Ham Hill, Nature reserve and archaeological site in Somerset, England
Ham Hill is a nature reserve and archaeological site on elevated ground featuring an ancient fortified hill and sweeping views across the surrounding landscape. The site contains open heath areas, woodland patches, and extensive old quarry pits that shape the terrain.
The site served as an important fortified trading hub during the Iron Age before Roman forces captured it in the middle of the 1st century. The place lost its role as a defense and trading center following this conquest, though traces of that early settlement remain visible today.
The stone quarried here supplied building material for important structures across the region and beyond. You can still see old quarry pits scattered across the land, evidence of centuries of stone work.
The site offers parking areas, public toilets, and a cafe for refreshments during your visit. Marked walking trails wind across the hilltop and through the grounds, making exploration straightforward for visitors of different abilities.
The hilltop rises from rock deposited around 170 million years ago during the Jurassic period, which continues to shape its geology today. This ancient foundation helps sustain the rich variety of plants and animals you find here now.
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