Beacon Hill National Nature Reserve
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Overview
Beacon Hill NNR is a prominent chalk hill encircled by an Iron Age hillfort just off the A34 at the western end of the South Downs, near Warnford. Classic chalk grassland plants found here include wild thyme, squinancy wort, clustered bellflower, common rock rose, kidney and horseshoe vetch and restharrow. Less common species such as round headed rampion and field fleawort are also present. These flowers nuture rare invertebrates such a scarce solitary bee that resembles a small red-tailed bumble bee. It feeds on bird’s-foot trefoil and unusually nests in disused snail shells. The reserve is an excellent place for spotting butterflies such as the chalk hill blue, silver spotted skipper, brown argus and grizzled skipper. The reserve is also good place to encounter many of the declining farmland bird species such as linnet and yellowhammer. Raptors such as the red kite, buzzard and kestrel can be seen, as well as summer migrants like whitethroats, willow warblers and blackcaps.
About the area
Hampshire’s varied landscape of hills and heaths, downlands and forests, valleys and coast are without rival in southern England. Hike across the chalk downland of the north Hampshire ‘highlands’, meander along peaceful paths through unspoilt river valleys of the Test, Itchen, Avon and Meon, or explore the lonely salt marshes and the beautiful medieval forest and heathland of the New Forest.
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Nearby places to stay
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Nearby places to stay
The Thomas Lord
The Thomas Lord is named after the founder of Lord's Cricket Ground who is buried in the nearby churchyard. It’s a charming country pub with delightful gardens in the lovely village of ...
Tower Farm Garden Holiday Lets
Once forming the stable block of the nearby manor house, these beautifully restored stables have been exquisitely transformed into elegant guest cottages. Each apartment has been though...
Wallops Wood Cottages
Award winning converted cottages in tranquil location in the South Downs National Park, Wallops Wood is a year-round base for walking, cycling and sightseeing. The cottages incorporate ...
Teal Cottage
As well as being dog friendly, Teal Cottage offers guests accessible holiday accommodation. Bring the whole family, including the dog, and make memories to treasure at Wallops Wood. Tea...
The White Lion
The White Lion is a traditional 17th-century country pub in the beautiful Meon Valley. The comfortably renovated rooms in the Grade II listed stables and coach house sympathetically ble...
The Cart House
The Cart House is a beautiful, spacious barn conversion on the edge of the South Downs National Park, near to the picturesque village of Bishop's Waltham with fabulous views of the adjo...
The Cart House
The Cart House is a beautiful, spacious barn conversion on the edge of the South Downs National Park, near the picturesque village of Bishop's Waltham with fabulous views of the adjoini...
The Woolpack Inn
An attractive country inn, tucked away in Hampshire's Candover Valley, offers a traditional atmosphere and bags of character. The flint and brick building dates back to 1880 and many or...
