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Planning an event on the hills? Sponsored walk, DofE training, field trip, trail run... or something else, we'd like to know so we can help you run a smooth and successful event. We h elp people enjoy the Quantock Hills in a sustainable way and we are happy to help with the planning of events to ensure this happens. A group of more than 20 individuals will be considered an event, if this applies to your event then please download and complete our provisional events notification form and return it to: quantockhills@somerset.gov.uk . Information for organisers

< Back to FAQs Dogs off lead When and where can I let my dog off the lead? The grass and heathland of the Quantocks is a prime breeding habitat for nationally rare and sensitive reptiles and ground nesting birds, so between 1st March and 31st July the rule on Quantock open access land is to stick to the public rights of way and keep your dog under control and on a lead. Search here to find out which land is open access ​ On other parts of the hills (not open access) you must keep to rights of way, your dog can be off the lead but must be under close control. Unless you are sure of your dog’s recall, always keep them on a lead when walking on rights of way or near livestock. Be aware that all year-round farmers with rights of common have their cattle, sheep and horses roaming free on the hilltop. Remember, it is legal for a farmer to shoot a dog that is worrying their livestock, so ensure that you keep your dog completely under control. < Previous Next >

< Back to Places to visit Holford A glorious village nestled at the bottom of the atmospheric oak wooded combes. More info: ​ Best time to visit Worth a visit at any time Look out for Historic buildings including the dog pound, the tannary - now Combe House Hotel, the Parish church - built in the 19th century but on the site of an earlier church originally built in the 12th century. During the spring and summer the sessile oak wooded combes are alive with migrating birds such as Pied Flycatchers, Redstarts and Wood Warbler and if you venture out at night you'll see bats, such as the rare Barbastelle, flitting through the canopy. Getting there What3Words: Nearest postcode: Google Maps link: hairpin.dumpy.obtain ​ https://maps.app.goo.gl/WqCD16mhtQwnvyn38 Address: ​ Facilities nearby A number of outlets in Holford. Nearest public toilets in Castle Street, Nether Stowey Transport and parking Parking for cars is avaliable at Holford Bowling Green car park Accessibility The village has a number of quiet lanes which are bound surface (tarmac). There are some slopes on these. There are a number of rights of way that leave from the car park, these are unsurfaced with uneven terrain and some steep slopes including cross slopes. The village of Holford has a long history and in past times was a bustling industrial area of the Quantock Hills with the Huguenot silk factory in Holford Glen, a 16th century tannery with its waterwheel, which is still present and the sessil oak wooded combes, which would have been full of charcoal burners and woodsmen managing the oak for timber and the tannery. Holford was also home to William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy between 1797 and 1798 when they rented Alfoxton House. It was during this period that William collaborated with Samuel Taylor Coleridge and the Romantic potery movement began. Sitting at the foot of Holford and Hodders Combe the village is a great starting off point to explore these majestic wooded combes. Designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Special Areas of Conservation they are nationally and internationally important for their plants and animals. < Previous Next >

< Back to FAQs Memorials Can I have a memorial tree planted or scatter ashes on the Quantocks? Unfortunately we don’t have any memorial areas for tree planting on the hills, although there is a Life for a Life memorial forest in Durleigh . Scattering of ashes needs permission from the landowner, – you can ask us and we contact landowners on your behalf. If a landowner says yes, then we would stipulate that no offerings/signage are left at the site and the ashes are carefully scattered and not piled up (as this can damage the soil). < Previous Next >

< Back to Meet the team Jem Gibson QLPS Wildlife Officer jem.gibson@somerset.gov.uk The Wildlife Officer is responsible for delivering practical conservation works and nature-based events and activities, to explore and celebrate the natural heritage of the Landscape Partnership Scheme area. < Previous Next >

