The Blackdown Hills were designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1991. They form a readily identifiable landscape straddling the border of Somerset and Devon and stretch from the M5 in the north to Honiton and Axminster in the south and from Chard in the east to Culmstock in the west.

The AONB covers 360 square kilometres and sits between 150 metres and 310 metres above sea level. It is characterised by a sense of relative remoteness and tranquillity and embraces a diverse range of landscapes. From the dramatic, steep wooded north facing scarp the AONB dips gently southwards as a flat topped plateau, deeply dissected by valleys. On the tops there are wide open windswept spaces, whilst in the valleys nestle villages and hamlets surrounded by intricate and ancient patterns of small enclosed fields and a maze of winding high-hedged lanes. Its value to both residents and visitors alike lies in the integrity and tranquillity of the landscape as a unit of English countryside relatively unchanged over the last 200 years.

How The Blackdown Hills came to be designated an AONB...
The rationale for AONB designation being applied to the Blackdown Hills lies in four main areas, identified in the 1989 Landscape Assessment (Countryside Commission):

The Visual Character of the landscape
The landscape assessment identified five different types of landscape that are seen in the Blackdown Hills:

Woodlands
Wet woodland
Ruthersleigh Moor is the best example of wet woodland. It is rich in grey willow, goat willow, alder, downy birch, ash, oak, tussock sedge, high pendulous sedge, kingcup, great horsetail, opposite leaved saxifrage, redpoll, siskin, woodcock.

Ancient broad-leaved woodland
Priors Park and Adcombe Woods are well known sites of ancient woodland. Species found here include Ash, field maple hazel small leaved lime, wild service tree, pedunculate oak, beech, hawthorn, blackthorn, spindle, dogwood wayfaring tree bluebell, primrose, wood anemone, red campion, lords and ladies, stinking iris, speckled wood ringlet butterfly, purple hairstreak, Wood white, silverwashed fritillary, wood warbler, redstart, dormouse, small pearl-bordered fritillary.

Early Man
The landscape of the Blackdown Hills has been shaped and modified by man; from early human hunters to modern farmers and householders, the landscape continues to evolve and change. Evidence of early human activity in the Yarty valley is provided by finds of flint and chert tools and Bronze Age man left his mark with barrows such as those at Robin Hood Butts up on the plateau.

Iron Age - Roman Britain
Iron Age Hill forts, including the strongly defended sites of Dumpdon Hill, Hembury and Knapp Hill, dominate the fringes of the AONB. However, evidence of Romano-British settlement is rare. Castle Neroche built on the northern escarpment overlooking the Vale of Taunton was largely established in its present form shortly after the Norman invasion, although there is evidence from both earlier Iron Age use and later, the large motte was added.

Medieval Influences
The managed woodland of Neroche Forest to the east of the Castle was used by many parishes in the area and although the Forest was enclosed into fields in the 1830s traces of woodbank survive. Much of the existing settlement pattern will have originated in the medieval period; a pattern based on dispersed hamlets and farmsteads. Many of the irregular fields and massive hedges found in the valleys, such as around Clayhidon, represent land taken directly into cultivation from woodland probably by the time of the Norman conquest. The pollen record shows that in medieval times the woodland of the area was being increasingly cleared to make way for agriculture. There is little evidence of large medieval open fields, although strip fields have been noted along the eastern part of the AONB.Many abandoned farmsteads and hamlets arise from the medieval period, established on areas of marginal land during times of great agricultural prosperity. Jacob's City at Clayhidon is one example, although many such sites survive as earthworks.

Dunkeswell Abbey
The establishment of Dunkeswell Abbey in the 13th Century is believed to have had a significant impact on the Blackdown Hills. To increase productivity on its extensive holdings in the area the monks established manor and grange farms to promote field enclosure and woodland clearance.

Wellington Monument
Wellington monument is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the AONB. Overlooking the Vale of Taunton the monument was erected in the mid 19th century to honour the 'Iron Duke', Sir Arthur Wellesley, who having defeated Napoleon chose Wellington for his title.

Wolford Chapel
Another landmark in the centre of the AONB is Wolford Chapel, owned by the Ontario government and the family chapel of General Simcoe, the first Lord Lieutenant of Ontario. Much of the plateau remained as common land, providing grazing, firewood and turf for fuel up to the 19th century.

The Parliamentary Enclosure Acts
A succession of Parliamentary Enclosure Acts resulted in the layout of regular field systems with straight hedgelined roads. Stockland Hill, enclosed in 1864, is a fine example of such a planned landscape. Beacon Hill in Upottery parish was the last area of England to be enclosed in this way and was undertaken in 1874.

