周辺の天然記念物・トップ20

The Stanton Drew stone circles are located just outside the village of Stanton Drew in the English county of Somerset. The largest stone circle is the Great Circle, standing in a 113 metres in diameter and is in-fact the second largest stone circle to be discovered in Britain. After Avebury and It’s considered to be one of the largest Neolithic monuments to have ever been built. The date of the construction is not actually accurately known of, but it’s thought to have been built between 3000 and 2000 BCE. These standing stone circles of which have been studied since John Aubrey's visit in 1664. It was only made a scheduled monument of it is today in 1982. Please be aware that an entrance fee is charged by the landowner for any entry in among the grounds of the Stone Circles and any public access is at his discretion only. NO DOGS ALLOWED! As the land is used for agriculture purposes and usually has cattle grazing on the fields where the standing stones are. Please be aware that the English Heritage sites do not permit drone flying from or over sites in our care, by any circumstances except by contractors or partners undertaking flights for a specific purpose, who satisfy stringent CAA criteria, have the correct insurances and permissions, and are operating under controlled conditions only. Just having experienced this ourselves before.

This is the third-largest complex of pre-historic standing stones in England. The 26 remaining standing stones are all that remains of the probably ceremonial stone circle constructed in the Neolithic period around 2500 BCE. Today the area is looked after by English Heritage and free to enter.

Impressive 4500 year-old stone circle with some English Heritage info signage at the entrance. Take a minute to touch the stones and imagine the people who put them there. There’s an honesty box at the gate which suggests a £1 donation.

Black Down Hill or Beacons Batch is the highest hill in the Mendip Hills at 325m, Somerset, in south-western England. Black Down lies just a few miles eastward of the Bristol Channel at Weston-super-Mare, and provides a view over the Chew Valley. It has a trig pointed summit and is a UK designated Marilyn with a prominence of over 150m.

Stanton Drew stone circle is 100% worth a visit. An ancient, neolithic complex of stone circles. There is so much history in this landscape; the nearby Pensford village was first officially recorded in 1151.

A great climb! Very long, but nice and steady for the most part.

Classic Mendip climb. Just ride it!

Definitely worth your time.

This special site is designated as a Site of Special Scientific interest for its valuable wildlife habitats and is a nationally important site for its archaeology from the late Stone Age and Bronze Age through to the Second World War. Black Down provides the largest area of open access on the Mendip Hills at over 400 ha. Black Down, like most heathlands, is formed through a combination of factors– soil type, rainfall and human activity. The underlying Old Red Sandstone rock together with high rainfall created a waterlogged and acidic soil. The removal of tree cover by our Bronze Age ancestors 2,000 years ago helped to make sure that the soil stayed damp and acid. Only certain plants can survive in this type of ground. The key species include heather or ling, bell heather, bilberry, purple moor grass and European gorse, along with mosses and lichens. Now the bracken is managed by harvesting and grazing by cattle and wild ponies to allow the heathers and grasses to flourish again. Black Down supports a wide variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and invertebrates.

This special site is designated as a Site of Special Scientific interest for its valuable wildlife habitats and is a nationally important site for its archaeology from the late Stone Age and Bronze Age through to the Second World War. Black Down provides the largest area of open access on the Mendip Hills at over 400 ha. Black Down, like most heathlands, is formed through a combination of factors– soil type, rainfall and human activity. The underlying Old Red Sandstone rock together with high rainfall created a waterlogged and acidic soil. The removal of tree cover by our Bronze Age ancestors 2,000 years ago helped to make sure that the soil stayed damp and acid. Only certain plants can survive in this type of ground. The key species include heather or ling, bell heather, bilberry, purple moor grass and European gorse, along with mosses and lichens. Now the bracken is managed by harvesting and grazing by cattle and wild ponies to allow the heathers and grasses to flourish again. Black Down supports a wide variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and invertebrates.

Black Down is the highest area of the Mendip Hills and affords wonderful views across the Bristol Channel into Wales, over Weston-super-Mare, the Chew Valley, the Quantocks and beyond. There are many Bronze Age burial sites dotted around. You might also see the wild ponies strutting their stuff.

Beacon Batch is the highest point in the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. From the trig point, you get breathtaking panoramic views that stretch over the Bristol Channel into Wales, over Weston-super-Mare, the Chew Valley and across the Mendips. There are Bronze Age burial mounds at the summit, too. A very special place with lots of great walking to enjoy all around.

Climbing is far nicer than descending, particularly when it's busy....

Stanton Drew Stone Circle is a breathtaking ancient monument next to the River Chew. Composed of three separate circles, it is the third largest complex of standing stones in England and was built roughly 4,500 years ago. Stanton Drew is not as visited as the more famous examples at Avebury and Stonehenge, meaning you can enjoy the landmark in relative solitude. The stone circles are in the care of English Heritage. For more information, visit: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stanton-drew-circles-and-cove.

A great descent, and that's from someone who doesn't particularly like descending!

Views out to Bristol Channel, over to Wales and of course of all the wild horses.

One of the classic road climbs in the Mendips. There's still a good kick up after the second cattle grid so save some beans.

5.5% ave gradient for 3.5k

Look out for the famous 'Rock of Ages' on your right towards the bottom of the climb. It's a cleft in the rock face where an Anglican vicar called Augutus Toplady sheltered from a storm in 1776 and was inspired to write the hymn 'Rock of ages, cleft for me'.

A smaller version of Cheddar Gorge.