Old Winchester Hill

Old Winchester Hill is an ancient summit in the South Downs with Iron Age fort remains and older Bronze Age burial mounds beneath the grass. The height reaches 197 meters and offers views across Portsmouth, Southampton, and the Isle of Wight on clear days.

The site began as burial mounds in the Bronze Age and was later developed into a fortified settlement during the Iron Age. Thousands of years later it served as a testing ground for British Army mortars in the 20th century.

The site is known for its rare chalk grassland butterflies that flutter across the slopes on warm days. The way visitors move through the open hills shows how important this landscape remains for local wildlife.

The hill is accessible via several walking routes including the South Downs Way with parking at the northern entrance. Sturdy footwear is recommended since slopes are steep and the ground becomes slippery when wet.

The rare blue butterflies found here are so specialized that they lay eggs only on particular plants in the chalk grassland. Visitors may spot several blue and orange species in summer flying low across the slopes.