Box Hill National Trust - Surrey
Posted by: 
dave-harris
N 51° 14.960 W 000° 18.725
30U E 687582 N 5680984
Box Hill is a place to visit and spend the day with so much to see and do
Waymark Code: WMAV1Y
Location: South East England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 02/25/2011
Views: 8
Box Hill is a well known beauty spot in the North Downs of Surrey. The hill is named after the box trees which can be found on its steep southern and western flanks, notably around the "Whites", chalk cliffs cut by the River Mole.
The zig-zag road climb up to the top of Box Hill will feature prominently on the route of the 2012 Summer Olympics cycling road race events, the men doing nine circuits and the women doing two circuits.
The Box Hill site occupies approximately 490 hectares of wooded downland. It is a Special Area of Conservation and included in a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, affording it a level of legislative protection against planning applications. The chalk downland environment supports notable populations of bats, lepidopterans, orchids and the hill's namesake, the box tree (buxus sempervirens).
Box Hill was given to the nation by Leopold Salomons in 1914. The most notable sight on Box Hill is the view from the viewing platform. It gives a very clear view, roughly south over Dorking and further in the distance towards Gatwick Airport and right across to the South Downs. Major Peter Labellière is buried on the hill just west of the viewpoint at Burford slope. He was buried (on July 11, 1800) head downwards, and according to some sources he reasoned for this by saying "the world is topsy turvy, and I'll be the right way in the end". John Logie Baird, the inventor of the first working television system, conducted some of his experiments on Box Hill.
The address of property, including Postcode.:
The Old Fort,
Box Hill Road,
Box Hill,
Tadworth,
Surrey
KT20 7LB
The charges to visitors and opening hours.:
Access to the area is free. However, non members have to pay £3 for all day parking
Web page: [Web Link]
Parking place (optional): N 51° 14.920 W 000° 18.700
National Trust member: no
References: Not listed
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