Whitehawk Hill

Whitehawk Hill rises above Brighton as a 50.3-hectare Local Nature Reserve owned by Brighton and Hove City Council. At its summit stands Whitehawk Camp, a Neolithic causewayed enclosure protected as a Scheduled Monument. The hill is covered with species-rich chalk grassland that slopes down to the city and the sea. On clear days the Isle of Wight appears on the horizon. Chalkhill blue butterflies gather in colonies across the slopes. The 45-metre-high transmitting station crowns the hill and marks the highest point. From here Brighton’s streets fan out below while the English Channel stretches to the south. The enclosure’s earthworks date from the Neolithic period and remain clearly visible. Visitors walk among the ancient ramparts and across the open grassland. The contrast between the modern mast and the 5,000-year-old camp draws attention each time. Paths wind through the grassland and past the enclosure’s banks and ditches. Wild thyme and other chalk-loving plants colour the sward in spring and summer. Skylarks rise from the turf while butterflies feed on the flowers. The transmitting station stands silent above the scene, its aerials pointing to the sky. The view takes in the whole city, the sea, and on the clearest days the distant island.