Hydon's Ball facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hydon's Ball |
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Highest point | |
Elevation | 179 m (587 ft) |
Geography | |
Location | Greensand Ridge, England |
OS grid | SU977395 |
Topo map | OS Landranger 186 |
Hydon's Ball is a hill in Surrey, England. It stands 179 meters (about 587 feet) tall. This hill covers most of an area called Hydon Heath, near a village called Hydestile. Hydon's Ball is a special place, known for its history, nature, and even some fun traditions!
About Hydon's Ball
Hydon's Ball is 179 meters high. It's located on Hydon Heath, near Hydestile. This hill is part of the Greensand Ridge, a long line of hills. It sits about a quarter of the way between Gibbet Hill, Hindhead and Leith Hill.
People sometimes call it Hydon Ball or Cup Hill. The National Trust now looks after this special place. At the very top of the hill, you will find a large stone seat. This seat was put there in 1915. It is a memorial to Octavia Hill, who helped start the National Trust.
It is thought that the name "ball" might come from a signaling station. A station like this once stood at the top of the hill. It would have been used to send messages from one place to another.
There is a short poem about Hydon's Ball. It might help explain its other name, Cup Hill:
- On Hydon's top there is a cup
- And in that cup there is a drop
- Pick up the cup, and drink the drop
- And place the cup on Hydon's top.
The sides of the hill are home to many different trees. You can find native trees like oak, rowan, and birch. There are also pine trees. Two types of non-native shrubs grow there too: Amelanchier and Gaultheria. People say that a famous landscape gardener named Gertrude Jekyll planted them. She lived nearby at Munstead Wood.
Hydon's Ball is a popular meeting spot for local Morris Dancers. These dancers gather on the hilltop to welcome the first day of spring. It is a fun and colorful tradition.
Hydon's Ball is one of the ten highest points in all of Surrey. There is also an underground reservoir beneath the top of the hill. This reservoir stores drinking water for the area.
Getting to Hydon's Ball
Hydon's Ball is reached by winding roads. It is about 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) south of Godalming. Godalming is a town located near the A3 highway.
The closest village to the south is Hambledon. This village has a large pub called The Merry Harriers. It also has a village shop.
The nearest train station is Milford railway station. It is about 1.9 kilometers (1.2 miles) away by road. You can catch a train from Milford to London Waterloo or Portsmouth Harbour.
The hill is also on the Greensand Way. This is a long-distance walking path. You can reach Hydon's Ball from different directions along this path. These include Godalming, Dorking, and Hindhead.