Another area of AONB within the county borders of Somerset were the Quantock Hills. My final day exploring Somerset had to include a visit to the Quantock Hills.
Quantock Hills Walking Map
Was using the Ordnance Survey walking guide for Exmoor and the Quantock Hills. From my base in Minehead took the drive to the village of Holford where it recommended to park up.
With OS Map online installed on your mobile phone its impossible to get lost when hiking and scouting a new location like the Quantock Hills in Somerset.
First views Quantock Hills
Headed up to towards Higher Hare Knap where the views north across the Bristol Channel to South Wales were impressive.
Even though too late for sunrise, the morning light was good with some large moody cumulus clouds adding interest to the sky and patches of light and shadow over the hill tops.
Holford Combe
The Quantock Hills are also renowned for their combes down in the wooded valley. Not want to miss this so headed back down hill and followed the footpath along Holford Combe.
Found a few compositions that captured the essence of the combe. Tripod essential due to low light under the deep canopy of the woodland and a large depth of field. The landscape down in the combes is quite unique with lots of straggly oak trees on the hillsides.
Towards Bicknoller Post
Walked the stretch of Holford Combe then headed out of the woodland and back up to the peaks and views of the Quantock Hills via Frog Hill.
Once out of the coombes the hill tops are pretty much treeless, much like Exmoor. August would be a good month to visit the Quantock hills when much of the land would be covered in purple heather.
The light was really good today, dramatic clouds in the sky above. The golden hues of the sea of dead bracken colour complimented the patches of blue sky. Patches of broken light and shadow spread across the landscape.
Autumn Colours
Its a long walk along the footpath towards Bicknoller post but was a beautiful morning up on the Quantock hills, felt great to be outdoors.
Some beautiful autumn colours on the hills. Red berries on the few scant trees, golden bracken. Around dawn, herds of deer are present on the hills, stags with big Antlers, so could be a good time to arrive.
A small pool reflecting the cumulus clouds above made some good foreground interest, with light like this there was so many compositions. On a dull and cloudy day may not even have got my camera out.
Quantock Hills Great Views
On days like these, wherever you looked there were great views from on top of the hills in Somerset.
A lone dead tree within a wide expanse always makes a great focal point and it contrasts well with the background. I was just handholding the camera, for exacting sharpness should have used the tripod. Ensuring your shutter speed is greater than your focal length usually ensures a sharp image. Image stabilisation helps when this cant be achieved due to zooming in or low light conditions as does bumping up the ISO a few stops.
The final shot on top of the Quantocks was a great view looking back to Minehead and North Hill in the distance, where I had travelled from. Having made it to Bicknoller post, took the footpath back down to Holford where my car was parked, found the nearest pub for a well earned pint of beer.
Kilve Beach
After a pint the last location worth a visit and closeby was Kilve Beach just under the shadows of the Quantock Hills.
Kilve Beach is very rocky, popular with fossil hunters and part of Somerset’s Jurassic coast. It was getting later in the afternoon now, the sun was lower in the sky. Not quite golden hour but would have liked to have stayed around until sunset.
Kilve beach is very photogenic, leading lines of rock formations to the low cliff edge in the background, low tide leaves reflective rock pools. I was now too tired to stick around. This brings to an end my road trip through Somerset.