| Black Down | |
|---|---|
 Black Down and the Hardy Monument | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 242 m (794 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 78 m (256 ft)[1] |
| Parent peak | Lewesdon Hill[1] |
| Listing | Tump (hill) |
| Coordinates | 50°41′13″N 2°33′04″W / 50.687°N 2.551°W |
| Geography | |
 | |
| Location | Dorset, England |
| Parent range | South Dorset Downs |
| OS grid | SY611876 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 194 |
Black Down is a hill on the South Dorset Ridgeway about 1.2 miles (2 km) north-northeast of the village of Portesham in the county of Dorset, England and around 3.1 miles (5 km) from the coast.
The treeless summit of Black Down is a popular viewing point, crowned by the 72 foot (22 m) high Hardy Monument built in 1844 in memory of Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy who was Admiral Nelson's Flag Captain at the Battle of Trafalgar.[2]
From the top there are views of the Fleet and Chesil Beach as well as the South Dorset Downs.[3] On a fine day The Needles may be visible, some 50 miles away.[4]
The site is owned by the National Trust.
The heathland area around the monument was in 1984 designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, when the Nature Conservancy Council decided that the geology of the area was very rare.
- ^ a b c Summit Listings by Relative Height by Jonathan de Ferranti. Accessed on 26 Mar 2013.
- ^ Monument to Vice-Admiral Hardy at www.nationaltrust.org.uk. Accessed on 26 Mar 2013.
- ^ Hardy Monument and Black Down Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine at www.dorsetaonb.org.uk. Accessed on 26 Mar 2013.
- ^ Hardy's Monument at www.worldheritagecoast.net. Accessed on 26 Mar 2013.