Mining
Abandoned and overgrown pits and scars dot the Blackdown Hills landscape, sites from where chalk, marl, sand and gravel were extracted for use in soil improvement. Many limekiln sites are to be found particularly in the east of the area. Archeological survey has confirmed that ironworking was an important industry from prehistoric to medieval times. Large quantities of iron slag have been found together with evidence of smelting sites and opencast pits were a common feature of the plateau. Mining of the hard seam of stone within the greensand for whetstone production reached its heyday in the 18th and 19th centuries. Hill slopes around Kentisbeare and Broadhembury contain many blocked or collapsed shafts.

Cold Harbour Mill
Cold Harbour Mill built around 1800 on the western edge was sited to exploit the available water power of the river Culm and was used for wool and yarn production until its commercial closure in 1981. It was a major employer and is now managed as an educational trust and continues to play an active part in retelling the industrial history of the area.

Airbases
The World War II airbases at Dunkeswell, Upottery and Culmhead have major impacts on their local landscapes and contain many buildings and structures related to their use, as well as being a draw for overseas visitors and relations of those service men stationed here during the war.

Architecture
The distinctive architecture that has evolved in the Blackdowns is another reason given for the 1991 designation as an AONB. The local materials of chert stone, cob, thatch and clay tiles survive and are displayed in large quantities in the working houses that were constructed for a largely agriculturally based population. Many contain internal details dating back to medieval times, but often these have been reworked in the 18th or early 19th century, so that an undistinguished exterior can hide earlier origins. The local vernacular continues to evolve with new designs and aspirations beginning to play their part in the landscape. The many older buildings that do survive are at risk from unsympathetic repairs and over restoration. Barns are particularly at risk from conversions that fail to respect their distinctive character and function.

The Working Landscape
Traditional Agriculture
The beautiful Blackdown landscape owes much to traditional agriculture and thankfully this is still the largest industry in the Hills. Predominately, this takes the form of wholesale milk production, outdoor pig rearing and sheep farming with some arable farming.

Exploring The Blackdown Hills...
The visitor who enjoys a range of outdoor activities will delight in the Blackdown Hills.

For those who want to seek out history and heritage, there are two ancient Hill Forts to explore, a wealth of churches and chapels, as well as the remains of a Cistercian Abbey and a Castle. During the next couple of years the World War 2 Airfields will attract veterans who travel to the area to remember the events of 60 years ago.

The area has seen some famous folks over the years - R D Blackmore, author of Lorna Doone lived at Culmstock and Joseph Kennedy, one of the Kennedy's, sadly lost his life at Dunkeswell during WW2.

Evidence of the area's industrial heritage is still to be found, especially at the working wool museum at Coldharbour. Visit Blackborough and learn more about the Whetstone Mining industry, which was still active up to the turn of the last century.

The best means to really explore the area is by foot, bicycle (although you need to be prepared to tackle a number of hills) and on horseback. The area has some wonderful treasures to discover and often you will feel that you are the first one to come across jewels such as the Otterhead Lakes or the spectacular views from the tiny road that abuts Henstridge Common. (Please note, though, that there is no access for horses and horses are not permitted at Otterhead -it is footpaths only).

For the more adventurous there is the opportunity to sky dive, fly a glider or pilot a micro-light.
For those who want a quieter life, try a days fishing for Trout or Perch at a number of different locations throughout the area.
www.blackdown-hills.net/enjoying2.htm

Food & Drink...
The Blackdown Hills is home to a mouth watering selection of food and drink too. Drawing from the natural resources, producers have made use of the landscape to create traditional and new products.

Over the centuries, the Blackdown Hills has been self sufficient with the many landscape features providing growing conditions suited to a variety of crops and beasts. The farmers that work on the land have done so for years. They still employ the traditional methods that result in the landscape retaining the natural beauty and the food they produce tasting so special. Sparkling fresh local produce can be sourced from a variety of farm shops, or delivered directly to your door.

The area has a wealth of traditional country pubs and small family run Hotels that make use of homegrown food and B&B; providers' pride themselves on producing tasty breakfasts using eggs, bacon and sausages from neighbouring farms. Village shops are the lifeblood of local communities and depend on local trade to keep going.

Hand Made in The Blackdown Hills
The tranquillity and sense of timelessness of the Blackdown Hills provides inspiration for a huge range of artists and crafts people living and working in the area.