top of page

Search Results

206 items found for ""

  • Annual Report 2021 - 2022

    < Back to Annual Reports (all) Annual Report 2021 - 2022 Download document [pdf] < Previous Next >

  • Horse riding

    < Back to FAQs Horse riding Where is a good place to park my horse box to ride on the hills? There are various places which we would deem suitable for parking a horse box. ​ Ramscombe - (GR ST 165 377) this is a Forestry Commission site and parking is Pay and Display. The access is relatively flat and there is plenty of room to manoeuvre. ​ From Taunton – travel out through Kingston St Mary and straight over the cross roads at the Pines Café following signs for Nether Stowey. Stay on this road until you see signs for Over Stowey, turn left at the Marsh Mills crossroads where Ramscombe is then signposted. Continue over the cattle grid and follow the lower track towards Ramscombe car park. From Bridgwater – travel through Spaxton, continue past Hawkridge Reservoir on your right. At the T-junction just past the reservoir turn right and stay on this road until you see signs for Over Stowey, turn left at the Marsh Mills crossroads where Ramscombe is then signposted. Continue over the cattle grid and follow the lower track towards Ramscombe car park. ​ Woodlands Hills Layby - (GR ST 157408) suitable for larger vehicles this is directly beside the A39 between Nether Stowey and Holford. ​ Triscombe Stone (GR ST 163359 ) or Cockercombe (GR ST 185365) - the parking around Cockercombe Forestry Commission office is flat and easy to access, the drive from here up to Triscombe stone is quite steep and narrow. Although passable we would only recommend this with a smaller vehicle. ​ From Taunton – travel out through Kingston St Mary and straight over the cross roads at the Pines Café following signs for Nether Stowey. Continue on this road past Hawkridge Reservoir, around some sharp bends, through the small settlement of Plainsfield. Once on the straight take a left turn off the road signposted to Triscombe Stone. Follow this lane, over the cattle grid and the Cockercombe Forestry Office is on the left. Continue past this and bear right, travel up the hill about 1 mile until you come to a sharp left hand bend follow the road around and continue till you come to Triscombe Stone parking area. From Bridgwater – travel through Spaxton, continue past Hawkridge Reservoir on your right. At the T-junction just past the reservoir turn right. Continue around some sharp bends, through the small settlement of Plainsfield. Once on the straight take a left turn off the road signposted to Triscombe Stone. Follow this lane, over the cattle grid and the Cockercombe Forestry Office is on the left. Continue past this and bear right, travel up the hill about 1 mile until you come to a sharp left hand bend follow the road around and continue till you come to Triscombe Stone parking area. < Previous Next >

  • Quantock Issues education pack

    < Back to educational resources (all documents) Quantock Issues education pack Download document [pdf] This pack provides potential topics and activities for KS2 Geography “study an environmental issue, caused by change in environment, and attempts to manage the environment sustainably”. Click on the button above to download a copy of this document. If you require a different format, please email quantockhills@somerset.gov.uk or call 01823 451884. < Previous Next >

  • Business Plan 2015-2016

    < Back to Business Plans (all) Business Plan 2015-2016 Download document [pdf] Click on the button above to download a copy of this document. If you require a different format, please email quantockhills@somerset.gov.uk or call 01823 451884. < Previous Next >

  • Heath | Quantock Hills

    Heath The Quantock Hills along with Exmoor and Dartmoor National Parks are well known for the quality of their heathlands. The mix of different types of heath are an important feature of the Quantock Hills. The upland heath is dominated by dwarf shrubs of ling heather with whortleberry, bell heather, cross leaved heath and western gorse also present. The western heath are dominated by bell heather and western gorse. ​ On the better drained deeper soils of the lower slopes bracken is more prevalent. The bracken is often found with whortleberry, wavy-haired grass and dwarf shrubs such as heather and gorse. The heaths support a range of characteristic animals. Birds include: Dartford Warbler, Whinchat, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Linnet, Wheatear and Raven. Nightjars can be heard during the summer months, whilst you may be lucky and spot a Hen Harrier gliding over the heath during the winter. A variety of invertebrates including a wide range of moths and butterflies such as the Small Heath and Grayling are to be found. ​ Although primarily woodland animals Red Deer can often be seen grazing on the heath in the early morning and late evening. The close proximity of heathland to scrub and woodland habitats creates a ‘transition zone’ of particular ecological importance. This area can be favoured by some animals and birds, such as Redstart and Tree Pipit. Due to the increase of agricultural improvement of land the amount of heath left in the UK has decreased. Because of the ecological importance of this habitat the heathlands on the Quantock Hills are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

