''Moving up the short sweet turf, at every step my heart seemed to obtain a wider horizon of feeling; with every inhalation of rich pure air, a deeper desire. The very light of the sun was whiter and more brilliant here. By the time I had reached the summit I had entirely forgotten the petty circumstances and the annoyances of existence. I felt myself, myself. There was an entrenchment on the summit, and going down into the fosse I walked around it slowly to recover breath.''
"I seem as if I could feel all the glowing life the sunshine gives and the south wind calls to being. The endless grass, the endless leaves, the immense strength of the oak expanding, the unalloyed joy of finch and blackbird; from all of them I receive a little. Each gives me something of the pure joy they gather for themselves."
Written in 1883 by local natural history writer Richard Jefferies, this piece really captures the essence of Liddington Hill. It is located to the south of Swindon, close to the Ridgeway and at the northern end of the Marlborough Downs. Liddington Hill is topped at one end by an iron age hill fort, first occupied in the 7th century B.C. A popular belief is that the hill fort may be the site of 'Mons Badonicus' or Mount Badon, where King Arthur is said to have defeated the Anglo-Saxon armies. At the eastern end is a clump of Beech trees; a landmark that can be seen from miles around. A relic of WWII can also be found here, the 'Starfish' Decoy Control Bunker. This is the control bunker for a WWII 'Starfish' bombing decoy site. This would have been used to control fires which would have acted as a decoy to enemy planes targeting the town of Swindon to the north. It is also one of the highest points in Wiltshire at 277 metres.
Liddington Hill and the surrounding area, especially the grazing land to the south is of great interest to birdwatchers. Although the quantity and variety of species is limited, birding at Liddington can be very rewarding nonetheless. Possibly the star bird is the Ring Ouzel. This is probably the most reliable site for this migrant bird in Wiltshire, with the peak times being april and october. A regular earlier migrant is the Wheatear, usually seen in good numbers. Less common although annual is the Whinchat, often to be found with the more numerous Stonechat. This is also a superb area for farmland specialities such as Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting and Linnet. Flock sizes in the winter can be impressive and in the spring and early summer a sighting of these birds is all but guaranteed. Winter time is good for thrushes with many Fieldfare and Redwing to be found along with both Mistle and Song Thrush. Birds of prey are common, with Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk the most likely candidates. Less regular are Merlin and Red Kite. Montagu's Harrier has also been seen on occasion. Regular visits throughout the year should produce a respectable species tally.
The two main access points are on the unclassified road from Chiseldon to Liddington. It is possible to park with care at the foot of the hill where you can walk directly up to the summit. Alternatively take the short road up to Folly Farm where you can park and then walk along the track to the fields at the southern end. Access is also possible from the Ridgeway.
