Ros Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ros Hill |
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Ros Hill from the road across Hepburn Moor
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 315 m (1,033 ft) |
| Prominence | c. 222 m (728 ft) |
| Parent peak | The Cheviot |
| Listing | Marilyn |
| Geography | |
| Location | Northumberland, England |
| OS grid | NU081253 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 75 |
Ros Hill, also known as Ros Castle, is a special hill in Northumberland, northern England. It gets the name "Ros Castle" because of an ancient Iron Age hill fort on its very top. This fort is about 3,000 years old!
Ros Hill is the highest point in a group of hills called the Chillingham Hills. These hills stretch from Alnwick to Berwick-upon-Tweed. Ros Hill stands much taller than other nearby hills like Titlington Pike. Because it's so high compared to the land around it, Ros Hill is known as a Marilyn. A Marilyn is a hill in the British Isles that rises at least 150 meters (about 492 feet) above the surrounding land.
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Ros Hill: A Historic Peak
Ros Hill is located right above a village called Chillingham. This area is famous for its special herd of cattle. These cattle roam freely in a large enclosed area.
Getting to the Top
Because of the cattle and the type of land, there aren't many paths on the western side of Ros Hill. The eastern side is mostly open moorland. The easiest way to climb Ros Hill is to park your car on the small road that crosses Hepburn Moor. This road is just south of the hill's summit. From there, it's a walk of just over half a mile. It usually takes about 30 minutes to reach the top.
Amazing Views from the Summit
At the very top of Ros Hill, you'll find a trig point. This is a small pillar used by mapmakers. Nearby, there's a unique walk-in toposcope. A toposcope is like a special viewing platform that points out different landmarks in the distance. This one has four separate plaques that show you what you're looking at.
The view from Ros Hill is incredible! You can see all around for miles. On a clear day, you might even spot seven different castles! One of these castles is on Holy Island. You can also look down into the cattle park and see the famous Chillingham cattle. Most of the land around the hill is covered in beautiful purple heather.
What's in a Name?
The name "Ros Hill" comes from an old language called Brittonic. The word rhos in Brittonic means 'moor' or 'promontory'. This perfectly describes Ros Hill, which is a hill standing out in a moorland area.
