Dolebury Warren

Dolebury Warren is a Mendip hilltop with extensive views across the North Somerset Levels to the Bristol Channel. It hosts a large Iron Age hillfort, the banks built from limestone hewn from the hillside – the stone rubble can be seen exposed in several places.

In medieval times the hilltop was used for rearing rabbits as a source of food and fur – hence the name 'Warren'. The masonry of the artificial burrows and the house of the ‘Warrener’ can still be seen

The thin limestone soil favours a wide range of colourful flowers such as Birdsfoot trefoil and scabious, which in turn provide food for many insects. 70% of all British butterfly species can be found on the hill.

Dolebury Warren is owned by the National Trust and managed by the Avon WildlifeTrust.

How to get here

Bike: The Strawberry Line: National Cycle Route 26 passes 2.5 miles to the west of the site and the Strawberry Link (through Star) passes a mile to the south

Bus: Route 121 Wessex Connect service between Weston-super-Mare Railway Station and Bristol Bus Station approximately every hour. Ask for Churchill Gate. On alighting walk along A38 southwards until first turning on left. Path ascends through houses from there.

Car: There is a small car park at the bottom of the hill. To get there, coming from Bristol, take the first left on the A38 after the crossroads with the A368. Continue down this narrow road until you reach the car park. The climb up the steps from the car park is very steep. You may prefer to follow the gentler route up through the houses, which will bring you to the true entrance to the hillfort.