range hills west somerset england england area outstanding natural beauty designated consist large amounts oak woodlands ancient agricultural land natural england designated national character area entirely surrounded fringes hills run south miles north west ending coast form western border hills clear day possible east wales far north hills west south highest point feet soil types weather combine support hills plants animals area acres designated biological site special scientific interest archaeological landscape features include round extensive ancient field systems hill forts evidence roman times includes silver coins discovered hills peaceful area popular mountain horse riders tourists explore paths way poet lived visit places interest surrounding villages etymology appears saxon charters centuries later book means settlement rim circle hills celtic rim circle old english settlement highest point hills called neck meaning ridge probably referring time hills marked boundary expanding saxon kingdom lands welsh west battle fought locally time geology largely formed rocks period consist sediments originally laid shallow sea slowly compressed solid rock higher north western areas older early rocks known formally seen exposed rock quarry worked road building described divisions lowest little beds located near layer beds metres thick green sandstone division sandstone approximately metres thick south newer middle late rocks known beds include sandstone limestone near great south limestone cave limestone lower fringes hills composed younger rocks period rocks laid shallow sea contain irregular masses veins mined areas younger rocks period found area falls blue anchor site special scientific interest considered international geological importance remains red brick built cliffs found rich oil coast cliffs layered compressed strata oil bearing blue yellow brown embedded fossils founded exploit strata unable raise sufficient capital company house thought structure erected conversion oil remains anticipated somerset oil boom coloured found cliffs gave rise colour blue village brick known survived somerset built supplied small vessels carrying limestone small landing garage thought operated 1870s large scale production bricks rendered small greenish grey hard rock formed compression volcanic ash found exclusively south eastern end climate rest temperate climate generally rest england mean temperature approximately shows seasonal variation modifying effect sea range parts united_kingdom january month mean minimum temperatures july august months mean daily december normally cloudy month june high pressure azores brings clear skies south west england particularly summer cloud forms inland especially near hills acts reduce sunshine average annual sunshine totals hours rainfall tends associated atlantic depressions convection summer convection caused solar surface heating forms shower clouds large proportion rain falls showers thunderstorms time year average rainfall inches days snowfall typical november march mean wind speeds highest winds june august predominant wind direction south west ecology area acres designated biological site special scientific interest conservation designation denoting protected area united_kingdom selected areas particular landscape ecological characteristics provides protection development damage neglect streams open water provide habitats range species flora covered heather plantations western steep slopes pasture woods deep stream cut north east contain extensive oak woods small flower rich areas limited drainage dominated heather significant populations cross heath purple grass hair grass drier areas covered bell heather western bent common drained deeper soils springs streams provide specialist environment supports woodland generally birch oak woodland valley woodland ash woodland support rich flora british locations present fauna habitats wide range slopes aspects provide ideal conditions rich fauna amphibians common frog common represented environments reptiles present include grass snake slow worm common bird species breed including raven european important site red deer invertebrates note include silver washed butterfly nationally rare dead wood beetles history origins evidence activity prehistoric times includes finds round marked maps ancient stones seen stone long stone tracks ridges probably originated ancient bronze age hill fort built south close centre bronze making iron age sites include major hill forts smaller near easterly spur main ridge steep natural slopes north south east fort triangular shape single ditch acres linear outer work yards away parallel westerly acres comes meaning fort oval shape single ditch following hill area acres main entrance east simpler opening north west aligned leading col south connects hill main ridge linear known ditch cuts spur little evidence exists roman influence region isolated finds hints forts roman port possible roman road ran names come old english stan meaning stone way october west 4th century roman silver discovered coins included early 2nd century dating majority struck reigns emperors julian derive range including france germany rome dark ages area remained celtic control pushed west conquered welsh king occupied rest somerset north saxon rule later consolidated king established fort documentary evidence village time manor belonged later saxon period king alfred led resistance viking invasion south east according early port plundered alfred established series forts posts linked military road army cover viking movements sea characteristic form familiar regulation foot wide track avenues trees growing laying ran ford past hill fort climbed line current road park gate went south ridge stone branch led past alfred base main branch descended hills avenue west hills evidence area hills known medieval norman conquest england given land son 1st earl somerset received given previously spelled passed manor descendants 20th century earl acquired holding property built 11th century castle sited small isolated high consisted square stone wooden superstructure stone foundations defences outer inner bailey mount wide ditch deep flat large small sites towers edge blue rubble visible structural remains castle stand conical ditch approximately castle destroyed 15th century penalty local lord involvement second uprising led taxes stone building village modern little action english civil war sir leading royalist fell parliamentary troops held attacked imprisoned restoration charles_ii conferred title baron blake son group met petitioned parliament calling peace negotiation end known participants executed rebellion attempt overthrow king elder brother charles_ii died february unpopular roman catholic people opposed king 1st duke claimed rightful heir throne attempted displace rebellion ended defeat forces battle july executed treason july supporters executed including hanging transported judge site buckingham copper extracted established followed earlier exploration perry hill financed closed attempts reopen 19th century 14th century damaged lightning strike section removed planted churchyard stone church inside church carved bench ends dating depict pagan subjects green man legend men fighting headed dragon site boat lift unused section person prisoner war camp built world war housed italian prisoners german prisoners poet samuel lived memory way set park authorities mile route begins crosses hills finishing opened route path follows figure centred northern loop taking miles long southern loop extends miles path travels types landscape including deciduous coniferous woodland private pasture fields way west follows ridge miles governance designated area outstanding natural beauty designation england notice intention create outstanding natural beauty designation order published london gazette february responsibility shared set responsible drawing management plans charity landowner conservation pressure group villages parish councils responsibility local issues elect cover area ownership single owner open land major landowners include cultural references film film based lives filmed hills literature poet lived years wrote ancient written published written second frost midnight completed published poet sister lived july june time friendship poet wrote prose account bicycle journey published pursuit spring poet lived 1920s virginia spent days honeymoon continuing continent returned year later try help virginia recover recurring nervous visited wrote poem opening john novel tailor soldier spy set visited times wrote poem titled 1980s 1990s english novelist wrote set novels centred sisters growing early 20th century art number artists spent time 1860s lodging referred include recent painter resident artist music video adams hit filmed landscape album features track titled checking line song joy division album television doctor episode makes reference region fourth doctor played claims walking time vortex little trick learned space time mystic setting final episodes eighth series places interest cottage situated constructed 17th century building containing kitchen service room ground floor corresponding bed chambers designated english_heritage grade listed building having served years moore building acquired nation following year handed following appeal rooms floor opened green grey 19th century mansion built family home 1st baron 1960s converted school centre recreation summer camps youths home home pioneer 19th century owned leased run nature reserve visitor centre headquarters kingston mary dates 13th century tower early 16th century restoration stage tower set angles decorative pierced set buttresses crowned decorative high corners named carvings punch short thick serve function unlike carry water churchyard includes tombs family owned nearby historic country house visited people year site includes acre biological notified site lesser bats designated sac house headquarters british 8th corps second world war owned administrative centre base somerset fire dates 14th century predominantly 15th century 19th century restoration including addition north aisle designated english_heritage grade listed building october january vicar heritage railway runs edge line turns inland returns coast run miles longest privately owned passenger rail line england dance song residential folk centre eastern end building dates 15th century western end 19th century addition manor mentioned book time cardinal hunting lodge family home mid-1960s folk music centre designated english_heritage grade listed building tudor origins purchased family rebuilt surrounding park acres pleasure garden developed grounds contain fish ponds bridges buildings including stands fully restored
Quantock Hills