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The highest point in the South Downs National Park
Black Down, Tennyson's Lane, Haslemere, Surrey, GU27 3AF
Asset | Opening time |
---|---|
Countryside | Dawn - Dusk |
No toilet. Public toilets (not NT) in Haslemere Waitrose car park. Dogs on leads are welcome. Accessible track from car park to circular tour. Pushchairs can access the site easily.
Black Down, Tennyson's Lane, Haslemere, Surrey, GU27 3AF
Black Down in West Sussex is a landscape of wavy hair grass, purple heather and pine trees, where you can still get a true sense of 'wild'. Our cows are an essential part of the landscape and help us control the scrub, which encourages the heather to flourish.
The views have inspired many for years and none so renowned as Tennyson himself: ‘You came and looked and loved the view, long known and loved by me, Green Sussex fading into blue with one grey glimpse of sea.’
As you amble down some of the ancient sunken lanes and drove ways, you can feel a sense of timelessness. Traders, shepherds and chert quarrymen have been using these tracks for thousands of years.
The flanks of Black Down have old flower-rich meadows, ancient woodland and copses. The meadows are cut for hay, which is used to feed the cows over the winter. Today, we look after Black Down for its internationally important heathland.
With plenty to see and do on a visit, Black Down, the highest point in the South Downs National Park, is a great place to walk, run, cycle and celebrate the great outdoors.
Find one of the best views of the South Downs National Park at the Temple of the Winds. This little-known spot has a secret feel and a charming curved stone seat to rest on.
Explore the highest point in Surrey, away from light pollution, where a clear night reveals around 4,000 stars, including the Milky Way.
A charming country retreat on the edges of the South Downs.
This gamekeeper’s cottage is surrounded by woodland on the Nymans estate.
You’ll find gorgeous views over the Polesden Lacey estate and elegant interiors in this Regency-style villa.
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Black Down in West Sussex is a landscape of wavy hair grass, purple heather and pine trees, where you can still get a true sense of 'wild'.
The views have inspired many for years and none so renowned as Tennyson himself: ‘You came and looked and loved the view, long known and loved by me, Green Sussex fading into blue with one grey glimpse of sea.’
As you amble down some of the ancient sunken lanes and drove ways, you can feel a sense of timelessness. Traders, shepherds and chert quarrymen have been using these tracks for thousands of years.
The flanks of Black Down have old flower-rich meadows, ancient woodland and copses. The meadows are cut for hay, which is used to feed the cows over the winter. Today, we look after Black Down for its internationally important heathland. You might come across one of our cows - they help us control the scrub, which encourages the heather to flourish.
Prehistoric flints, ancient tracks across the land and so much more – our research reveals treasures in this fantastic landscape.
We've released a pair of beavers into a sheltered valley in the South Downs as part of our efforts to restore nature by creating a wildlife-rich wetland landscape.
Black Down is part of Wealden Heaths NNR. This new National Nature Reserve one of the King’s Series of NNRs, bringing together our region's most precious heathlands and endangered species into one extraordinary sanctuary for nature recovery. This is safeguarding of nature on a big scale and for the enjoyment of future generations to come.
Join today and help protect nature, beauty and history – for everyone, for ever. Enjoy access to more than 500 places with National Trust membership.
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