cows and ponies on target
The animals and photographer are standing on one of the major target areas of Ashley Walk Bombing Range. Fortunately it closed in 1946. For full details see SU2014 : (7d) A tour of the WWII Ashley Walk Bombing Range - Observation Shelter (detail).
Track climbing from the ford in Ashley Bottom
Track climbing from the ford in Ashley Bottom
Observation shelter on the former Ashley Walk Bombing Range On the inside of the near end wall is the information board shown in <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4477882">SU2014 : (7d) A tour of the WWII Ashley Walk Bombing Range - Observation Shelter (detail)</a>.
Observation shelter on the former Ashley Walk Bombing Range
On the inside of the near end wall is the information board shown in SU2014 : (7d) A tour of the WWII Ashley Walk Bombing Range - Observation Shelter (detail).
Island Thorns Inclosure Track heading downhill into open mixed woodland.
<span class="nowrap"><a title="www.newforestnpa.gov.uk" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Island Thorns Inclosure
Track heading downhill into open mixed woodland. LinkExternal link
Grand Slam View looking WNW across Grand Slam bomb crater  from top of  tumulus.
Grand Slam
View looking WNW across Grand Slam bomb crater from top of tumulus.
Small stream in Pitts Wood Inclosure,  New Forest The stream has divided here to form a small island.
Small stream in Pitts Wood Inclosure, New Forest
The stream has divided here to form a small island.
Track on Little Cockley Plain Within the area of the former Ashley Walk Bombing Range. For details see <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4477882">SU2014 : (7d) A tour of the WWII Ashley Walk Bombing Range - Observation Shelter (detail)</a>.
Track on Little Cockley Plain
Within the area of the former Ashley Walk Bombing Range. For details see SU2014 : (7d) A tour of the WWII Ashley Walk Bombing Range - Observation Shelter (detail).
Bracken and woodland at Lodge Hill
Bracken and woodland at Lodge Hill
Flintstone Broken flint, with what is supected to be quartz crystals within. Found on Ashley Walk WW2 Bombing range, adjacent to a number of bomb craters.
Flintstone
Broken flint, with what is supected to be quartz crystals within. Found on Ashley Walk WW2 Bombing range, adjacent to a number of bomb craters.
Traffic Free Cycle, Alderhill Bottom
Traffic Free Cycle, Alderhill Bottom
Traffic Free Cycle Route into Amberwood Inclosure
Traffic Free Cycle Route into Amberwood Inclosure
Traffic Free Cycle Route through Amberwood Inclosure
Traffic Free Cycle Route through Amberwood Inclosure
Woodland south of Sloden Inclosure Looking across a mire from Splash Bridge to woodland outside Sloden Inclosure. Within this woodland is the site of a royal hunting lodge. It appears to be named The Churchyard, but whether this refers to the woodland or the site I know not.
Woodland south of Sloden Inclosure
Looking across a mire from Splash Bridge to woodland outside Sloden Inclosure. Within this woodland is the site of a royal hunting lodge. It appears to be named The Churchyard, but whether this refers to the woodland or the site I know not.
A tour of the WWII Ashley Walk Bombing Range (addendum) - site of Grand Slam bomb crater The only live test of a Grand Slam bomb took place on 13 March 1945 at the Ashley Walk Bombing Range. The Barnes-Wallis designed 22,000 pound "Earthquake Bomb" was released from a specially modified Lancaster from 16,000 ft over the village of Godshill. It penetrated the ground and on cue, exploded as intended 9 seconds later creating an enormous crater 130 ft across, and 70 ft deep. This was preparatory to the successful raid on the Bielefeld Viaduct by Lancasters of 617 ("Dambusters") Squadron the following day using Tallboys, and one Grand Slam bomb carried by a specially modified Lancaster. The Grand Slam proved instrumental in the final destruction of the viaduct that hitherto had withstood  a number of previously unsuccessful attacks.

Unfortunately for historians there is no trace of the crater of the range's test bomb visible today, as it was infilled as part of the New Forest post-war restorative programme of works. However, Norman Parker in his definitive work on the Ashley Walk Bombing Range identifies the area of the crater just north of the "Submarine Pen" target as '..a marshy depression 100 yards south-west of the Ashley Cross gate into Pitts Wood. Its site is marked by a large growth of reeds.' His description of the former crater fits this view of the area precisely.