Greater Quantock Landscape Development Fund 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. ​About the Greater Quantock Landscape Development Fund 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 supported 50 projects and has enabled over 2.7km of new native hedge to be planted, nearly 4km of important hedgerows to be managed, over 254 orchard trees to be planted, 12Ha of woodland brought back into management, nearly 2,000 native trees to be planted and nearly 12Ha of wildflower meadows to be planted. Over 6 projects, 4,214m2 of ponds have been created or restored. Projects could include tree planting, works to manage hedgerows, orchard planting or restoration, planting of wildflower meadows, management of small woodlands, willow pollarding or pond restoration. Quantock Hills Joint Advisory Chairman, Anthony Trollope-Bellew said "The fund has delivered so much to enhance our local landscapes over the past five years. It is a great opportunity for our communities to improve their local environments and we hope that by being able to continue to support a wide range of projects across the Greater Quantock Hills area it will improve the distinctive landscape of western Somerset". ​ Please note the eligible area includes the parishes of Broomfield, Cannington, Chilton Trinity, Durleigh, East Quantoxhead, Enmore, Fiddington, Goathurst, Holford, Kilve, Nether Stowey, Otterhampton, Over Stowey, Spaxton, Stogursey, Stockland Bristol, Stringston, Watchet, Wembdon, West Quantoxhead and Williton.​ ​ Useful information ​ Application form ​ Guidance notes for applicants

< Back to Places to visit Cothelstone Hill Open hilltop leased by the South West Heritage Trust with some of the best views across Somerset. More info: 7 sisters from the west Best time to visit Good all year around. Look out for Bird watching, from yellow hammers, linnets and stonechats. In summer visiting Redstarts and Pied Flycatchers can be seen fliting through the woods. In spring carpets of bluebells can been seen in the woodlands stretching onto the open hill. In autumn spend time exploring the grassland for a wonderful array of fungi including the colourful waxcaps. With it high elevation and open aspect the hill is a great spot to undertake a bit of star gazing. Getting there What3Words: Nearest postcode: Google Maps link: clinic.mammoths.muted ​ https://maps.app.goo.gl/5sW8nfaEaLVUrXVL9 Address: ​ Facilities nearby Fyne Court - toilets / accessible toilet / cafe / designated parking Transport and parking Parking is avaliable on site for approxately 30 cars. Accessibility Main route - accessible surface to lower viewpoint. Other routes uneven terrain with some steep slopes including cross slopes. Cothelstone Hill is a fantastic open country site in the southern end of the Quantock Hills providing some of the best views across Somerset. The hill is 90 hectares (about 126 football pitches) in size with high quality broadleaf woodland fringing the hilltop, itself full of species rich grassland. Cothelstone Hill is a great place to go walking with a self-guided circular walk or just to emerse yourself in nature and the landscape. The hill is home to a wealth of archaeological features, historic landmarks such as the iconic Seven Sisters and clues to ancient stories. < Previous Next >

< Back to Business Plans (all) Business Plan 2018-2019 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 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 >

< Back to Current Projects (all) Removing Barriers Fund Creating and enhancing access across the Quantock Hills. Start date: 1 Dec 2022 End date: ​ Funding: £68,395 Partners: Defra More info: ​ The Removing Barrier Fund will undertake capital improvement works across the Quantock Hills to improve access. This can include works on tracks to open up access, such as replacing stiles with gates, or removing obstacles allowing the use by wheelchairs or pushchairs. It can also fund activity that will improve information allowing people to make informed choices about how and where to access countryside sites < Previous Next >

< Back to all volunteering opportunities Community Engagement Volunteers Working with the Team and supporting groups to access the natural environment Community Engagement Volunteers play an important role in our outreach programme. They help with activities that raise awareness of the natural environment and the local history of the AONB. They also encourage visitor involvement and engagement by assisting with various activities, visits and events and work with groups who otherwise struggle to access the hills. It can be a very varied role with different opportunities to work with a wide variety of groups. < Previous Next >

< Back to Annual Reports (all) Annual Report 2018-2019 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 >