For the outdoor sports enthusiast The Hood Arms is a great starting point. The bewildering array of wildlife and climate ensures that no two visits are the same. As well as providing a haven for creatures such as buzzards and red deer, the hills are rich in flora and fauna.
The Quantocks
A paradise for walkers, mountain bikers - sporting parties or simply relaxing taking in the amazing views across the Bristol Channel to South Wales & Brecon beacons. A landscape of extraordinary natural beauty and dramatic coastal scenery. The first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty established in 1957.
For more information visit Quantock Online.
Quantocks - Places to Visit
Cothelstone Hill - the site to two Bronze Age burial grounds, a clump of beech trees known locally as The Seven Sisters and a herd of Exmoor Ponies.
Dowsborough Hill - Home to an Iron Age hill fort.
Fyne Court Visitor Centre, Broomfield - Headquarters of the Somerset Wildlife Trust.
Ramscombe Forest - Huge trees and the ideal place to spot red deer, buzzards and maybe a kingfisher.
Will's Neck - The highest point of the Quantocks at 384 meters.
St. Andrew's Church Lilstock - A small Medieval Church.
Ponies on the Quantocks
There is a native herd of Exmoor ponies on Cothelstone Hill, and also the Quantock ponies roam the hills.
Horse riding
Horse riders come for the unspoilt countryside and panoramic views. You can ride through ancient woodland, beautiful combes and moorland. We also have Stockland Lovell Equestrian Training & Competition Centre and many other trekking centres nearby.
Kilve Beach/Fossil Hunting
A path leads down from the chantry through fields now used as a car-park to Kilve beach described by William Wordsworth as 'Kilve's delightful shore' The beach is an area of Special Scientific Interest. Exposed limestone from the late Triassic and Jurassic period (215-200 million years ago) presents wonderful fossil beds. The fossil remains of the hard coiled shells are commonly found on the beach.
Kilve Pill
Where the stream from Holford runs into the sea, was once a tiny port, used for importing Culm (type of coal). The Pill was associated with smuggling. The smugglers ponies were taught to respond to the commands in reverse, to foil the revenue men.
Oil Extraction
A red brick retort, built in 1924, the shale found in the cliffs was rich in oil. Dr Forbes-Leslie founded the Shaline Co. This all that remains of the Somerset oil boom!
Mountain Bikers
It is widely known that the Quantocks offer the best rides in England. They not only offer undulating rides on the ridge but spectacular and exhilarating downhills. They challenge the more extreme riders with steep descents and rough terrain. The Quantocks never fail to inspire all level of cyclists.
Golf
West Somerset has some fabulous Golf Courses. The famous Minehead & West Somerset Golf Club. Enmore Golf Club situated in the Quantocks, Oake Manor near Taunton and Cannington Golf Club. All welcome visitors.
Fishing
Fishing from the beach at Kilve & Lilstock for Bass & Cod and Burton Springs (near Stringston) fly and course fishing.
Reservoirs at Hawkridge, Clatworthy, Wimbleball Exmoor all trout fishing. Durleigh course fishing. Day tickets available.
Sea fishing from Watchet harbour on the Scooby Doo Too (01984 631 310). Charter boats for sea fishing trips & wreck fishing.
West Somerset Steam Railway
Steam trains to the Seaside on The West Somerset Steam Railway. Enjoy 20 miles of glorious Somerset scenery as the train travels through the hills and along the West Somerset Coast. There are ten stations along the route from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead.
Walks
The Coleridge Way. Walk 36 miles through the stunning Somerset countryside of the Quantock Hills, the Brendon Hills and Exmoor.
The West Somerset Coast Path. Kilve & Lilstock Coastal Walk with views across the Bristol Channel to the islands of Steepholm and Flatholm. At Lilstock once a working port. Another favourite from Kilve to East Quantoxhead via the coastal path back to Kilve.
Family Attractions
Tropiquaria Wildlife Park. Inside jungle, puppet theatre, pirate adventure galleons outside in the park.
The Bakelite Museum at Williton.
Historic Places
Dunster is a must. A medieval village full of shops and a castle. Well worth a visit.
Coleridge Cottage at Nether Stowey.
Selworthy on the Holnicote Estate between Minehead and Porlock.
Hestercombe Gardens. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and planted by Gertrude Jeykll. 4 miles NE of Taunton
Other Popular Coastal Places
St. Audries Bay and Shurton Bars Beach, with sand and rock pools, perfect for a summer BBQ.
Romantic Poets
Samuel Taylor Coleridge had a deep affection for the Quantocks. (It was here that he wrote Kubla Khan and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner). His friends William & Dorothy Wordsworth lived at Alfoxton House for a brief period.
Nature Reserve
Bird sanctuary at Steart, on the Seven Estuary. The reserve consists of tidal mud flats, saltmarsh, sandflats and shingle ridges. The waterfowl include Shelduck, Wigeon among many others.
