New memorial celebrates legacy behind Alton’s beloved Six Hills Walk

A new toposcope has been unveiled on Windmill Hill in memory of local walking enthusiast Robert Athis, the visionary behind Alton’s much-loved Six Hills Walk.

The Six Hills route – an 11+ mile circular walk that takes in six of the town’s most scenic viewpoints – was Robert’s idea, first proposed in 2013 and brought to life with the support of local walkers and Alton Town Council. Though Robert sadly passed away before the walk was officially launched at the 2018 Alton Walking Festival, his passion for exploring Alton’s natural beauty has lived on through the many walkers who have since followed in his footsteps.

Now, thanks to the efforts of Robert’s sister Jan and Alton Town Council, a beautiful toposcope has been installed on Windmill Hill to mark one of the walk’s most iconic viewpoints. The memorial was officially unveiled in May 2025 and serves as a tribute not only to Robert’s vision, but also to the enduring joy of walking in and around Alton.

The toposcope is located on Windmill Hill and the top of the plinth depicts radiating lines that indicate the directions of the other five hills of Alton – Ackender Hill, Brick Kiln Lane, Northanger Hill, Anstey Hill, Copt Hill & Neatham Down. The memorial was designed and made by the local stonemasons at Funeral Partners in Alton.

Walkers can enjoy the full 11-mile route or take on one of two shorter loops – the east circuit (8 miles) or west circuit (6 miles). The walk starts at the historic water trough at The Butts and follows established paths and rights of way around the town.

Leaflets detailing the route are available from Alton Town Council, or walkers can download the full guide and GPX file from the Walk Alton website. Whether you’re discovering the route for the first time or returning to a favourite trail, the Six Hills Walk remains a wonderful way to experience Alton’s countryside – and now, to reflect on the legacy of the person who helped bring it to life.

Janet Athis said: "My brother, Robert Athis, died suddenly in 2017 and so never got to see the success of The Six Hills of Alton Walk, that he had designed and investigated with help from other walkers in Alton. It was his fascination with maps, particularly those of the Ordnance Survey that give so much more information than just the route of a road or path, combined with his enjoyment of walking, that led him to see the potential for joining the Six Hill around Alton in this amazing circular walk.

Rob loved living in Alton, enjoying its location, amenities and history as well, of course, the choice of pubs! He felt very settled in this town.

In the 1980s, Rob started investigating the Athis family tree, finding that in 400 years they had all lived in villages within walking distance of each other: what he found most poignant was that none of our antecedents had had a headstone to mark they had ever existed. Strangely this absence of headstones has also happened with those Athis’ who died in the 21st century.

Rob wasn't a remarkable man who achieved great deeds, but he was a ‘thoroughly decent chap’ - the kind of amiable person who was a pleasure to talk to if you met him in the pub. As a friend of his remarked, he would be ‘tickled pink’ to know that his contribution to the Six Hills of Alton Walk has been recognised.

Although this toposcope is not a grave headstone it does at least provide a visible record of Rob’s existence.

I'd like to express my sincere thanks to Alton Town Council for allowing the positioning of this toposcope on Windmill Hill, to Michael Thorne for the original design, Funeral Partners for all the work in finishing the toposcope and getting it installed and of course to Rob’s friends Paul Ebbutt and Helen Dudley who were so instrumental in getting the Six Hills Walk finalised."