The Tattooed Hills

‘A fascinating detective story told with humour and joy that unravels the threads of history and legend to reveal the strange stories of Britain’s hill figures.’ – Fiona Roberston, author of Stone Lands

A journey through Britain’s chalklands, uncovering the stories, symbolism and shifting meanings of the mysterious figures carved into our hills. 

Across southern England and beyond, the land bears the marks of centuries – white horses, giants, crosses, badges, even a lost panda – cut into the chalk and exposed to the sky. In The Tattooed Hills, writer Jon Woolcott travels to these remarkable sites, exploring their history and the deep cultural roots that link landscape to identity. 

Part travelogue, part cultural history, Woolcott examines how these figures – sometimes ancient, sometimes surprisingly recent – reflect our collective imagination, and how their interpretations have changed over time. Once emblems of pride or remembrance, they have become mirrors of our shifting values and contradictions. 

From Iron Age hillforts to modern regimental carvings, The Tattooed Hills brings together archaeology, folklore, art, literature and music to reveal the evolving story of Britain’s chalk landscapes and the people who shaped them.

Beautifully written and steeped in a sense of place, Woolcott visits many of England’s Chalk figures, delving into their mysteries, including The Westbury White Horse, the Long Man of Wilmington, The Cerne Abbas Giant and the Uffington White Horse.

A captivating exploration of landscape, culture and belonging, The Tattooed Hills reveals how the chalk beneath our feet connects us to our past and continues to shape who we are today. 

‘Woolcott is the most splendid company on this intoxicating, immaculately researched tour of chalky weirdness. He has a keen ear for the murmuring voice of Deep England, and the wisdom to know that the more one knows about a place or a person, the more profound the mystery.’ -Charles Foster, author of The Edges of the World, Being Human and Being A Beast