Hillier's Down

Downs, Moorland in Somerset Mendip

England

Hillier's Down

View from Clapton Road, Midsomer Norton View across the valley of the Wellow Brook, taken looking south from Clapton Road in Midsomer Norton.
Old Mills Colliery tip is the distance. — View from Clapton Road, Midsomer Norton Credit: Kevin Pearson

Hillier's Down is a picturesque area located in Somerset, England. It is renowned for its stunning natural beauty, consisting of rolling hills, vast moorland, and charming villages. Covering a vast expanse of approximately 500 acres, Hillier's Down offers a peaceful and tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

The landscape of Hillier's Down is characterized by its undulating hills, covered in lush green grasses and dotted with wildflowers during the warmer months. The area is also home to a diverse range of fauna, including various species of birds, rabbits, and deer. It is a haven for nature lovers and birdwatchers, who can often spot rare and migratory birds in the area.

The moorland in Hillier's Down is a unique feature, with its rugged terrain and heather-covered hills providing a stark contrast to the surrounding countryside. The moors are a popular destination for hikers and walkers, who can explore the numerous footpaths and trails that wind through the area. From the top of the hills, visitors are rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and the nearby Somerset Levels.

The villages surrounding Hillier's Down are known for their quaint charm and traditional architecture. They offer visitors a glimpse into rural life in Somerset, with their thatched cottages, village greens, and historic churches. The local pubs and tearooms provide a warm welcome to visitors, offering delicious meals and refreshments made with locally sourced ingredients.

In summary, Hillier's Down is a stunning area of natural beauty in Somerset, offering visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the tranquility of the countryside, explore the moors, and experience the charm of the surrounding villages.

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Hillier's Down Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.28901/-2.5156198 or Grid Reference ST6454. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

View from Clapton Road, Midsomer Norton

View across the valley of the Wellow Brook, taken looking south from Clapton Road in Midsomer Norton. Old Mills Colliery tip is the distance.

Kevin Pearson

Langley's Lane near Clapton

Langley's Lane, which runs from the small village of Clapton to the A362 near Midsomer Norton, crossing the trackbed of the former Bristol & North Somerset Railway just past where the photograph was taken. The colliery heap of Old Mills Colliery is in the background.

Kevin Pearson

The Old Parsonage, Farrington Gurney

Listed Grade II* and dating from the late C17. Parsons lived well in those days! It is now a hotel and restaurant.

Eirian Evans

Farrington Gurney : Church Lane

Church Lane off Bush Hill.

Lewis Clarke

Arnhem Memorial

A poignant tribute to be found in an unremarkable field on the outskirts of Paulton, Somerset. The legend details how two gliders that were on the way to Arnhem came down here in 1944, claiming all aboard. Also see ST6455 : Arnhem Memorial, ST6455 : Trig point near a war-time crash site and ST6455 : Arnhem Memorial inscription for more views of the inscriptions.

Neil Owen

Arnhem Memorial inscription

The legend gives details of the terrible loss over home soil, shortly after taking off from RAF Keevil, only a few miles away. See ST6455 : Arnhem Memorial and ST6455 : Trig point near a war-time crash site for more views.

Neil Owen

Flush bracket, Paulton

The identifying bracket on the pillar, which is still in good condition. See ST6455 : Paulton trig pillar.

Neil Owen

Paulton trig pillar

Placed near the summit of the field, it overlooks some great views of the surrounding countryside (see ST6455 : Trig point near a war-time crash site) and also the Arnhem Memorial (seen in distance). The flush bracket can be found here: ST6455 : Flush bracket, Paulton.

Neil Owen

Trig point near a war-time crash site

In the field just over the crest, two Horsa gliders carrying 23 men of the Royal Engineers came down in 1944. All were lost in the crash. A memorial was established nearby in 1979 - see ST6455 : Arnhem Memorial and ST6455 : Arnhem Memorial inscription for more views.

Neil Owen

That'll stop the unwanted

A striking variation on the methods of preventing cattle and motorised traffic through a field.

Neil Owen

Not volcanic

A coal spoil heap rises above the greenery. Midsomer Norton and Radstock were important coalmining areas from the late 18th century, and production gradually increased with time up to 1900. However, the complicated local geology and nationalisation eventually led to the closure of all mining in September 1973. The heap is actually a SSSI and contains some interesting fossils, including the world's earliest known damselfly!

Neil Owen

Arnhem Memorial

A memorial to the loss of 23 men of the Royal Engineers, whose gliders came down in this field in 1944. It was unveiled by Major General R.E. Urquhart C.B. D.S.O. on 23rd September, 1979, but has been improved more than once since. Compare the picture by Damon Knight in 2006 ST6455 : Paulton Arnhem Memorial with View Beyond. The two new statues were created by SPR Roy Cleeves and installed in 2008. See ST6455 : Arnhem Memorial inscription, ST6455 : Trig point near a war-time crash site and ST6455 : Arnhem Memorial for more images.

Neil Owen