For a photo and information on subsequent operations involving both Tallboy and Grand Slam bombs see: <a title="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4275685" href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4275685">Link</a>

Google Earth view: <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.9268175,-1.71671,205m/data=!3m1!1e3" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.9268175,-1.71671,205m/data=!3m1!1e3">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>

BACK: <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4478140">SU2016 : (17b) A tour of the WWII Ashley Walk Bombing Range - site of North Tower</a>
A tour of the WWII Ashley Walk Bombing Range (addendum) - site of Grand Slam bomb crater
The only live test of a Grand Slam bomb took place on 13 March 1945 at the Ashley Walk Bombing Range. The Barnes-Wallis designed 22,000 pound "Earthquake Bomb" was released from a specially modified Lancaster from 16,000 ft over the village of Godshill. It penetrated the ground and on cue, exploded as intended 9 seconds later creating an enormous crater 130 ft across, and 70 ft deep. This was preparatory to the successful raid on the Bielefeld Viaduct by Lancasters of 617 ("Dambusters") Squadron the following day using Tallboys, and one Grand Slam bomb carried by a specially modified Lancaster. The Grand Slam proved instrumental in the final destruction of the viaduct that hitherto had withstood a number of previously unsuccessful attacks. Unfortunately for historians there is no trace of the crater of the range's test bomb visible today, as it was infilled as part of the New Forest post-war restorative programme of works. However, Norman Parker in his definitive work on the Ashley Walk Bombing Range identifies the area of the crater just north of the "Submarine Pen" target as '..a marshy depression 100 yards south-west of the Ashley Cross gate into Pitts Wood. Its site is marked by a large growth of reeds.' His description of the former crater fits this view of the area precisely. For a photo and information on subsequent operations involving both Tallboy and Grand Slam bombs see: Link Google Earth view: LinkExternal link BACK: SU2016 : (17b) A tour of the WWII Ashley Walk Bombing Range - site of North Tower
A tour of the WWII Ashley Walk Bombing Range (addendum) - impact distance indicator A series of concentric circles 500 feet apart surround No. 2 Wall Target. These acted as a rough guide to impact distances from the target centre, and were created by bulldozing the topsoil away to reveal the underlying bleached gravel beneath. Although best viewed from the air where they are still clearly visible (particularly to the west), they can also be seen on the ground in part despite now being grassed over, as in this view of an arc of the circle closest to the target.

Google Earth view: <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.9401084,-1.7126422,415m/data=!3m1!1e3" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.9401084,-1.7126422,415m/data=!3m1!1e3">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Note. Unfortunately as the years go by, the circles are getting fainter, judging by the latest 2018 imagery.

BACK: <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4478140">SU2016 : (17b) A tour of the WWII Ashley Walk Bombing Range - site of North Tower</a>
A tour of the WWII Ashley Walk Bombing Range (addendum) - impact distance indicator
A series of concentric circles 500 feet apart surround No. 2 Wall Target. These acted as a rough guide to impact distances from the target centre, and were created by bulldozing the topsoil away to reveal the underlying bleached gravel beneath. Although best viewed from the air where they are still clearly visible (particularly to the west), they can also be seen on the ground in part despite now being grassed over, as in this view of an arc of the circle closest to the target. Google Earth view: LinkExternal link Note. Unfortunately as the years go by, the circles are getting fainter, judging by the latest 2018 imagery. BACK: SU2016 : (17b) A tour of the WWII Ashley Walk Bombing Range - site of North Tower
"C" symbol on fragmentation target area on Ashley Walk bombing range The symbol is quite hard to locate and only becomes visible within the last 15 metres or so.
"C" symbol on fragmentation target area on Ashley Walk bombing range
The symbol is quite hard to locate and only becomes visible within the last 15 metres or so.
Show me another place!

Gaze Hill is located at Grid Ref: SU2013 (Lat: 50.923498, Lng: -1.7112748)

Administrative County: Hampshire

District: New Forest

Police Authority: Hampshire

What 3 Words

///smoker.sorters.whirlpool. Near Fordingbridge, Hampshire

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 50.923498,-1.7112748
Lcn Ref: 8
Lat/Long: 50.9264549/-1.7129812
Alderhill Bottom
Place: locality
Lat/Long: 50.923879/-1.7135023
Tumulus
Archaeological Site: tumulus
Historic: archaeological_site
Lat/Long: 50.926422/-1.7137626
Ashleycross Hill
Ele: 110
Natural: peak
Lat/Long: 50.926304/-1.7163464
Ford: yes
Lat/Long: 50.9206854/-1.7155584
Gaze Hill
Place: locality
Lat/Long: 50.9232025/-1.7118855
Alder Hill
Place: locality
Lat/Long: 50.9204285/-1.7125031
Ashley Cross
Place: locality
Lat/Long: 50.9273905/-1.7080644
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

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