Ham Hill Country Park

Overview

Ham Hill is a stunning wildlife haven centred around an Iron Age hillfort, offering fantastic opportunities for scenic dog walks, walking, running, playing and wildlife watching with far reaching views across Somerset. Superb accessible walking route with great views. 

Film credit: Warner Vision

 

 

 

 

Secret Stories mobile app trail 

Download and follow 'Ham Hill's Pits of Peril and Rampaging Romans' trail through the Secret Stories app, which takes you on an adventure learning about some of Ham Hill’s fascinating history. From prehistoric to modern day wildlife and everything in between! There are quizzes and activities along the way to keep everyone entertained. The trail starts at the Rangers Centre TA14 6RW, and is roughly 1.5 hours long. Suitable for kids 4-10 years old, but is also fun for the whole family! Download on the links below.

Secret Stories Apple Download     

Secret Stories Android Download

Follow us on social media:

Ham Hill Facebook     Ham Hill Instagram

Donate to make difference: 

If you have enjoyed a visit to Ham Hill and would like to contribute to help look after the special wildlife and heritage, please use the donate button to give a donation of your choosing. Your contribution will go towards projects such as tree planting, improving the grasslands for plants and pollinators, providing dormouse boxes and heritage preservation works on this historic hill fort.

Thank you, your contributions really do make a difference.

Donate here

 


 

Ham Hill National Lottery Heritage Fund project

Visit our new 'Projects' section below to find out more about the National Lottery Heritage Funded project at Ham Hill; 'Uncovering Ham Hill's past for its future'.

Keep up to date with all of the latest news as the project progresses and have your say by sending us your comments and filling in the visitor survey.

Features

  • Parking On-Site Parking On-Site
  • Cafe/ Restaurant Cafe/ Restaurant
  • Family friendly Family friendly
  • Dogs Welcome Dogs Welcome
  • Toilets Toilets
  • Free Entry Free Entry
  • Open All Year Open All Year
  • Picnic Area Picnic Area
  • Partial Disabled Access Partial Disabled Access
  • Play Park Play Park
  • Biodiversity diversity Biodiversity diversity

Contact Details

Ham Hill Country Park, Ham Hill Rangers Office, Ham Hill Road , Stoke sub Hamdon, Somerset, United Kingdom, TA14 6RW

Free Entry

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Upcoming Ham Hill Country Park Events

Upcoming Events

All you need to know to enjoy your visit

Visitor Information

Leaflets, Maps & Information

Free Downloads

Ham Hill Country Park Leaflet

A handy overview and information about Ham Hill.

Download
Ham Hill Easy Access Trail

Accessibility Trail for Ham Hill Country Park

Download
Ham Hill Geology Trail

Discover the fascinating geology that Ham Hill has to offer in this Geological SSSI and Local Geology Site

Download
Ham Hill Roman Treasure Trail

A family trail exploring Ham Hill

Download

Take a look at our Projects

Projects

       "Uncovering Ham Hill's past for its future"  

 

Ham Hill update September 2023

Recruitment

We are underway with recruitment to the post of Engagement Ranger for the Heritage Fund project. Interviews are commencing in the middle of October and we hope to have the successful applicant in post by the beginning of December.


The Engagement Ranger is a vital part of the project as they will be key to delivering the extensive activity plan. The post is a three year post and they will be working with local communities, visitors and specialist groups to deliver activities, workshops and events related to the wildlife and history of Ham Hill. They will also be working alongside our communities and stakeholders to develop partnerships to enable the delivery of projects and secure further grants.

 

Reptile translocations

 As you may well have seen on a recent visit to Ham Hill, reptile fencing hasbeen erected along the roadside and the ranger team have been busychecking the refugia mats for any reptiles and moving them to the other side of the fence, out of harm’s way before construction work begins early next year.


As reptiles are cold-blooded, they are attracted to the mats as they use them to warm up quickly to enable them to hunt during the day. Reptiles will go into hibernation during the winter, so we need to move them before this process starts. The rangers have so far moved over 100 slow worms to other suitable habitat and near to hibernaculum’s (areas created for hibernation) that the rangers and volunteers have created.

 

 

 

Interpretation

We have carried out a procurement process to appoint an interpretation designer for the Heritage Fund project. The interpretation designer will be fundamental in bringing the stories of Ham Hill to life through the design of the permanent exhibition in the Visitor Centre and creation of digital content and panels out on site. They will work alongside the project team, rangers and Engagement Ranger to ensure the content is exciting, engaging and correct. They will create signage and new branding for Ham Hill, ensuring that the design is coherent throughout the site and visitor centre.
We look forward to starting work with them this autumn.

 

 

Activities and events

The rangers have been busy during the summer months organising and delivering a range of public events.

 

In June the rangers, volunteers and their families attended Montacute Carnival, representing Ham Hill’s geological past. From ammonites to geologists and dinosaurs, the team had great fun at this small community event and were awarded first place for most entertaining float by the Secret Judge.

 

Stanchester Academy took over the stone circle for three days in June and told the story of Ham Hill through their performance of ‘Upon the Hill’. The performance was written by staff and students at Stanchester Academy and approximately 150 people attended across the three nights.

 

Project Assistant Ranger Geoff has been delivering guided walks on the Geology of Ham Hill to various groups, as well as delivering a ‘Jurassic Rocks!’ public event in the school summer holidays.

 

The rangers worked with volunteers Donna and Sarah to put on another popular Fun Dog Show in August. Profits raised through entry fees were split between Fearne Animal Sanctuary and the Friends of Ham Hill.

 

‘Chill on the Hill’ returned for a second consecutive year, organised by Take Art, a local organisation that provide opportunities for people to engage with the arts in a variety of settings.

                      

 

                  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                            

 

Check out to see if you can help

Volunteering

 Practical conservation volunteers

There is one volunteering day at Ham Hill which is on a Wednesday. Tasks include scrub clearance, path maintenance, hedge-laying, drystone walling, coppicing, removal of invasive species and fencing.  You do not need to have any experience to join in, just a willingness to get involved and a passion for nature.

Volunteer tasks are physical in nature and you will need a fair level of fitness.

If you would like to join the volunteers please contact ranger Paul McNeill at countryside@southsomerset.gov.uk or on 07973 887 129 to check if there are places available.

 

 

Find out more about group visits

Groups

Our Community Heritage Officer, Edd Chilcott, can offer a variety of activities or events for your group. If you are interested in any of the activities below, please contact Edd by email. 

Contact Edd Chilcott

Community Groups

We can offer bespoke guided walks or activities led by our rangers at Ham Hill for your community group (scouts, guides, brownies, U3A etc.) 

Schools

We can deliver curriculum focused sessions based at Ham Hill or in your school grounds, depending on your preference.

Birthday Parties

We can offer a bespoke birthday party for your children and their friends at Ham Hill.  You can choose a theme for your party such as wildlife, horrible history or bushcraft.

External group events

If you are an external organisation that wishes to host your event at Ham Hill please contact us.

There may be a charge to host your event, but all charitable events are free. We will need to see a copy of your risk assessment, public liability insurance and an application form must be completed below: 

Event Form

Check the latest happening at Ham Hill Country Park

Latest News

18
Sep

New Engagement Ranger Post at Ham Hill!

We have an exciting new post at Ham Hill!
Read More
27
Jul

Ham Hill Fun Dog Show is back!

Ham Hill Country ‘Bark’ – Fun Dog Show is back
Read More
19
Jul

Green Flag awarded to ten Somerset parks and greenspaces

Ten Somerset parks and green spaces receive prestigious Green Flag awards
Read More