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 Butser is nearly the highest bit of hill in Hampshire, and has spectacular views in all directions, even to the South coast on clear days.
It is open to the public all year round, although the car park is very expensive. But there are laybys on the road leading to it, so usually room in one of those.
We can fly in the adjacent fields fairly easily, but the best views are reserved for the very top, up by the transmitter tower. From here we can venture out along any of the downs and valleys that meet here.
There is flat ground for TOAL by the summit waypoint marker, and closer to the tower. We have to treat that tower with caution (don't let it come between you and your UAV) but its signals don't seem to screw with our machines if we keep a reasonable distance. It is about 120 ft high, so we can easily get above it.
There is sometimes other aerial activity here. Paragliders operate sometimes from the West side, and kite flyers might appear anywhere near the top. Passing small planes and RAF stuff like to fly quite close to the hill, so spotter a good idea here.
Just occasionally a cloud bank will appear in the early mornings UNDER the hill, with the summit only just emerging from it - if you are lucky enough to catch one of those days it's the easiest 'above clouds' shots you'll ever get !
Main danger is wind, which is much higher up here than at ground level, and this is a very exposed hill, with the A3 forming something of a wind tunnel leading to updrafts, and it can sometimes be difficult to descend on blowier days. Best place to do that is nearer the centre of the hill.
Lots of potential TOAL markers shown, but the 2 Southmost ones are at the base of the hill (better accessed via Queen Elizabeth Country Park Lower car park, then walk under the bridge and up to the left), where there are gently sloping greens up to the top, some wild horses, and the A3 very close to the right, so we need to keep away from that and only fly up the hill away from it. This is good on misty mornings.
Land owner permission requirements unknown.
View and discuss this location in more detail on Grey Arrows.
Co-ordinates: 50.97782, -0.980213 • what3words: ///pegs.secondly.budget
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