Quantocks solo circular hike from Holford, a beautiful village very close to the A39

Holford & The Quantock Hills – Hodder’s Combe, Bicknoller Post & Longstone Hill Walk -------------------------------------------------- Chapters 0:00/5:54 Hodders Combe, Willoughby Cleeve, Lady's Edge 5:55/8:00 Climbing, ferns, views to Minehead & Kilve 8:01/11:09 Bicknoller Post, Longstone Hill, Heather & WW2 trees 11:10/14:38 Holford village -------------------------------------------------- Kit I use for filming All videos up to and including the Litton Reservoirs video were filmed on my phone, a Google Pixel 8a From the Blaise Castle video onwards, all filmed on a second hand Insta360 Ace Pro I purchased a DJI Mic 2 after my Peak District videos in February 2026 as I struggled with wind noise. Another addition is a second hand DJI Mini 2 drone fly more combo, footage is in the Branscombe & Salcombe Regis videos and other videos from July 2026 -------------------------------------------------------- The channel I mentioned is Brecon Beacons & Beyond ‪@adamradford2285‬ -------------------------------------------------------- Join me on my first walk through the beautiful Quantock Hills in Somerset, starting from the village of Holford and taking in a fantastic mixture of wooded combes, open hillsides, ancient woodland, historic tracks and some fascinating local history This walk begins in Holford, nestled beneath the Quantocks and surrounded by some of the finest woodland scenery in the area. From the village I head into Hodder’s Combe, one of the beautiful wooded valleys for which the Quantock Hills are famous, before continuing through Willoughby Cleeve, where I was lucky enough to spot a deer along the way. The route then takes in Lady’s Edge, Black Ball Wood and Bicknoller Combe, before climbing towards Weacombe Hill and Bicknoller Post. The higher ground provides some lovely views across the Quantock landscape, with the character of the hills changing from sheltered woodland to more open and exposed countryside. From Bicknoller Post the walk continues towards Longstone Hill, another fascinating part of the Quantocks. Here there is a particularly poignant reminder of the area's history: a group of trees planted in memory of the men and women of Holford and Kilve who served during the Second World War. The memorial trees were planted in 1948, following a scheme to replant trees on Longstone Hill as a lasting memorial to those who served during the war. Back in Holford, there is plenty more history to discover. Holford's Historic Dog Pound Another fascinating little piece of Holford's history is the Holford Dog Pound, located at the entrance to Alfoxton Park. This unusual red sandstone structure dates from the 16th or 17th century and is now a Grade II listed building. The village has a long industrial past, including tanning and other industries which made use of the surrounding woodland and streams. Holford is also home to the historic Combe House Hotel, a Grade II listed building with an interesting connection to the area's industrial heritage. One of the most unusual sights beside the hotel is the large waterwheel, which is incorporated into the old tannery buildings. The Grade II listed waterwheel is an impressive overshot iron wheel made by H. Culverwell & Co of Bridgwater in 1892. It replaced an earlier wheel and was originally associated with the tannery, where water power was used to grind oak bark. After the tannery closed, the wheel was adapted for a variety of purposes, including grinding grain, cutting chaff, chopping apples for cider production and even generating electricity. The walk also passes through Holford village & the Church of St Mary, parts of which date back many centuries. The church retains evidence of earlier buildings, including surviving 12th-century work at the base of its tower. Nearby places worth exploring include Watchet, the historic village of Dunster and magnificent Dunster Castle, as well as Minehead, which sits on the edge of Exmoor. Continue west and you soon reach some spectacular Exmoor scenery, including Porlock, Porlock Weir, Lynton and Lynmouth, the Valley of Rocks and the dramatic coastline of Exmoor National Park. #Holford #QuantockHills #Quantocks #SomersetWalks #HikingSomerset #HoddersCombe #BicknollerPost #LongstoneHill #BicknollerCombe #Minehead #Dunster #Watchet #Exmoor #Porlock #Lynton #Lynmouth #UKWalking .