May Hill
Wild and open landmark crowned with a distinctive row of pine trees
Conservation grazing
The cattle grazing on May Hill are managed by the ranger team at the Ebworth Centre near Stroud.
May Hill
Facilities and access
May Hill
Overview
Wild and open landmark crowned with a distinctive row of pine trees
The summit and surrounding area of May Hill consists of a wide expanse of open grassland, bracken and gorse with boggy areas and pools. The hill is capped by a clump of pine trees (not NT), planted in 1887 to commemorate the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria. It is now the location of annual May Day celebrations.
May Hill Common covers 30 hectares of common land acquired by the National Trust in 1988. This attractive area of bracken and developing trees (mainly birch, oak and crab apple) is still grazed by the commoners' ponies, pigs and occasionally sheep. There are beautiful, panoramic views from the top of the hill encompassing the Malvern Hills, the Cotswold HIlls, the Severn Vale, the Forest of Dean, Herefordshire and the Black Mountains beyond.
- Telephone
- +441452814213
- mayhill@nationaltrust.org.uk
May Hill
How to get here
- Address
- Near Huntley, Gloucestershire
- By cycle
- Quiet, local roads lead to May Hill from the surrounding villages and towns. There are no specific cycle routes
- On foot
- May Hill is crossed by a number of public footpaths. The Gloucestershire Way (100 mile long-distance route from Chepstow to Tewkesbury) and Wysis Way (55 mile route from Monmouth to Kemble) both run across May Hill's summit
- By train
- Gloucester train station 10 miles. For further information about travelling to this site by public transport please visit the Cotswold AONB 'Explore the Cotswolds' website
- By road
- May Hill is signposted off the A40 Gloucester-Ross-on-Wye road, 1 mile west of Huntley and 3 miles from J3 of the M50
- By bus
- For information about travelling to this site by public transport please visit the Cotswold AONB 'Explore the Cotswolds' website
May Hill
Prices
Admission free
What is Gift Aid?
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points. Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
- Gift Aid Admission or
- Standard admission
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you the Gift Aid Admission prices. But it's entirely up to you which ticket you choose. If you want the Standard Admission instead, just let us know when you come to pay.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid* — an extra 25 per cent — potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below: Payment of the additional percentage donation is entirely voluntary, so if you prefer to pay the standard admission please advise our reception staff at the till point.
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
*Gift Aid donations must be supported by a valid Gift Aid declaration and a Gift Aid declaration can only cover donations made by an individual for him/herself or for him/herself and members of his/her family.
May Hill
Opening times
Sunday 23 July
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Monday 24 July
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Tuesday 25 July
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Wednesday 26 July
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Thursday 27 July
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Friday 28 July
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Saturday 29 July
- Countryside Dawn to dusk