Quantock hills national landscape in Somerset

What are the Quantock Hills?

The Quantocks, located in Somerset in the southwest of England, are part of England’s National Landscapes. These landscapes were previously called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The landscape is a mix of heathland, oak woodlands, ancient parklands, and coastal areas.

The hills are composed mostly of rocks from the Devonian period, formed over 400 million years ago. These rocks are some of the oldest in Somerset and include sandstone and slate.

Archaeological sites in the Quantocks reflect thousands of years of human activity. You can find bronze age burial mounds, cairns, Iron age hill forts and Roman settlements dotting the landscape

Flora and fauna can you find on the Quantocks

The Quantocks are home to a wide variety of species. Sessile oaks, historically coppiced for charcoal and tanning, now host many epiphytes, including ferns, liverworts, and mosses.

The heathland areas are covered in heathers and bracken, which provide habitat for meadow pipits, skylarks, and a variety of insects such as moths and butterflies. Red deer and lizards are also frequently spotted.

Under the tree canopy and in areas with poorer soils, you can find whortleberry, a close relative of the blueberry. Its berries ripen in late summer and can be used to make jam.

Folklore and legends of the Quantocks

Ghosts

Dowsborough, with its gnarled oak trees and ethereal atmosphere, is home to an Iron Age hill fort. According to legend, a raiding party of Danes met their end on this hill many centuries ago. On stormy nights, some say you can hear the echoes of Viking warriors feasting in the halls of Valhalla.

Dragons

By the sea at St Audrie’s Bay lie the cracked, petrified remains of Blue Ben, a fearsome dragon said to have roamed the Quantocks. After a particularly large meal, the dragon waded into the water for a dip. But as he tried to rise, he became trapped in the thick silt on the bank and drowned.