Folly Hill

Hill, Mountain in Hampshire Winchester

England

Folly Hill

Water Lane, the B3047, with St Mary's church, Itchen Stoke Water Lane is also a signed footpath to Ovington.
Water Lane, the B3047, with St Mary's church, Itchen Stoke Credit: Ruth Sharville

Folly Hill, located in Hampshire, England, is a prominent hill that offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Standing at an elevation of approximately 261 meters (856 feet), it is considered one of the highest points in the county. The hill is part of the South Downs National Park, a designated area of outstanding natural beauty.

Folly Hill is known for its unique and diverse flora and fauna. The hillside is covered with thickets of gorse, vibrant wildflowers, and grassy slopes, creating a picturesque landscape that changes with the seasons. It is home to a variety of bird species, including skylarks and kestrels, making it a popular spot among birdwatchers.

The hill's name, Folly Hill, derives from the presence of a folly structure that was built on its summit in the 19th century. Though the folly itself no longer stands, its remnants can still be seen, adding to the hill's historical charm.

The summit of Folly Hill offers panoramic views of the surrounding area. On a clear day, visitors can see as far as the Isle of Wight and the South Downs, providing a breathtaking vista. Many visitors choose to hike or cycle to the top of the hill, following well-marked trails that traverse the rolling countryside.

Overall, Folly Hill, Hampshire, is a cherished natural landmark that attracts nature enthusiasts, hikers, and those seeking a tranquil escape. Its beauty, diversity, and historical significance make it a must-visit destination for both locals and tourists alike.

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Folly Hill Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.102705/-1.2061756 or Grid Reference SU5534. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Water Lane, the B3047, with St Mary's church, Itchen Stoke Water Lane is also a signed footpath to Ovington.
Water Lane, the B3047, with St Mary's church, Itchen Stoke
Water Lane is also a signed footpath to Ovington.
Water Lane, Itchen Stoke This lane leads to the River Itchen and thence to Ovington.
Water Lane, Itchen Stoke
This lane leads to the River Itchen and thence to Ovington.
Postbox at Pobdown Farm
Postbox at Pobdown Farm
Cottage opposite the watercress beds being re-thatched
Cottage opposite the watercress beds being re-thatched
Alresford Historical Society Spitfire Memorial For more details see <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://www.alresfordhistandlit.co.uk/page15.html" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://www.alresfordhistandlit.co.uk/page15.html">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>
Alresford Historical Society Spitfire Memorial
For more details see LinkExternal link
Wandering westwards along the Bashire (33) Wayfarer's Walk: heading from the Spitfire Memorial to Oxdrove Way
Wandering westwards along the Bashire (33)
Wayfarer's Walk: heading from the Spitfire Memorial to Oxdrove Way
Wandering westwards along the Bashire (34) The road north from Folly Hill
Wandering westwards along the Bashire (34)
The road north from Folly Hill
Field boundary, Folly Hill Farm
Field boundary, Folly Hill Farm
Wandering westwards along the Bashire (35) Looking southwards down Rectory Lane towards the B3047
Wandering westwards along the Bashire (35)
Looking southwards down Rectory Lane towards the B3047
Looking north-northeast up Rectory Lane from Franklyn's Farm Firstly, rhyme it with saltire. Secondly credit Bill Bryson with the idea. It's a sort of geriatric straight line orienteering. Basically you try to follow a straight line and record what you see, square by square. A Bashire starts at your home grid square and is two straight lines, one running north to south and the other east to west. After only a few squares these will form a cross- each one unique.
Looking north-northeast up Rectory Lane from Franklyn's Farm
Firstly, rhyme it with saltire. Secondly credit Bill Bryson with the idea. It's a sort of geriatric straight line orienteering. Basically you try to follow a straight line and record what you see, square by square. A Bashire starts at your home grid square and is two straight lines, one running north to south and the other east to west. After only a few squares these will form a cross- each one unique.
Looking from  Northington Road into Rectory Lane
Looking from Northington Road into Rectory Lane
Wandering westwards along the Bashire (36) Looking west-southwest along Northington Road
Wandering westwards along the Bashire (36)
Looking west-southwest along Northington Road
Houses at Itchen Stoke Itchen Stoke is a small village astride the B3047 between Winchester & Alresford. Contains many springs feeding the River Itchen and the many watercress beds for which the area is well known.
Houses at Itchen Stoke
Itchen Stoke is a small village astride the B3047 between Winchester & Alresford. Contains many springs feeding the River Itchen and the many watercress beds for which the area is well known.
The Church at Itchen Stoke A beautiful (redundant) church based on Sainte Chapelle in Paris. It has very fine windows.
The Church at Itchen Stoke
A beautiful (redundant) church based on Sainte Chapelle in Paris. It has very fine windows.
Track by Itchen Down Farm This track runs along the western side of Itchen Down farm. Looking south towards Northington Road (out of sight) and across the Itchen Valley.
Track by Itchen Down Farm
This track runs along the western side of Itchen Down farm. Looking south towards Northington Road (out of sight) and across the Itchen Valley.
Farm buildings at Itchen Down Farm Looking north.
Farm buildings at Itchen Down Farm
Looking north.
Oxdrove Way, Itchen Down The Oxdrove Way meanders in a south easterly direction from Northington Road.
Oxdrove Way, Itchen Down
The Oxdrove Way meanders in a south easterly direction from Northington Road.
Fields north of Itchen Abbas Looking south east from a stile on Rectory Lane, north of Itchen Abbas.
Fields north of Itchen Abbas
Looking south east from a stile on Rectory Lane, north of Itchen Abbas.
Show me another place!

