A visit to Natural England's Barrington Hill National Nature Reserve in South Somerset.

I put some fuel in the car on July 16^th  - the first time since March - and decided to take a run over to Natural England’s Barrington Hill National Nature Reserve.  The entrance to the reserve is on a country road around half way between the South Somerset villages of Horton and Bickenhall – about 4 miles north-west of Ilminster.

There is only enough space for about 3 cars at the entrance to the reserve which is set back off the road, but luckily I found no-one around.  It was a very hot sunny afternoon with a slight breeze so it wasn’t too difficult walking up the quite steep slope to the highest point on the reserve.  The going was firm underfoot – no mud!

Although not especially high the nature reserve has some pleasing views in an arc from the north-east to the south-west.  I think I could make out the church towers in the villages of Ashill and Broadway, and the field patterns on Herne Hill south of Ilminster.  I will have to take some bearings and check the OS map next time I visit.

The view to the south-east from Barrington Hill Nature Reserve in South Somerset.

The view to the south west from Barrington Hill Nature Reserve in South Somerset.

Lots of common knapweed on Barrington Hill Nature Reserve in South Somerset.

Windmill Hill as seen from Barrington Hill Nature Reserve in South Somerset.

The view to the north-east from Barrington Hill Nature Reserve in South Somerset. The church tower in the village of Ashill is just visible on the skyline to the right.