Enjoying the Quantocks

So many ways to enjoy the Quantock Hills without endangering the environment or wildlife.

You can:

Explore the magnificent Great Wood.  Follow waymarked trails (including an all ability trail) from Ramscombe.  Facilities at Ramscombe include toilets and  BBQ and picnic area. A grassy glade surrounded by beautiful woodland.  For more information click here

Tackle some of the best mountain bike routes in the West Country. Buy an Ordnance Survey 140 map to create your route. Please stick to the bridleways.

Ride horses or ponies along the many bridle paths (Lydeard Hill and Staple Plain have car parks that are large enough for a horse box if you are travelling

Walk from one end of the hills to the other and enjoy the breathtaking scenery and, if you don't want to walk, ride or cycle, you can do so many other activities.  You can download a series of walks in the Quantocks by clicking here. Or download Ranger Tim's favourite walk click here

Lounge around or have a BBQ at the picnic area of Ramscombe

Spend a day at the beach - Kilve is suitable for families, especially children, who will be fascinated by the flat ammonites exposed on the foreshore and has great rock pooling as well.

Indulge your inner child and go on the West Somerset Railway which has steam trains that run from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead.

Take a stroll through the historic gardens at Hestercombe including The Edwardian Formal Garden created by Sir Edwin Lutyens and the planting by Gertrude Jekyll 

Bring the children to Fyne Court in Broomfield with its nature trails, picnic area, and, most importantly, toilets.

 

Coleridge Cottage at Nether Stowey and maybe walk the Coleridge Way.

 

 

This is just a taster of what we have to offer for your enjoyment so visit our individual headings (Coast, Heath, Wildlife, Combe) for more detail or contact the relevant Tourist Information Centres:

  • Bridgwater: 01278 436438
  • Minehead: 01643 702624
  • Taunton: 01823 336344

Where can you go:

Walkers are allowed to use footpaths, bridleways and restricted byways and have right of access across the open hilltops

Horse riders and mountain bikers are well provided for through the numerous bridleways and restricted byways they are allowed to use. It is important to note however that under the CRoW Act 2000 it is illegal for motorised vehicles to off road on the Quantock Hills without specific landowners' permission.

To enjoy this area fully Ordnance Survey Explorer 140 map show all access land and the rights of way mentioned above. We hope you enjoy yourselves and leave the Quantocks in the same condition you found them.

Georgie Grant - November 2010

Stay in the loop

Annual Reports

View Annual reports from the Quantock AONB Service

AONB Planning Consultation Comments 2011

Please click below to read responses made by the AONB on behalf of the Quantock Hills Joint Advisory Committee

Information leaflets

Find out more about why the heathland is so important for birds, the red deer on the Quantocks and why the history of the landscape is so special.

Management Plan

The Quantock Hills AONB Management Plan 2009-2014 and Management Plan Summary

Newsletters

If you would like to subscribe to the Quantock Hills e-newsletter please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and we will put you on our mailing list

Other organisations and activities in the Quantocks

A few things you might find interesting from organisations we work with in the Quantocks

Planning Guidance and Position Statements

Find our guidance documents and position statements here.

PREPARING FOR CHANGE

Climate-proof your tourism business

Quantock Deer Count Results 7 March 2010

The results of the annual Quantock Deer Count held on 7 March 2010.

QUANTOCK ECO EVENTS PROGRAMME

Building Resilient Villages

Quantock Hills Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) Papers

Papers from the partnership committee the Joint Advisory Committeeqhjac_papers_22nd_july_11.pdf

Quantock Hills Visitor Guide

Quantock Hills Visitor Guide

Recreation Leaflets

a full range of leaflets from circular walks to event guides and leaflets to allow you to enjoy the best of the hills

SCC disposal of land

Find out the Quantock Hills AONB Service position

Sustainable Development Fund forms

The SDF for 20011/12 has £45,000 to allocate. This will provide grants to organisations, businesses, community groups and individuals who wish to explore and develop practical projects that enhance, conserve and develop the environment, economy and way of life.

Tick Leaflet

Ticks are becoming more common and a bite from this spider-like parasite could lead to Lyme Disease. This is a treatable infection caused by bacterium transmitted by ticks when they bite. Not every tick carries Lyme Disease and it is important to realise that the disease is relatively rare.

Wild Places competition

Win a chance to create your own 'wild place'.

Information

Useful Contacts

Quantock AONB Service
Tel: 01823 451 884

Somerset Wildlife Trust
Tel: 01823 652 400
www.somersetwildlife.org

National Trust
Tel: 01823 451 814
www.nationaltrust.org

Forestry Commission
Tel: 01278 732 319