Quantock Hills – Great Wood and Beacon Hill

The Quantock Hills are England's first designated AONB and this 10km circuit through Great Wood and up to Beacon Hill captures their distinctive blend of ancient woodland and open heather ridgeline. The route climbs through Great Wood, a dense mixed woodland of oak, beech and holly that provides shade and shelter, before emerging onto the broad, open ridge at Beacon Hill where the views extend across the Bristol Channel to Wales and south across the Somerset Levels. The contrast between the enclosed, green woodland and the breezy, exposed hilltop gives the walk two distinct characters. With 384 metres of ascent, this is a proper climb with genuine hill walking reward.

Off-lead potential on this dog friendly walk is limited as livestock grazes both the woodland margins and the open hilltop throughout the year, with cattle and red deer both present on the Quantock ridge. Leads should be kept on across the open sections. The woodland provides excellent shelter and shade on warm days, and streams in the valley offer water access. The hilltop is exposed and catches the prevailing westerly wind, so wrap up in winter. Parking is available at several forest car parks on the Quantock ridge road. The village of Nether Stowey below has the Rose and Crown which welcomes dogs. A walk that combines genuine wilderness character with accessible Somerset countryside.