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Distinctive landmark rich in wildlife and archaeology with a tremendous panorama
Cley Hill, Corsley, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 7QU
Asset | Opening time |
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Countryside | Dawn - Dusk |
Routes are unsurfaced, rutted and uneven, can be muddy and slippery after rain. Kissing gate, steps and stile.
From Warminster, exit A36 onto A362. The car park is just over a mile, towards Frome
Parking: Small National Trust car park with unmarked bays approximately 350m from the base of the hill path
Public footpath from car park or the Mid-Wilts Way
Warminster station, 3 miles
Frome minibuses 53, Frome to Warminster
National Cycle Network Route 24 runs nearby
Cley Hill, Corsley, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 7QU
Steep slopes, thin soils and grazing cattle provide perfect conditions for chalk grassland flora and fauna to thrive.
The diminutive early gentian can be seen in May, June sees orchids appearing, and then in late summer Autumn lady’s tresses are a highlight.
The abundant Horseshoe vetch in spring attracts the rare iridescent Adonis blue butterfly which has two broods in spring and summer.
The hedges and scrub are great for farmland birds such as yellowhammer, linnet and goldfinch. Kestrel and red kite enjoy the thermals around the hill.
Cley Hill has an Iron Age hillfort, along with earlier Bronze Age burial mounds and later medieval strip lynchets.
Its prominent position provides a good viewpoint for the hills around Warminster and as far as the Mendips.
On the south side of the hill is a quarry, in the 19th Century, chalk was dug to make lime mortar.
From the top if you look northeast, you can see Cley Hill’s ‘little brother’, known locally as Little Cley Hill.
Sitting at the entrance to Stourhead, this secluded cottage has a world-famous garden on the doorstep.
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Once part of the Longleat estate, the hill was entrusted to us by the 6th Marquess of Bath. Ascend the hill to enjoy extensive views of West Wiltshire and Somerset, or to experience uninterrupted views of the sky from this locally famous UFO hotspot.
Explore the botanically rich chalk downland and discover an abundance of wild flowers teeming with insect life. The site is also significant for its geology and archaeology. It was formed by ancient seas and it's been shaped by man since its prehistoric role of guarding territorial boundaries, through to more recent farming and quarrying.
Search for live volunteering opportunities, or register your interest with Cley Hill.
Join today and help protect nature, beauty and history – for everyone, for ever. Enjoy access to more than 500 places with National Trust membership.