Ham Hill Country Park circular walk, via St Michael’s Hill 2.3 miles
Ham Hill Country Park is an Iron Age hill fort with jaw-dropping panoramic views over Somerset and the surrounding countryside. Situated on a crop of hamstone – the source of building material for South Somerset’s gorgeous honey-coloured buildings, centuries of quarrying has created Hobbit-ish dips, hills and ditches, particularly around the war memorial end of the park.
Within the 390 acres of Ham Hill Country Park, there’s a seemingly endless amount of walks with breathtaking views. I’ve been testing out a few routes recently with my three children in tow recently (aged 3, 8 and 11 years old). My toddler is a very good walker and managed this one fine without asking to be carried once. If your little one isn’t so keen on big strolls, check out these buggy-friendly walks in Somerset.
This walk took us around an hour and twenty minutes, but you can easily extend or shorten it if you wanted, as there are many public footpaths here. Highlights include wide open space for kids to flee across, woodland paths, beautiful views over rolling countryside and a pub close to the end if you need!
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Map of Ham Hill walk
On all the Somerset family walks featured, I used the OS Maps app, but it’s a good idea to have an Ordnance Survey paper map as well (Somerset isn’t renowned for its phone signal!). For this walk you need the OS Explorer Map 129 for Yeovil and Sherborne.
This Ham Hill walk starts at the purple map pin icon, heading across the fields and then follows a clockwise direction along the edge of Hedgecock Hill Wood, back to the finish line icon at Lime Kiln Inn car park.
Ham Hill walk info
DISTANCE OF WALK: 2.36 miles (3.8km)
WALK TYPE: circular
PARKING: There are a number of free car parks around Ham Hill. The one we used is Lime Kiln Inn – the second on the right if you are driving along Ham Hill Rd towards Montacute, post code: TA14 6RW. Click here for Google Map point. You will need to walk along the road to the start of the walk, so be careful.
If there is no parking available, try Norton car park – the first on the right on Ham Hill Road.
WALK HIGHLIGHTS: Wide open space, woodland paths, beautiful views over rolling countryside.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE: Around one hour
PUBLIC TOILETS: There are no public toilets on this walk, but The Prince of Wales pub is close to the car park
The walking route
- START: Click here for Google Map point
- Grid reference: ST 4801 1641
- Post code: TA14 6RW
- what3words: ///joke.flop.feared
Route follows a clockwise direction
1. Follow the footpath leading from the lime kiln car park to the road. Walk along the road until you see a gate where you can cross into the field (opposite the Ham Hill Country park sign).
2. Walk across the field, following the line of the stone wall.
3. Turn right when you get to the treeline and go through the gate.
4. Walk with the treeline on your left, go through another gate and continue straight ahead, where you will see a gate straight ahead leading into the woods.
5. Walk downhill through the woods and follow the path round to the the right.
6. You will come out at a field at the bottom of St Michael’s Hill. Go through the gate and head round to the right, where you’ll see another gate.
7. Head through this kissing gate and keep following the path as it slowly climbs back uphill, with stunning views across to Montacute.
8. Stick to the path as you edge round the top of the hill – this is Abbey Farmland.
9. Turn right, heading towards the farm buildings until you reach the road.
10. Cross over the road and go through the gate into Witcombe Valley. My kids couldn’t resist the hill here and pegged it down, to come back up Butcher’s Hill. I stuck to the field path that follows the road, all the way back to the Ham Hill Country Park sign.
11. Walk along the road back until you see the path on your left that heads back to the car park. Or, if you miss it, continue all the way along the road to the car park.
Post-walk treats
If you’ve got any energy left, you could extend the walk and keep going to the Prince of Wales pub, which has outdoor seating overlooking some fabulous views. Inside, there are crackling fires in winter – proper country pub stuff. If people are flagging, there is a closer car park, just outside the pub (which does get busy).
More info on Ham Hill Country Park.
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If you liked this post, check out more walks in Somerset:
- Wayford Woods easy circular walk, 1.1 miles
- 14 Buggy and pram friendly walks Somerset
- 33 Free things to do in Somerset
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