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< Back to all walks Coleridge Way Walk 51 miles through the stunning Somerset countryside of the Quantock Hills, the Brendon Hills and Exmoor, a landscape that inspired Coleridge to produce some of his best known work. Download walk Coleridge Cottage, the start of the Coleridge Way Walk info Distance Nearest postcode: 81km (51 miles) 6 days Look out for Poetry trails, costal birds on the Exmoor coastal cliffs, woodland birds through the Sessile oak woods on the Quantock Hills Location Start location Nearest postcode: What3Words: http://What3Words ///names.jazz.bolsters ​ ​ Facilities nearby There are facilities along the route. See the website for up to date information Transport and parking There are many car parks along the way and the there are a number of bus services at main stopping points along the route. See the website for up to date information. Accessibility Walk 51 miles (82km) through the stunning Somerset countryside of the Quantock Hills, the Brendon Hills and Exmoor, a landscape that inspired Coleridge to produce some of his best known work. < Previous Next >

< Back to all walks Hawkridge Woods A short walk exploring woodland around Hawkridge Reserviour with a restored limekiln and some hidden views. Download walk The restored limekiln at Hawkridge Woods Walk info Distance Nearest postcode: 1.5km (1 mile) 1 hour Look out for Roe deer running through the woods, the restored limekiln and wintering water birds on Hawkridge Reserviour. Location Start location Nearest postcode: What3Words: http://What3Words ///appraised.connects.incurs ​ ​ Facilities nearby Toilets including a wheechair accessible toilet avaiable for anglers only. Nearest public facilities at Great Wood or Fyne Court Transport and parking Free car parking in large layby at Hawkridge Reservior viewpoint. Accessibility This short walk starting at Hawkridge Reservior explores a small woodland, where a restored limekiln slowely emerges from the landscape before providing views often hidden across Aisholt Common and east across Hawkridge Reservior. < Previous Next >

< Back to FAQs Mushrooms Can I forage for fungi on the Hills? Yes, you can forage for mushrooms for your own consumption although we would recommend that you are highly experienced and know your field mushroom from your death cap! ​ Please note that removal of any flora or fauna (including mushrooms or fallen wood) from areas of SSSI (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) on the Quantock Hills is prohibited. Find out which areas are SSSI using this interactive map . < Previous Next >

< Back to Joint Advisory Committee papers (all) Joint Advisory Committee papers January 2022 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 >

< Back to Newsletters (all) Newsletter April 2020 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 >

< Back to Current Projects (all) Greater Quantock Landscape Development Fund Funding for land managers and communities to enhance landscape, nature and heritage. Start date: 1 Oct 2014 End date: ​ Funding: £163,458 Partners: Somerset Council / EDF Energy More info: ​ The Quantock Hills AONB Service is delivering the Greater Quantock Landscape Development Fund providing grants of up to £5,000 to local communities, farmers, landowners and individuals and landscape enhancement projects. The fund has been provided by EDF Energy and is part of the mitigation measures associated with the Hinkley Point C development. Since its launch in 2015 the funding has support over 50 projects and has enabled over 2.7km o new native hedge to be planted, nearly 4km of importance hedgerow to be managed over 250 orchard trees to be planted, 12Ha of woodland brought back into management, over 2,000 native trees to be planted and nearly 12Ha of wildflower meadows to be planted. Get in touch with our Landscape Projects Officer if you want more information. < Previous Next >

< Back Butterflies Summer surveys, assessing the species diversity of butterflies and moths across the Quantock Hills. Led by our great volunteers, butterfly monitoring takes place from April until September. This involves walking a transect – a fixed route around a site – on a weekly basis looking for the different species of butterflies and moths. All volunteers recieve training and benefit from the fact surveys have to take place in good weather! We are always looking for new members to join the group so please contact the team if you would like to get involved. < Previous Next >

< Back to all information leaflets Highway heritage project Download document [pdf] Detailing the very successful LHI project which renovated most of the traditional road signs in the Quantock Hills. 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 >

