Cothelstone Hill Walk: Panoramic Views Across the Quantock Hills
Updated: Aug 28
Cothelstone Hill: The View That Explains Somerset
If someone asked me where to find the finest panorama in the Quantock Hills, I'd probably send them to Cothelstone Hill. It isn't the highest point on the Quantocks – that honour belongs to Wills Neck – but this graceful hill on the southern edge of the range offers one of the widest and most rewarding views in Somerset.
From the summit the landscape seems to unfold in every direction. The Somerset Levels shimmer below, the Polden Hills stretch eastwards, Exmoor rises to the west and, on a clear day, the mountains of South Wales appear across the Bristol Channel. It's the sort of place that reminds you just how varied Somerset really is.
This is a short and easy walk, but it delivers the kind of views that many much longer hikes never quite match.
The Journey to Quantock Hills
As you leave the old A38 Bridgwater to Taunton road and head up into the foothills of the Quantock Hills, you'll quickly find yourself on a small lane signposted Goathurst and Broomfield. This lane leads you along the most southerly ridge of the Quantock Hills, where you'll be transported from the motorway to a rural paradise in just a few turns of your steering wheel.
Check out our post on 6 Great Somerset Walks here
A Hike with Unbeatable Views
At 332 meters, Cothelstone Hill is the highest peak at the southern end of the escarpment, offering unparalleled views of Somerset's landscapes. From here, you can see the Mendips, the Poldens, the Levels, the West Dorset Downs, the Blackdowns, Tone Vale, the lowlands of East Devon, Dartmoor, the Brendons, and Exmoor, among other stunning sights.
The Seven Sisters and Cothelstone Beacon
The summit of Cothelstone Hill is instantly recognisable because of its famous clump of beech trees known as the Seven Sisters. They have become one of the best-known landmarks in the Quantock Hills, standing in a circle close to the top of the hill and visible from miles away across Somerset. The trees were originally planted in the eighteenth century on top of a much older Bronze Age barrow, linking this beautiful viewpoint with a landscape that has been sacred for thousands of years.
A few yards away are the remains of Cothelstone Beacon Tower, an ornamental folly built during the Georgian period. Although the tower was largely destroyed in a storm more than a century ago, its ruined stones still hint at a time when wealthy landowners built viewing towers simply to celebrate extraordinary landscapes.
It's worth wandering around the summit rather than heading straight back down. Every few steps reveal another perspective across Somerset, and the changing light makes this one of those hills that never looks quite the same twice.
Why Cothelstone Hill Is One of My Favourite Quantock Walks
The Quantocks are full of wonderful walks through combes, woodland and open heath, but Cothelstone Hill has something slightly different. It gives you a real sense of Somerset's geography in a single glance. You can see the Levels, the Mendips, Exmoor, the Brendons and the Bristol Channel all from one modest summit.
I've walked here in bright winter sunshine, with skylarks overhead in spring and heather beginning to colour the hills in late summer. Every season changes the view, but the feeling is always the same: this is one of those places that makes you fall in love with Somerset all over again.
Discovering the Route
To find this incredible hike, locate the car park a mile from the crossroads where you'll find The Pines café. You can either follow the Quantock Ranger Service waymarked route that circles Cothelstone Hill or take the anti-clockwise route for slightly better views. The Ranger's route is marked by wooden posts topped by green discs with white arrows, so you won't even need a map.
Wildlife and Local History
As you explore the Quantock Hills, you'll encounter pure-bred Exmoor Ponies, which the Quantock Rangers have introduced to keep the hill clear of scrub. These ponies provide a serene and natural experience, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the beauty of the area.
The summit of Cothelstone Hill is marked by a ring of beech trees which used to be called the Seven Sisters. Although several trees were toppled in gales, the remaining few hold historical significance, likely named after the seven daughters of Sir Matthew de Stawell, a 14th-century local ruler.
Wrapping Up Your Hike
To complete your hike, make your way southwest down from the trees towards the corner of the common, where you can catch a glimpse of Cothelstone Manor far below. Then, head east along the side of the woods until you reach the wooden pens above Paradise Combe. Through a gate, you'll find a path leading across the contours through Buncombe Wood, eventually bringing you back to the car park.
What Can You See From Cothelstone Hill?
One of the joys of Cothelstone Hill is playing the game of identifying landmarks on the horizon. Looking south you can trace the flat expanse of the Somerset Levels, with Glastonbury Tor rising like an island beyond the Polden Hills. Swing west and the ridges of Exmoor dominate the skyline, while the Brendon Hills roll away towards Minehead.
To the east lie the Mendip Hills and the Vale of Taunton, and on exceptionally clear days you can even pick out the coast of South Wales across the Bristol Channel. Local tradition says you can see fourteen counties and around 150 churches from Cothelstone Hill – perhaps a slight exaggeration, but it gives you an idea of just how extensive the panorama really is.
Bring binoculars if you have them. This is one of the finest natural viewpoints anywhere in Somerset.
Fact File
Basic hike: circular around the Cothelstone Hill access land.
Recommended map: Ordnance Survey Explorer 140.
Distance and going: two-and-a-half miles of easy going.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Cothelstone Hill walk?
The circular walk is a relatively easy hill walk of around 2½ to 3 miles, depending on the route you choose around the summit and surrounding woodland.
Is Cothelstone Hill difficult to climb?
No. Although there is a steady climb to the summit, the walk is suitable for most reasonably fit walkers and is one of the easier routes in the Quantock Hills.
Where do you park for Cothelstone Hill?
The walk usually starts from the Cothelstone Hill car park near Broomfield on the southern edge of the Quantock Hills, with a clearly marked path leading towards the summit.
What are the Seven Sisters on Cothelstone Hill?
The Seven Sisters are a famous circle of beech trees planted on the summit of Cothelstone Hill. They stand on the site of a prehistoric Bronze Age barrow and have become one of the Quantock Hills' best-known landmarks.
Can you see Wales from Cothelstone Hill?
Yes. On a clear day you can enjoy views across the Bristol Channel to South Wales, as well as Exmoor, the Mendip Hills, the Somerset Levels and much of the surrounding West Country.