Folly Hill is located at Grid Ref: SU5534 (Lat: 51.102705, Lng: -1.2061756)

Administrative County: Hampshire

District: Winchester

Police Authority: Hampshire

What 3 Words

///delusions.enigma.surfacing. Near New Alresford, Hampshire

Related Wikis

Fobdown

Fobdown is a hamlet in Hampshire, England. It lies 2 miles (3.2 km) north-west from New Alresford. It is in the civil parish of Old Alresford.

St Mary's Church, Itchen Stoke

St Mary, Itchen Stoke, Hampshire, is a redundant Anglican church in the parish of Itchen Stoke and Ovington. It has been designated by English Heritage...

Itchen Stoke and Ovington

Itchen Stoke and Ovington () is an English civil parish consisting of two adjoining villages in Hampshire, England, 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Alresford...

Capital South Coast

Capital South Coast was a regional radio station owned by operated by Global Radio as part of the Capital radio network. It broadcast to Hampshire from...

The Grange, Northington

The Grange is a 19th-century country house-mansion and English landscape park near Northington in Hampshire, England. It is currently owned by the Baring...

River Alre

The River Alre (also, occasionally, Arle) is a tributary of the River Itchen in Hampshire in the south of England. It rises in Bishop's Sutton and flows...

Itchen Abbas

Itchen Abbas is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Itchen Valley, in the Winchester district, in the county of Hampshire, England...

Itchen Abbas railway station

The Itchen Abbas railway station was in the county of Hampshire in England and opened on 2 October 1865 by the Mid-Hants Railway. It closed on 5 February...

Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 51.102705,-1.2061756
Five Ways
Place: locality
Lat/Long: 51.1052262/-1.2078326
Barrier: height_restrictor
Bicycle: yes
Foot: designated
Horse: designated
Maxheight: 2.1
Lat/Long: 51.1019419/-1.2017607
3 Castles Path
Description: To Winchester 7 miles / 11km;To Windsor 53 miles / 85km
Hiking: yes
Information: guidepost
Tourism: information
Lat/Long: 51.1052701/-1.2077934
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

Have you been to Folly Hill?

Leave your review of Folly Hill below (or comments, questions and feedback).