Smithcombe, Sharpenhoe and Sundon Hills, Site of Special Scientific Interest in Bedfordshire, England, UK
Smithcombe, Sharpenhoe and Sundon Hills is a protected natural site in Bedfordshire covering about 86 hectares, featuring open grasslands, a chalk escarpment, and wooded areas. The landscape includes Sharpenhoe Clappers with its steep chalk slope, Iron Age earthworks, beech woodland, and specialized chalk grassland plants.
Iron Age earthworks on Sharpenhoe show the site was inhabited in ancient times, and later rabbit warrens were established there for meat and fur production. The area gained official protection in 1985 due to its scientific and historical importance.
The site is free to enter and accessed via Sharpenhoe Road, with walking paths leading through grassland and woodland past the earthworks. The grassy slopes are easy to walk on, with the best views from the ridge tops on clear days.
The area has a reputation for being haunted, which draws curious visitors at different times of day. Remnants of medieval rabbit warrens dot the landscape, showing how the land was once farmed for meat and fur.
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