My personal challenges

Sometimes, challenges find us rather than us finding them.

Enter, the County Tops

The County Tops

County Tops are the noted highest points of everyone county within the United Kingdom. From just 22m in London (High Holborn) to a whopping 1345m in Scotland (Ben Nevis), the variety of locations can be a challenge in itself! I didn’t mean to set a County Tops challenge, but have been gaining them alongside my Marilyn Challenge, due to many Marilyns also being the highest points in their respective countries…so I though why not.

(Sorted by elevation)

HILL	ELEVATION	COUNTY	DATE COMPLETED
Cold Overton Park	197m/640ft	Rutland
Normanby Top [The Wolds]	198m/551ft	Lincolnshire
Newtonwood Lane	205m/673ft	Nottinghamshire
Arbury Hill	225m/738ft	Northamptonshire
Erbrington Hill	261m/856ft	Warwickshire
Turners Hill	271m/889ft	West Mdlands
Bardon HIll	280m/918ft	Leicestershire	08/11/2025 – View Blog
Malvern (Worcestershire beacon)	425m/1395ft	Worcestershire	30/10/2025 – View Blog
Cheeks Hill	520m/1706ft	Staffordshire
Brown Clee Hill	540m/1772ft	Shropshire	30/11/2025
Shining Tor	559m/1834ft	Cheshire	03/01/2026
Kinder Scout	636m/2087ft	Derbyshire
Black Mountain South Top	637m/2090ft	Herefordshire

As at 22nd January 2026, I’ve totted up 4 County Tops alongside my Midlands Marilyns Challenge. That’s not bad going considering it’s not been a specific aim! As I finish the Midlands Marilyns, Normanby Top and Kinder Scout will add another two County Tops to my list, nearly half way to completing the 13 Midlands County Tops.

Not bad for a side quest!