White Horse Hill
Ancient rolling downland, home to an enigmatic chalk hill figure
White Horse Hill
Overview
Ancient rolling downland, home to an enigmatic chalk hill figure
The internationally-renowned Bronze-Age Uffington White Horse can be seen for miles away leaping across the head of a dramatic dry valley in the Ridgeway escarpment.
The horse is only part of the unique complex of ancient remains that are found at White Horse Hill and beyond, spreading out across the high chalk downland.
The Manger, a dramatic dry valley has steep rippled sides left from the retreating permafrost during the last Ice Age. These ripples are known as the Giant's Steps.
To the east of the Manger lies Dragon Hill, a small roundish hill with a flattened top. It is said to be the site where St. George, England's patron saint, slew the dragon. The blood poisoned the ground and left a white chalk scar for all to see.
Crowning White Horse Hill is an Iron Age hillfort known as Uffington Castle. A simple design of one rampart and ditch, the castle at 860 feet (262m) above sea level forms the highest point in Oxfordshire, with views for miles around over six counties.
Across the property Burial Mounds can be spotted. These date from the Neolithic period and have been reused up to the Saxon age. The largest contained 47 skeletons and this can be seen as you walk up to the Horse from the car park, if you look carefully.
- Telephone
- 01793762209
- whitehorsehill@nationaltrust.org.uk
White Horse Hill
How to get here
- Address
- Uffington, Oxfordshire, SN7 7UK
- By road
- Signposted off A420 Swindon to Oxford road, next to the B4507 between Ashbury and Wantage. 9 miles from J15 and 15 miles from J14 on the M4.
- Parking: Car park £2 up to two hours, £4 all day. Free for National Trust members if you scan your membership card at the car park machine you will receive a free ticket and free for blue badge holders.
- SatNav:
- By train
- Swindon train station 12 miles, Didcot train station 15 miles and Oxford train station 21 miles.
- On foot
- The Ridgeway National Trail, a 90 mile long-distance route from Overton Hill in the Wiltshire Downs to Ivinghoe Beacon in the Chilterns, follows along the southern boundary of this estate.The Lambourn Valley Way starts and ends in the car park here. It runs south alongside the river Lambourn to Donnington near Newbury.It is a pleasant 4 mile walk from Ashdown to the Uffington White Horse over the downs and through woodland.
White Horse 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
- Standard Admission
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you a clear choice between the Gift Aid Admission prices and the Standard Admission prices at the admission point. It's entirely up to you which ticket you choose.
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:
| 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 Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
White Horse Hill
Opening times
White Horse Hill
Contact us
- Telephone
- 01793762209
- whitehorsehill@nationaltrust.org.uk
- Address
- Uffington, Oxfordshire, SN7 7UK