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St Catherine's Hill Christchurch

1.55 miles (2.5 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This hill to the north of Christchurch stands at 53-metres (174 ft). A climb to the top is rewarded with super views of the surrounding countryside and the River Avon with the coast and the Isle of Wight beyond. As well as the great views the area is covered with attractive heathland and coniferous forest to explore. There's also an abundance of wildlife with Dartford Warbler, Sand Lizard, Smooth Snake, Adder, Nightjar, Hobby, Grayling, Silver-studded Blue, Scarce Chaser and White-legged Damselfly to look out for.
It's easy to extend your walk by picking up a footpath north to Town Common and Blackwater Hill where there are great views over the River Stour. Just beyond Blackwater Hill is the Sopley Common Nature Reserve. Here you'll find dry heathland, covered with purple heather, and a variety of wildlife including lizards & smooth snakes, heath grasshoppers, wood tiger beetle & grayling butterfly. All in all St Catherine's Hill and the area around it makes for a splendid long or short walk.
To extend your walk you could visit Christchurch Harbour and Hengistbury Head where there are more great views of the area.

Postcode

BH23 2SP - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

St Catherine's Hill Christchurch OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

St Catherine's Hill Christchurch Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Head north from the hill and you could visit Sopwith Common and the Ramsdown Plantation. There's another nice viewpoint here and lots of pretty heather in the late summer. Just beyond that is Hurn Forest where there are miles of good walking and cycling trails next to Bournemouth Airport.

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

St Catherine's Hill, Christchurch - geograph.org.uk - 1059768

St Catherine's Hill, Christchurch View from near the hilltop looking east; Avon river in the distance

Telecommunication masts on top of St Catherine's Hill, Christchurch - geograph.org.uk - 747011

Telecommunication masts on top of St Catherine's Hill, Christchurch Mainly mobile phone nowadays.

Christchurch Priory from St Catherine's Hill

View from St Catherine's Hill across Christchurch towards the Priory and Hengistbury Head.

Eastern Slopes of St Catherine's Hill and Town Common

View over the Eastern Slopes and Town Common from St Catherine's Hill in Dorset.

Disused Pit on St Catherine's Hill - geograph.org.uk - 2254625

Disused Pit on St Catherine's Hill

Information board, St Catherine's Hill - geograph.org.uk - 1059783

Information board. At the entrance to the Herpetological Conservation Trust's Town Common & East Ramsdown nature reserve stands this information board. All six native species of reptiles are to be found on this reserve. Path continuing up St Catherine's Hill to the left.

Northern slopes of St Catherine's Hill - geograph.org.uk - 515096

Heather on the northern slopes of St Catherine's Hill in July. This path leads up to a tumulus at the northern end of St Catherine's Hill, a raised area between the River Stour to the west and the River Avon to the east. The final part of the path is steep and well eroded and water has carved a gulley into the sandy hillside.

St. Catherine's Hill, Dorset - geograph.org.uk - 211966

Waymarker on the footpath.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

St Catherine's Hill Christchurch.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

St Catherine's Hill Christchurch.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)