  • July 2021

    < Back to Joint Advisory Committee papers (all) Joint Advisory Committee papers July 2021 Download document [pdf] Click on the button above to download a copy of this document. If you require a different format, please email quantockhills@somerset.gov.uk or call 01823 451884. < Previous Next >

  • About | Quantock Hills

    About Quantock Hills Partnership Meet the team What is a National Landscape?

  • News | Quantock Hills

    News and social Latest blog post Nov 21, 2023 National Landscapes – A new name for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty Read more blogs Subscribe to our newsletter Latest from Facebook

  • Combe | Quantock Hills

    Combe The ancient wooded valleys of the Quantock Hills are a magical landscape, criss crossed with woodland trails and alive with the sound of birdsong. A place of tranquility, dappled light and rich woodland wildlife. There are four main types of woodland found within the National Landscape. Ash-hazel woodlands, western sessile oak woodlands, coniferous plantation and small farm woodlands. ​ The sessile oak woodlands are designated a Special Area of Conservation at European Level, they are also protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest making them a valuable resource. These ancient woodlands were coppiced for centuries prior to the 20th century for charcoal making and tanning, a process where the trees were cut to ground level and then allowed to grow back. They can be identified by the acorn which sits directly on the branch, and due to the poor quality of soil on the hillsides have twisted trunks, adding to the atmosphere of the woodlands. ​ Great Wood was originally a Royal hunting forest. Oak trees were used for ship building in the 1800s. In the 1900s the Forestry Commission planted conifer trees to reduce our reliance on imports. Today the wood is a haven for people and wildlife.

  • Farming fringe | Quantock Hills

    Farming fringe The predominate land use of the Quantock Hills is farming with over 90% of the National Landscape being managed for agriculture. On the hilltops and steep slopes the land is relatively poor which influences the type of agriculture with just over half being permanent grassland. In recent years more land has been converted to arable, especially around the fringes of the hills. Many of our farms are small with 80% of the farms within the National Landscape being under 100Ha. As well as providing food farmland is able to provide other benefits to society. These are sometimes called ‘public goods’. Sensitive and appropriate management of farmland can provide benefits such as flood mitigation and prevention, nature and wellbeing, carbon sequestration (capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere) and fuel in the form of trees and woodland. Regenerative agriculture, where the farming system enhances the soils and adds to biodiversity, will also benefit the wildlife as well as the farming system itself by increasing genetic diversity of crops and livestock, increase pollinator insects and provide for disease and pest regulation. The farmland of the Quantock Hills is also a great place to explore with many public rights of way criss-crossing the fields. It is home to some wonderful wildlife from birds such as Yellowhammer and Linnets, buzzards and tawny and barn owls to some of our rarer species such as the pink waxcap, which is only found in species rich grasslands. In recent years you are likely to spot a roe deer as it leaps away, or if you are really lucky you may see a red deer which are usually found on the heathlands and in the woods.

  • Quantock Hills Events Page

    Events coming up This page is for upcoming events in and around the Quantock Hills. Some are led by us, others are led by partnership organisations and some are independent events. Events led by us can be booked on this website and will be shown below. Sold Out The Quantock Hills by Night Tue, 02 Apr Cothelstone Hill, TA4 3DT 02 Apr 2024, 19:30 – 21:30 02 Apr 2024, 19:30 – 21:30 Join Iain, the Quantock Hills National Landscape Manager, at the start of International Dark Skies Week and the Easter Half Term as he explores Cothelstone Hill at night. +17 more Booking closed The links below are to other protected landscapes and organisations nearby that also run events nearby:

bottom of page