I began the last Hesp Out West article by saying that sometimes it’s a good idea to climb a mountain or hill in order to get a better view of the world that surrounds you. Being up high can literally lift your spirits and somehow help to put the complexities of life into perspective. 

The South West region has a variety of summits which will do the job, but some are better than others when it comes to supplying the drama of that all-round 360-degree panorama…

Five West Country eminences which give you that “closer to heaven” feeling…

Burrow Mump:

Hills don’t have to be mountains to make you feel very high indeed - Burrow Bump, which looms above the hamlet of Burrowbridge in the heart of the Somerset Levels, only rises 80 feet from the plain, but will give you views second to none.

Brent Knoll

No single bit of terra firma in the entire West Country is more obvious than Brent Knoll – the great big mini-mountain that presides over the M5 motorway just north of Bridgwater. It looms like some vast sentinel guarding the very gateway to the region. 

Godolphin Hill:

Down in West Cornwall, this eminence does a similar job - despite only rising just over 500 feet above sea-level, that’s enough to show you a massive slice of the far west.

Lewesdon Hill:

At 915 feet, this is the highest point in Dorset, and well-worth a visit. Not many climb this out-of-the-way eminence, but you are rewarded with stunning views of the West Country’s heart-lands if you do.

Dunkery Beacon:

A relative giant at 1703 feet. What makes this hill so remarkable is that it’s only a couple of miles from the sea, so you really do feel on top of the world. On a clear day you’ll see no fewer than 15 different counties from the cairn at the top, and may even spy the sparkle of the English Channel 50 miles to the south.