Milk Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Milk Hill |
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Milk Hill
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 295 m (968 ft) |
| Prominence | 148 m (486 ft) |
| Listing | Hardy, County top |
| Geography | |
 Milk Hill
Location in Wiltshire
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| Location | Wiltshire,  England |
| Parent range | North Wessex Downs |
| OS grid | SU104643 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 165 |
Milk Hill is a famous hill in Wiltshire, southwest England. It is the highest point in the whole county! Milk Hill stands about 295 meters (968 feet) above sea level. This makes it a very important landmark.
You can find Milk Hill near a village called Alton Priors. It is just east of the town of Devizes. A well-known landmark, the Alton Barnes white horse, is carved into the hillside here. This huge hill figure was created in 1812.
Milk Hill: Wiltshire's Highest Point
Milk Hill is the highest point in Wiltshire. But there is another hill nearby called Tan Hill. For a long time, people wondered which one was taller.
In 2009, a TV show called Countryfile looked into this question. Experts from Ordnance Survey (who make maps) measured both hills very carefully. They confirmed that Milk Hill is just a little bit taller. It is about 26 centimeters (10 inches) higher than Tan Hill!
Where is Milk Hill?
Milk Hill is located at the western edge of the Vale of Pewsey. This area is part of the North Wessex Downs AONB. An AONB is a special place with beautiful landscapes.
Milk Hill is also the highest point along a very long ridge. This ridge stretches for about 50 kilometers (31 miles). It goes all the way from the South Downs and across the southern Chilterns into Wiltshire.
Milk Hill is the second highest chalk hill in the UK. Only Walbury Hill in West Berkshire is taller. Walbury Hill is about 297 meters (974 feet) high. This means Milk Hill is also the second highest point between the cities of Bristol and London.
Amazing Views and Flights
The views from Milk Hill are incredible! On a clear day, you can see for miles and miles. You might even spot the Mendips and the Cotswolds. If the weather is very clear, you can sometimes see the Black Mountains in South Wales. This makes Milk Hill one of the most southeasterly places in the UK where you can see high mountains.
Milk Hill is also famous for extreme sports. It has been the starting point for some record-breaking flights:
- On May 10, 2011, Nev Almond started his flight from Milk Hill. He completed the longest hang-glider flight ever in the UK!
- On August 3, 2014, Mark Watts started his paraglider flight here. He flew an amazing 275.5 kilometers (171 miles)! This was the longest paraglider flight in the UK. He landed near Felbrigg in Norfolk.
