Magic hill

[JonW]

I'm aware this sounds weird, but here goes... Can anyone shed any light on this place or phenomenon? A friend claims to have visited a hill somewhere in south-east England where, due to some bizarre freak of nature or, more likely, an optical illusion, you can take the handbrake off your car and it rolls (or appears to) uphill. Now obviously this sounds like a wind-up but this lad's as honest as they come and really not the type to go for that. And I like to think I'm not the gullible sort. I seem to remember that this place was somewhere in the Chilterns. My friend claims it's well known locally. Has anyone ever heard about it?

[Quizmonster]

I'm not sure about the Chilterns, but Electric Brae on the A719 in Ayrshire, Scotland, fits exactly this description, too. For an explanation of this optical illusion - which occurs worldwide - click: http://physics.hallym.ac.kr/education/faq/roll-uph
ill.html

[JonW]

Cheers Quizmonster, much obliged. It sounds like this illusion is more commonplace than I realised. Does anyone know any other places in the UK where this happens?

[Hamish]

There are a few places where this can be experianced. I have been on the Electric Brea, an optical illusion. I don't know of the location of any more in the UK but there is a car park in Moldova where you can experiance the same thing. Its an optical illusion generated by the surrounding hills and trees.

[xyzzyplugh]

We called it magnetic hill; Forgot the exact location but Isle of Man, near the fairy bridge where you need to say 'Good Morning Fairies' as you cross.

[Cetti]

It's on the road from Douglas to Castletown, xyzzy.

[ecathted]

I HAVN`T BEEN TO THE CHILTERNS,BUT IN FLORIDA THERE IS A PLACE CALLED SPOOK HILL WHERE EXACTLY THE SAME THING HAPPENS. I ACTUALLY GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND WATCHED IT AND ALSO TOOK PICS OF IT,IT IS REALLY WEIRD