Offering superb views of the South Somerset Moors, Exmoor and the Mendip Hills, Ham Hill has something for everyone.
Large wildflower meadows, steeply sloping Iron Age ramparts, a deserted medieval village and historically managed woodlands all offer fantastic opportunities to explore this unique piece of Somerset countryside. This website is designed to give you a good insight to the many different areas of interest in Ham Hill and help you plan for your visit to this fascinating Country Park and hopefully make it a memorable one.
You can download a comprehensive brochure called the Ham Hill Herald which gives maps, ideas of walks and lots of informtion or a Quick Guide to Ham Hill for a map of the park and a little bit of information.
Ham Hill has a long and fascinating past. It was prehistoric man who first recognised the advantages of settling on top of this raised Hamstone outcrop. Little has survived the intervening 4000 years, but just enough has remained to let us know they were here
Artefacts such as flint tools, slingstones, quern stones and pottery that they left behind are on show at the Ham Hill Centre (phone ahead on 01935 823617 to see if a member of staff will be there to help you plan your visit). However most of the important artefacts are held at the County Museum in Taunton
Intensive occupation on the hill starts in the Iron Age. Roundhouses were built, fields created and the settlement flourished. Trading links were wide and the 200 acre size of Hamdon Hillfort testifies to the powers it held in the South West.
Huge treeless ramparts (large slopes and ditches), with wooden palaside fences on the top and Hamstone slopes were built over hundreds of years during the Iron Age to deter possible invaders from enemy tribes. All went well until the first century A.D. when a fighting force to conquer all others invaded England. Under Vespasian’s command, Hamdon Hillfort succumbed to Roman occupation!
http://www.southsomersetcountryside.com/ham-hill-country-park/history.aspx