Walbury Hill and Combe Gibbet

At 297 metres, Walbury Hill is the highest chalk summit in England, and the 10.2 km circuit from Combe village to the summit and along the escarpment ridge to the landmark Combe Gibbet earns its reputation as the most physically committed walk in Berkshire. The climb from the village is sustained, but the reward is a wide, open chalk ridge with views into Hampshire and Wiltshire that justify the effort. On a clear day, the sense of space up here is extraordinary.

The ridge top is close-grazed chalk turf with a clean mineral smell and skylarks overhead for much of the year. Dogs can run freely along the traverse itself, which is generally livestock-free; leads are needed for the approaches and descent from Combe where sheep graze the slopes. The clay-with-flints cap on the highest ground becomes heavy and sticky after rain, making this a walk best saved for dry conditions. No facilities anywhere on the route — plan accordingly for water. A proper full-day walk in either direction.