Wraxall Piece

Ashton Hill offers 148 acres of mixed woodland for you to explore, including a magnificent stand of Californian Redwoods (Sequoia).

Formally part of the nearby Tyntesfield Estate in Wraxall, many of the larger trees in the woodland date back to the 19th century.

The variety of woods, glades and wide sunny paths encourage a richness of wildlife and special plants including Bristol rock cress and Bristol onion. There are spectacular views over the Avon gorge.

Accessed via an avenue of copper beech trees, planted to commemorate the Queen's Coronation in 1953, the medium sized car park is the ideal place for starting off on a walk in these woods. There are also a number of picnic tables throughout the woodland.

Visit East Harptree to see the historical Smitham Chimney, a relic of Mendip's industrial past. The Cornish-style chimney survived when the site closed in 1875 and was saved from complete destruction in 1973 by The Mendip Society and Somerset County Council.

In front of the Chimney there is a pond where you can see dragonflies in the summer months. There are also fine views of the Chew Valley from the grassland area nearby.

Renowned for its nightjar and long-eared owl populations, there is no shortage of wildlife to see if you enjoy bird watching.

There is a medium sized car park, a small number of picnic benches and a circular easy access trail.