Swyre Head

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This article is about the highest hill in the Purbeck Hills. For the headland near Lulworth and Durdle Door, see Swyre Head, Lulworth.
Swyre Head
Swyre Head from St Aldhelm's Head.JPG
Swyre Head, seen from the SW Coast Path on the W side of St Aldhelm's Head
Highest point
Elevation208 m (682 ft)
Prominence150 m (490 ft)
Parent peakLewesdon Hill
Isolation150 km (93 mi) Edit this on Wikidata
ListingMarilyn
Coordinates50°36′21″N 2°05′40″W / 50.6058°N 2.0944°W / 50.6058; -2.0944Coordinates: 50°36′21″N 2°05′40″W / 50.6058°N 2.0944°W / 50.6058; -2.0944
Geography
LocationPurbeck Hills, England
OS gridSY934784
Topo mapOS Landranger 195
Explorer 15E

Swyre Head is the highest point of the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, on the south coast of England. The hill Swyre Head lies about 2 kilometres (1 mi) southwest of the village Kingston, about 5 kilometres (3 mi) south of Corfe Castle and 8 kilometres (5 mi) west of Swanage.

Although not very high, its relative height is such that it just misses qualification as a Marilyn. The hill consists of Jurassic Formations and is not part of the extensive Southern England Chalk Formation.

Swyre Head by Kingston should not be confused with another Dorset hill called Swyre Head, at an elevation of 98 metres (322 ft), on the coast, located at grid reference

 WikiMiniAtlas
SY799805, to the west of Durdle Door. The two Swyre Heads are about four hours walk apart from each other; that is, 18 kilometres (11 mi).

The hill commands extensive views, including west past the Isle of Portland to Dartmoor, and east to the Isle of Wight, as well as north across the Purbeck Hills to Poole Harbour and the other Purbeck Marilyn, Nine Barrow Down. To the west, the folly of Clavell Tower can also be seen.

Set back about 800 metres (half a mile) from the coast, the hill is not on the South West Coast Path, but can be reached easily from the villages of Kingston or Kimmeridge.

The hill has a trig point marked as 203 metres on Ordnance Survey maps, but a tumulus, now fully grassed over, forms the highest point, 208 metres (682 ft) above sea level.

Gallery[]

  • View west from the summit of Swyre Head

  • Swyre Head from the north-east

External links[]

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