Face The Sun

LETJOG PEAK No 10: Milk Hill, Wiltshire (295 metres)

Walk Date: Tuesday 18 April 2023

Having been raised in Loughton, upon the threshold of Epping Forest, family walks in the woods comprise many of my earliest memories, and it is difficult to better a spring walk through the vibrant greens of new growth or the autumnal colours of the beechwoods. It has taken me somewhat longer to appreciate the other end of the arboreal spectrum, that of open plains with just occasional copses and isolated wind-sculpted bushes clinging to survival against the formidable elements. But it was through 13 miles of such country that my LETJOG Peaks walk took me today, over Marlborough Downs upon the summit of Wiltshire: a somewhat reassuringly open landscape of far-reaching views across arable fields and pasture, of gusty winds, huge skies and the song of a thousand skylarks.

For many years a debate endured in these parts as to the higher peak in this Wiltshire section of the North Wessex Downs; was it ‘Old Adam’ (as the locals call Milk Hill) or his sister, Tan Hill? The argument was not finally put to bed until 2009 when BBC’s ‘Countryfile’ programme featured a detailed analysis from the Ordnance Survey that determined in favour of Milk Hill – by just 20 centimetres. A fine margin indeed, and small enough to justify my route today taking in both tops, just to be on the safe side!

I have resolved to use public transport where possible on this challenge, or at the very least to incorporate my walking trips with other plans. The Marlborough Downs are not easily reached by rail services, but being close to the M4 made the start point a convenient diversion on my way down to see my son Chris and daughter-in-law Mima in Cardiff. Setting off early I had a splendid walk, southward, through a morning of strong sunshine and some spectacular cumulus clouds that dappled the hillsides with scudding shadows, before an overcast afternoon return against a strong north-easterly headwind.

After my exertions I read a little more about the pre-history of this area, and in particular of nearby West Kennett Long Barrow and Avebury Ring. There is a huge amount of archaeological and historical interest in this locality, certainly meriting another, perhaps less fleeting, visit. The Ridgeway National Trail that runs from nearby Avebury has its eastern end at Ivinghoe Beacon near Tring in my part of the Chiltern Hills: I walked this 85-mile path around two decades ago, and perhaps it is time to explore it again, a little more thoroughly. But for now, it is time to leave for Cardiff after a fine day conquering my tenth LETJOG Peak!

Born just across the Vale of Pewsey in Tidworth, singer-songwriter James Blunt is my chosen artist today, and the self-penned number ‘Face The Sun’ from his 2013 ‘Moon Landing’ album certainly fits well with my outbound hike this morning. Blunt served for six years in the British Army including a stint in the Kosovo War in 1999, before changing career and rising to fame in 2004 with his first album ‘Back To Bedlam’. He has since sold in excess of 20 million records worldwide.