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Address Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Suffield Lane, Guildford GU3 1BG, UK Similar Surrey Hills Area of Outstandi, Chobham Common, National Trust ‑ Frensha, Take The Lead Services, Whitmoor Common | ||
Puttenham & Crooksbury Commons lie to the south of the Hog's Back which runs between Farnham and Guildford in Surrey, England. The commons are sites of special scientific interest (SSSI) and are managed by English Nature. Both commons lie on greensand and are covered with heathland.
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Crooksbury Common
Crooksbury hill at 162 metres (531 ft), is the highest point on Crooksbury Common. It is the 21st highest hill in Surrey. Atop the hill lies a triangulation point with views over the valley towards Hindhead and Gibbet Hill. It was mentioned in a Sherlock Holmes short story, "The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist", in which Holmes is called upon to solve a singularly interesting case involving Miss Violet Smith.
The name Crooksbury is of Celtic origin. The fragments 'cruc' or 'crug' refer to burial mounds usually on a hill-top, which may pertain to fact there are earthworks on the flank of Crooksbury hill one of which is called Soldier's Ring.
Puttenham Common
Puttenham Common is equally an SSSI. Surrey Wildlife trust notes that Puttenham Common is of archaeological interest. There is a hill fort at Hillbury which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, probably dating back to the Iron Age. The site can be found on the highest point of the hill above Cutmill pond.
Romping Downs in the west of this area (or the south Chobham Ranges) have a broad top which is 118 metres above sea level and has a minimum descent (notch/col) of 36 metres, the 34th highest hill in Surrey of the 36 listed by the national hill-climbing database.