< 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 >

< Back to Current Projects (all) Quantock Landscape Partnership Scheme Protecting and restoring distinctive landscape features. Start date: 1 Apr 2020 End date: ​ Funding: £2.6m Partners: National Lottery Heritage Fund / Hinkley Point C s106 / National Trust / Friends of the Quantocks More info: https://qlps.org/ The Quantock Landscape Partnership Scheme (QLPS) is a £2.6m, 5 year project in and around the Quantock Hills. We started on 1st April 2020 so the Covid 19 crisis inevitably had an impact on our first year or so but we’re in full delivery mode now. Our project area is some 400 square kilometres, essentially the Quantock Hills proper plus the surrounding ring of Parishes. This is roughly twice the size of the AONB.Landscape Partnership Schemes are all about looking after a particular landscape, in our case the Quantock Hills, and they are about partnership working, bringing a diverse range of interests together to make a real difference to people and place. We have 23 individual projects, ranging from grants for restoring hedgerows, historic features, and traditional orchards through to educational work with local schools, archaeological excavations, archival research, and a wide ranging and inclusive events programme. There is something for everyone to can get involved with. The Scheme aims to protect and restore the distinctive features of the Quantock landscape, improve management of the access pressures on the Hills, and make the health and wellbeing benefits of recreation more available to communities in the surrounding towns and villages. We are increasing understanding of the development of the Manorial landscape, how it underpins the character of the Quantocks, and of the wider natural, built and cultural heritage of the area. The Scheme is also working to increase the resilience of organisations, communities, and individuals, building the capacity and skills of the volunteer base working in the area, and giving more people opportunities to contribute. The QLPS is 79% cash-funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund , with additional funding from Hinkley Point C s106 (planning) money, the National Trust , Friends of the Quantocks, and the AONB itself. Volunteer time as help in kind is also a big part of our funding package. It is hosted and led by Quantock Hills National Landscape . The Scheme has a five person staff team, assisted by partner organisations, local people and communities, and a wide variety of contractors. < Previous Next >

< Back to all walks Kilve and East Quantoxhead Explore the facinating history and geology of the wonderful Quantock Hills coast with this gentle walk Download walk The cliffs at Kilve Walk info Distance Nearest postcode: 5km (3 miles) 1.5 hours Look out for Fossils on the beach, Peregrines flying high over the cliffs, the historic buildings and features in East Quantoxhead and the Chantry ruin at Kilve. Location Start location Nearest postcode: What3Words: http://What3Words ///incisions.beanbag.tanks ​ ​ Facilities nearby Kilve Beach - toilets / accessible toilet / cafe nearby / designated parking Transport and parking Car parking (charges apply) at Kilve Beach or East Quantoxhead Accessibility The walk starts at Kilve Beach car park and explores the facinating coastal cliffs. Here you will be able to see the rock formations of alternating bands of limestones and shales that make this coast a Site of Special Scientific Interest. 200 million years ago this area was a shallow sea and the rocks are formed of silts, muds and vegatation that would have settled at the bottom of the sea. The foreshore is a great place to search for fossils which can be found in the broken stones with the fossils of extinct marine snails called ammonites. The coast is also home to an aray of wildlife from crabs, anemones, seabirds including an occasional peregrine swoping across the sky. Leaving the coast the route comes back inland and explores East Quantoxhead with Court House and the historic tithe barn and church, with glimpses into the villages past such as the sheep fold before heading back to Kilve Beach where you'll pass by the Chantry ruins part of a late 13th century manor house. < Previous Next >

< Back to Meet the team Owen Jones Partnership Ranger owen.jones@somerset.gov.uk The Partnership Ranger is a shared role with Forestry England, working 'on the ground' to help conserve and enhance the Quantock Hills. As well as working closely with landowners, farmers and local authorities to ensure good countryside management practices this role also works with events organisers and leads on the Quantock Hills National Landscapes Teams access work. < Previous Next >