Tower Head and Dolebury Warren

Tower Head (Banwell Hill)

There is a reasonable claim for the village of Banwell being the birthplace of St Patrick of Ireland (who was British) - see here. Banwell has certainly yielded significant Roman period remains, as well as early Christian burials.

Dolebury Warren

At Dolebury there is a legend of buried treasure and an enduring tradition of a fairy presence (the fairies locally being called Redshanks). The defences and Celtic field systems at Dolebury date back to the 300s-200s BCE, though they might mask earlier developments - the hill is so prominent that settlement over a much longer period is likely. The views from here are spectacular. Settlement certainly continued after the Roman period too - being a lead-mining area, issues of wealth and security will have been important.

Seen from Brean Down, Banwell Hill and Dolebury Warren are impressive hulks overlooking the northern edge of the Mendips and commanding the plain below. Dolebury is rich in butterflies and other wildlife and it is a nature reserve.

Getting there. Take the A38 toward Churchill, and on the way down the hill look out for a sign to Rowberrow and the Black Swan pub, then for a sign for the Limestone Link footpath - take the turn at this sign, and follow the narrow road past the houses up to the car park. Dolebury is a steep climb from there, up the steps.