Exploring the Dundon and Compton Dundon Walks in Somerset ⛰✨

What Can You Do When the Weather’s Hit and Miss? ☁️☔

Read a book, would be a sensible answer… But for most country-lovers, the urge to get outdoors is hard to resist – even when the weather isn’t cooperating. So, you have to grab the chance while you can! And that is exactly what I did one day recently while driving through central Somerset with a friend. The sun peeked out, the skies looked promising, and we decided to take advantage with a walk in a place my pal hadn’t yet visited.

I had explored the twin villages of Dundon and Compton Dundon a few years back but felt an urge to revisit. Why? Because this part of Somerset is nothing short of remarkable.

A Step Back in Time 🗒️

Thousands of years ago, the Dundons might have been seaside resorts for Neanderthals, but today they sit far from anything resembling saltwater. Just south of Glastonbury, you can see on the map how the Somerset Levels stretch inland, only to be halted by a striking arc of hills around these two communities. It’s almost as though a massive green ocean swept south and east, only to be trapped by a natural boundary of wooded cliffs.

This bay-like formation surrounds a section of the Levels called Somerton Moor, creating a picturesque landscape. Extensive beech hangars crown the steep ridge, and below, the villages and farmsteads cluster close to the land, while the flat polders of the Levels are sparsely dotted with buildings.

Two Walks in Dundon and Compton Dundon 🚶‍♀️

We decided to tackle two walks in this fascinating area, starting with the hills that separate Dundon and Compton Dundon, before heading upwards to explore the marvellous Polden Way.

☘️ Dundon Walk 1: Lollover Hill and Dundon Beacon

Driving along the B3151 from Street towards Somerton, we descended from the ridge, reaching the villages and taking a right to enter Dundon. Opposite the village cricket pitch, a lane climbs the shoulder separating the two “islands,” and we parked near the church.

From here, a footpath leads up in a westerly direction to magnificent Lollover Hill. Though just under 300 feet, Lollover’s steep rise from the flat Levels gives it a commanding presence. Once at the summit, you’re rewarded with expansive views over the green ocean of the Levels stretching all the way to the distant Quantock Hills.

Legend has it that Lollover’s name derives from "Look Over," a reference to the locals climbing the hill to watch the 1685 Battle of Sedgemoor, which took place about eight miles away.

The hilltop is managed as an English Heritage nature reserve, preserving traditional hillside farming techniques and nurturing wild orchids. After taking in the views, we followed the footpath down to Bartletts Farm, before veering left and making our way back to the village.

Our next stop was Dundon Beacon, part of a nature reserve managed by the Somerset Wildlife Trust. A short climb led us up to this fascinating site, which features a mix of calcareous grassland, ancient oak woodland, and archaeological remains, including an Iron Age fort and a Bronze Age barrow.

☘️ Dundon Walk 2: Windmill Hill, Admiral Hood Monument, and the Polden Way

For our second walk, we headed from Compton Dundon to Windmill Hill and the Admiral Hood Monument, before joining the Polden Way. The Polden Hills are an often overlooked ridge, stretching from Bridgwater to Somerton. Though not as famous as other areas of Somerset, they are incredibly scenic and well worth exploring.

The Polden Way links areas of public access between Walton and Hurcot, opening up previously inaccessible parts of the ridge. Starting at Windmill Hill, we admired some of the finest viewpoints in Somerset before following the path across Hatch Hill to Combe Wood, a haven for the large blue butterfly.

From there, we continued along to King’s Wood, Great Breach Wood, and eventually reached Gilling Down, with breathtaking views towards Somerton. The Polden Way ends at Hurcot Hill, above the main railway line connecting Paddington to Penzance.

A Perfect Somerset Day ☔️☀️

Though our time was limited, and rain threatened to return, we managed to make the most of this beautiful area, squeezing in not one but two memorable walks. Now, each time I travel to London by train, I’ll glance out the window and recognize that steep escarpment – a reminder of a very special part of Somerset that we were lucky enough to explore.