ST8469 : Box Mine Wilts
Varies by route; some steep slopes

Box Hill

150m Elevation
42m Prominence
England Country
Find walking friends Explore routes

Good walks are even better shared.

ST8469 : Box Mine Wilts

Nick Chipchase Photo source

Overview

Box Hill is a 149.7 m hill above Box in western Wiltshire, with 42 m of prominence. Its recorded highest point is unmarked ground on a playing field. Local paths explore commons, woodland and the By Brook valley, with a landscape shaped by Bath Stone quarrying and Brunel’s Box Tunnel.

Box Hill, Wiltshire

Box Hill rises above Box and the By Brook valley in western Wiltshire. Its stone-quarrying history, wooded slopes and local footpath network make it an interesting place to explore. This page is for the Wiltshire hill at ST841695. The Box Hill in Surrey is a separate destination.

Summit and local viewpoints

The Database of British and Irish Hills records this summit as 149.7 m high, with 42 m of prominence. Its highest-point description is unmarked ground on a playing field, at ST 84194 69565. A summit coordinate identifies a location; it does not establish a public right of access.

Box Parish Council highlights Box Common as a local viewpoint. Walks on the hillside look across the By Brook valley, with woodland and the old quarrying landscape adding interest. The Common viewpoint and the database summit should not be assumed to be the same spot.

Planning a walk

Start with the parish walking map and the published Box Heritage Trail, which explore the wider village and its industrial landscape. Public paths pass through commons, woods and meadows; some approaches from the valley are steep. Choose a complete route on a current map and use public rights of way, following signs and any local restrictions. OS Explorer 156 covers the area.

The five inherited route entries below describe Surrey landmarks and are marked as inapplicable. They do not supply directions to this summit. For useful local planning information, see Box Parish Council’s visitor and walking guide.

Stone and railway heritage

Limestone quarrying shaped the settlement, leaving workers’ cottages and former quarry sites around Box Hill. Bath Stone was worked here, while the geology encountered beneath the hill by the railway also included other limestone and clay layers. Brunel’s Box Tunnel carried the Great Western Railway through the hill when it opened in 1841. The tunnel is railway infrastructure, not a walking route.

Access, facilities and care

Box village has shops, cafes and pubs. The parish council lists bus links with Bath, Chippenham and Devizes; check current routes, stops and the last return service before travelling. Confirm legal parking for your chosen start rather than navigating to a Surrey National Trust car park.

Wear footwear with good grip for steep and potentially slippery paths. Take care where footpaths meet roads. Keep away from quarry edges, shafts and underground entrances, and do not enter old workings. Respect private land and any activity on playing fields. Carry a suitable map, water and clothing for the weather.

Sources and review

Information reviewed: 15 October 2026.

Explore routes near Box Hill

Walks starting near this hill. Open a route to check its map, distance and full itinerary.

Chippenham Walk with Men Walking & Talking

View route

Bath Skyline hills and Rainbow Wood from central Bath

11.7 km ~4h 30m Moderate

View route

Bitton to Kelston Bridge: Bristol and Bath Railway Path Return

11.6 km ~3h 30m Easy

View route

Devizes Wharf and Caen Hill Lock Flight Towpath Walk

6.3 km ~2h 15m Easy

View route

Route planning notes

These notes describe possible approaches. Check a route's map and access information when planning your walk.

Not applicable (Surrey): Stepping Stones circular

The inherited Stepping Stones route follows the River Mole at Box Hill in Surrey. It does not reach this Wiltshire hill. Use the separate Box Hill, Surrey page for that destination; this entry is retained only to flag the previous location error.

Not applicable (Surrey): Westhumble station circular

Box Hill and Westhumble station and Denbies are in Surrey. The station circular previously shown here is not an approach to Box Hill in Wiltshire. For local walking, consult Box Parish Council’s walking map and the Box Heritage Trail.

Not applicable (Surrey): Happy Valley and Broadwood’s Tower

Happy Valley and Broadwood’s Tower belong to the National Trust’s Box Hill estate in Surrey. This inherited route does not apply to the Wiltshire summit at ST841695. Its former distance, time and difficulty have been withdrawn from this record.

Not applicable (Surrey): Box Hill Hike

The National Trust’s Box Hill Hike starts at its Shepherd’s Hut in Surrey, postcode KT20 7LB. It is not a Wiltshire route. Do not use its car park, landmarks or walking statistics to plan a visit to this Box Hill.

