Montacute and St Michael's Hill

Ryder Cowan

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Montacute is a lovely village in a beautiful part of Somerset, and its residents have the longest life expectancy in the country; on average they will live to the age of 89. Perhaps it's due to the local air, and if so this walk offers the opportunity to sample some of it.
Starting from the centre of the village, adjacent to Montacute House, the route initially skirts St Michael's Hill, crowned by Prospect Tower, built in 1760 for the original owners of Montacute House. There is an opportunity later in the walk to ascend to the Tower, which has an internal spiral staircase to the top, from where there are spectacular views over Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire.
At about the half-way stage of this short walk, after passing through attractive woodland stretches, a very short detour leads to the The Prince of Wales pub, offering lovely views from the tables on its terrace, and Hamdon Hill Country Park, the site of an Iron Age hill fort.
Montacute House and garden are well worth a visit, and Barrington Court, Tintinhull, and Lytes Cary Manor, three other National Trust properties, are close by.

England - South West England - Somerset - Countryside