ambling about May Hill NT

With Christmas just around the corner it’s nice to be reminded of balmy summer days spent outside this year.  Hard to believe it’s already 6 months ago that we spent a lovely Sunday afternoon ambling about May Hill after reading that the iconic trees there were all under threat of being cut down due to disease.
The Corsican pine trees atop May Hill were planted in 1887 to mark Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.  Further Scots pine trees were added in 1977 to mark Queen Elizabeth’s silver jubilee. Pine trees, an unusual site in such a landscape, are said to have been planted to mark a overnight grazing ground and one of the charms of a visit to May Hill is the sight of cows snoozing and wild ponies grazing in the shade of the trees without a care in the world.
May Hill has everything you could want from a family walk.
Trees, animals, wide open space and fabulous views.
It’s a bit of a gradual climb with a bike and a toddler but nothing snacks can’t forgive. The walk-run-tumble back down is rather fun too – thirsty work though!
Thankfully the disease effecting the trees, Red Needle Band blight, is containable so only 30 trees already killed by the disease need to be removed.
See the National Trust website here for walks/maps on May Hill if interested in visiting