Walk Details
Ham Hill Country Park in South Somerset has something to offer everyone – large wild flower meadows, mature woodland, Iron Age ramparts, open space and spectacular views. This walk takes you through some of the varied landscapes of the park.
Our walk starts at the ranger station where there is ample free parking close by. The ranger station also has toilets should they be needed. From here we’re heading in a northerly direction – using the footpath to cut across the grassy area to the car park where we go through the gate ahead of us.
We are following this path straight on until the War Memorial Monument comes into view. As we get closer we follow the path that goes underneath it before snaking around to the left to bring us up to it. If you prefer – there are some steps up that you could take instead.
The memorial is made from local Hamstone and is on the highest point of the hill (130m) offering wide reaching views of the surrounding countryside and out towards the Somerset Levels. On a clear day you may even see the Mendip Hills out in the distance.
There are plenty of benches dotted along the route should you want to pause for a while, and information boards that give you a wealth of information about the rich history of this land.
Retracing our steps back down again – we now head towards the stone circle. Contrary to what you may think – these stones were only put in place at the end of the 20th Century to honour the quarrying history of this land.
The path then continues round to another gate to pass through and into the car park. In front of you is the Prince of Wales pub that is the perfect place to pause for some refreshments.
From here we’re headed down into the woodland, taking the path next to the pub and then taking a left and heading down the steps to join another path where we turn right. If you have older children with you – there’s a great play area here that they may enjoy scrambling through!
We follow the path through the mature woodland, weaving round to the right until we come to the Time Stones. These were carved in 1996 by Evelyn Body and were inspired by Bronze Age axe heads found on the site.
From here we’re heading through the gate and walking a lap around the meadow – a noticeably different ecosystem to those we’ve already been walking through today. In summer months these meadows are alive with wildlife. There are buttercups, orchids, insects, butterflies and a good population of skylarks.
Heading back through the gate once more and past the Time Stones, we’re heading back towards the ranger station, through a Victorian quarry scape that nature has taken back for her own.
There are plenty of benches to pause along the way and perhaps have a picnic and, if you have your four legged friend with you, plenty of poo bag bins around the whole site.
Our route finishes at the ranger station – although a short detour will take you back to the Prince of Wales pub for refreshments if needed.
Read more ...
Nearest Train (or tube) Station(s):
Yeovil
