Discover the beauty of the Quantock Hills

The Quantock Hills are an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the area received its protected status in 1956. The Quantock Hills offer visitors peace and tranquillity, it’s an area thriving with wildlife and lots of walking routes to explore, whatever the season.

Discover incredible panoramic views of the coast, wild wooded combes, exposed heathland, and many attractive villages within this protected landscape. The diverse landscape gives the Quantock Hills a distinctive character, with its beautiful scenery, deep history and culture, and availability of recreational opportunities, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Thinking about exploring the Quantock Hills? Here are a selection of walks and useful information about the area:

Cothelstone Hill Walk: Discover an Exmoor Pony herd often clustered around the hilltop group of trees known as the Seven Sisters.

Kilve & East Quantoxhead Walk: If you head down to the beach, you may find the spiral ammonite fossils (extinct marine snails) which are 200 million years old.

Hawkridge Woods Walk: If out at dawn or dusk you may see roe deer and possibly red deer too. Buzzards can often be seen.

Ramscombe Forest Walk: The mythical nightjar arrives in the summer months and keep your eyes peeled for the occasional sparrowhawk.

For more information please visit: https://www.quantockhills.com/downloadable-walks

Discover pretty villages along the way. Here are a handful of villages, offering a local pub and amenities:

Crowcombe

The pretty village of Crowcombe is nestled in the south-western slopes of the Quantock Hills. Crowcombe can trace its history back to 854 where it was spelt ‘Cerawicombe’. The Doomsday Book of 1086 lists the name as ‘Crawcombe’. The village boasts many beautiful and historic buildings including a 17th century inn. You’ll also find a village shop and post office in the centre of the village.

Holford

The northern edge of Holford faces the sea with the southern side facing Exmoor. This beautiful little village is cut with densely wooded combes. The landscape inspired Coleridge and Wordsworth when strolling over this section of the hills. The village has a 16th century pub serving real ales and good food, welcoming walkers and mountain bikers.

West Bagborough

The highest point on the Quantock Hills is Wills Neck at 1,261 ft. The views from here are spectacular, you can see the Mendip Hills, South Wales and south to Dartmoor. West Bagborough is a small village, eight miles from Taunton and lies below Wills Neck. The village has a 16th century pub and is perfectly located for walkers to rest their weary feet!

Sampford Brett

A pleasant village situated at the north western edge of the Quantock Hills. It lies in a shallow valley cut by the Sampford stream running from Aller. The Coleridge Way footpath passes through the village. The village takes its name both from the sandy ford which crossed the Doniford stream between Sampford Brett and Woolston and from the Brett Family.

Photo Credit: Andrew Hobbs Photography

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