THE UK’S COUNTY TOPS
82 WALKS TO REACH THE TOP OF 91 HISTORIC COUNTIES
by
Jonny Muir
2 POLICE SQUARE, MILNTHORPE, CUMBRIA, LA7 7PY
About the Author
Jonny Muir first visited the UK’s 91 historic county tops on a continuous 8000km (5000-mile) cycling and walking adventure over a three-month period in 2006. His first book, Heights of Madness, published in 2009, is an account of that journey. He is also the author of Isles at the Edge of the Sea, a travelogue of a tour of the west coast islands of Scotland, published in 2011. A journalist for six years at newspapers in Cheltenham, Peterborough and Inverness, he now works as an English teacher in London.
© Jonny Muir 2011
First edition 2011
ISBN: 978 1 85284 629 9
Printed by KHL Printing, Singapore
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
All photographs are by the author unless otherwise stated.
The map extracts on pages 188–196 are Crown Copyright and reproduced with the permission of Land and Property Services under Delegated Authority from the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, © Crown Copyright and Database Right 2011. Permit number 110055.
Acknowledgements
I am indebted to the following for taking and supplying photographs: Sandy McCook (Ben Macdui), James Muir (Merrick), Roger Muir (Bidean nam Bian and Snowdon), Paul O’Connor (Sawel Mountain and Slieve Gullion), Alan Dawson (Ronas Hill) and Ronald Turnbull (where so credited). I am also grateful to David Whittaker-Smith, who provided advice and photographic support. A list of the current county tops, which appears in an appendix at the back of this guidebook, is reproduced courtesy of Simon Edwardes’ website www.hill-bagging.co.uk.
Advice to Readers
Readers are advised that, while every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of our guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of a particular edition. Please check the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk) for any updates before planning your trip. It is also advisable to check information on such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to 2, Police Square, Milnthorpe LA7 7PY.
Warning
Mountain walking can be a dangerous activity carrying a risk of personal injury or death. It should be undertaken only by those with a full understanding of the risks and with the training and/or experience to evaluate them. Whilst every care and effort has been taken in the preparation of this guide, the user should be aware that conditions can be highly variable and can change quickly, thus materially affecting the seriousness of a mountain walk.
Therefore, except for any liability which cannot be excluded by law, neither Cicerone nor the author accept liability for damage of any nature (including damage to property, personal injury or death) arising directly or indirectly from the information in this book.
To call out the Mountain Rescue, phone 999 from a landline. From a mobile, phone the international emergency number 112: this will connect you via any available network. Once connected to the emergency operator, ask for the police.
Front cover: (top) Worcestershire Beacon (Worcestershire); (clockwise from centre) white horse, Milk Hill (Wiltshire); gas testing monument on Silverhill (Nottinghamshire); Rough Tor (Cornwall); Sawel Mountain (Londonderry/Tyrone); Dunkery Beacon (Somerset); summit of Ben Macdui (Aberdeenshire/Banffshire); Leith Hill Tower (Surrey).
Back cover (top to bottom): Merrick: the highest point in southern Scotland, (Kirkcudbrightshire); a hazy afternoon on Ben Lomond (Stirlingshire).
CONTENTS
3 Somerset – Dunkery Beacon 519m
8 Middlesex – Bushey Heath 153m
9 Bedfordshire – Dunstable Downs 243m
10 Buckinghamshire – Haddington Hill 267m