Isolation 150 kilometres (93 mi) OS grid SY934784 Prominence 150 m Listing Marilyn | Location Purbeck Hills, England Elevation 208 m Parent peak Lewesdon Hill | |
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Topo map OS Landranger 195
Explorer 15E Similar Nine Barrow Down, Ballard Down, Bindon Hill, Tyneham Cap, Hambury Tout | ||
Swyre Head is the highest point of the Purbeck Hills and the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, on the south coast of England. The hill Swyre Head lies about 2 kilometres (1 mi) southwest of the village Kingston, about 5 kilometres (3 mi) south of Corfe Castle and 8 kilometres (5 mi) west of Swanage.
Map of Swyre Head, Wareham, UK
Although not very high, its relative height is such that it nearly qualifies as a Marilyn. The chalk hill is part of the extensive Southern England Chalk Formation.
Swyre Head by Kingston should not be confused with another Dorset hill called Swyre Head, at an elevation of 98 metres (322 ft), on the coast, located at grid reference SY799805, to the west of Durdle Door. The two Swyre Heads are about four hours walk apart from each other; that is, 18 kilometres (11 mi).
The hill commands extensive views, including west past the Isle of Portland to Dartmoor, and east to the Isle of Wight, as well as north across the Purbeck Hills to Poole Harbour and the other Purbeck Marilyn, Nine Barrow Down. To the west, the folly of Clavell Tower can also be seen.
Set back about 800 metres (half a mile) from the coast, the hill is not on the South West Coast Path, but can be reached easily from the villages of Kingston or Kimmeridge.
The hill has a trig point marked as 203 metres on Ordnance Survey maps, but a tumulus, now fully grassed over, forms the highest point, 208 metres (682 ft) above sea level.