Not applicable (Surrey): North Downs Way to Reigate Hill

The North Downs Way section between Box Hill and Reigate Hill is in Surrey. It has no connection to an ascent of this Wiltshire hill. Plan a local walk using a current Box-area map; no replacement itinerary or route statistics are implied by this retained entry.

Browse more walks on the map

Make a day of it, together

Find someone to share the walk with, or organise a day out along a route you like.

Find walking friends Plan a walk here
Hill facts and local notes

Classifications

100-199m hill

Elevation

150m

491 ft

Prominence

42m

Coordinates

51.4248, -2.2287

ST841695

OS Map

173

Explorer: 156

At the Summit

DoBIH records unmarked ground on a playing field at ST 84194 69565 as the highest point. The summit coordinate does not establish a public right of access.

Terrain & Geology

Local footpaths through commons woodland and meadows; steep hillside approaches from Box village.

Bath Stone limestone was quarried around Box Hill. Network Rail records Bath Stone, Inferior Oolite, Fuller’s Earth and Lias Clay among the strata encountered by Box Tunnel beneath the hill.

Views & Scenery

Box Common is a local viewpoint over the By Brook valley. Views depend on position and visibility; the Common viewpoint is distinct from the catalogue’s playing-field summit.

History & Heritage

Historical Significance

Limestone quarrying shaped Box Hill’s settlement and workers’ cottages. Brunel’s Box Tunnel carried the Great Western Railway through the hill when it opened in 1841.

Getting There & Facilities

Parking

Check legal parking for your chosen local starting point in Box. No summit car park is established here; the National Trust car parks for Box Hill in Surrey serve a different hill.

Public Transport

Box Parish Council lists bus links with Bath, Chippenham and Devizes. Check current stops, timetables and the last return before travelling. Box Hill and Westhumble railway station is in Surrey and does not serve this hill.

Nearby Facilities

Box village has shops, cafes and pubs. Check opening times and carry water. The National Trust cafe and visitor facilities at Box Hill in Surrey are not facilities for this Wiltshire hill.

Safety Information

Known Hazards

  • Steep paths can be slippery in wet weather; wear footwear with good grip.
  • Keep away from quarry edges, shafts and underground entrances; do not enter old workings.
  • Take care at road crossings and on lanes.
  • Use public rights of way and respect private land, signs and activity on playing fields.

General Safety Tips

  • Check weather conditions before setting out
  • Carry appropriate clothing and equipment
  • Let someone know your planned route
  • Take a map, compass, and GPS device
  • Carry emergency supplies: food, water, first aid kit, torch

Hills

Some common questions about the hills answered

Are there group walks up Box Hill?

Many walkers use Walkmates to join or organise walks with others. You can check for group walks around Box Hill through the maps

Are there other walkers around Box Hill?

Activity varies by location and time, but Walkmates lets you see whether others have shared walks or shown interest in this area. Find other people through the walking friends search walking friends for Box Hill search or of course create your own walk for Box Hill

Can I organise a walk to Box Hill?

Yes. If there aren’t any walks listed already, you can create a walk and make it available for others to join.

If you're signed up to Walkmates, you can create a walk to Box Hill.

How do I find a walk up this hill?

There are often multiple ways to walk this hill, depending on experience and route preference. Walkmates helps you explore walks and routes that others have shared.

Can I suggest a new route up Box Hill?

Yes. You can suggest or create routes to share with others. Walkmates focuses on the social side of walking, so routes are used to help people organise walks and explore areas together, rather than as detailed navigation tools or route libraries.

Other uses really appreciate knowledgeable walkers sharing their routes. Share your favourite route to Box Hill here

The is an error or something incorrect about this hill. How do I let you know?

We always strive to keep the information on Walkmates as accurate as possible. If you find an error, please let us know through the contact form and we'll aim to correct it as quickly as possible

Location

Box Hill location map

Grid reference: ST841695

View on OpenStreetMap

Opens a map in a new tab, centred on the hill.

Nearby Hills

Glastonbury Tor

158m

Worcestershire Beacon

425m

Titterstone Clee Hill

533m

 Cribyn

Cribyn

794m

 The Wrekin

The Wrekin

407m
See 5 more nearby hills