가시매 주변 최고의 워킹 & 하이킹 경로

Castle Neroche is a significant historical site in Somerset, England, located on the northern escarpment of the Blackdown Hills. It is not a standing stone castle today, but rather a complex of impressive earthworks that reveal a long history of use.

This was an advert for the vanHeusen factory, painted on the water tank at the top of the pumping station building.

Pickled shallots LUSH!!! Jams and cakes also..

Accessible toilets, defibrillator and water filling point

Perfectly placed after a steep climb with wonderful views across the levels and beyond...

Give the train drivers a wave

Serene

Great little snicket

One thing I do love is a well placed hiking seat. Just like this one!!

Small wooden seat overlooking the rolling hills, perfect for place for a rest

My only visit to this area so far. Was ok, but not really anything that gripped me.

If you like finding Ordinance Survey triangulation points Staple Hill is a good one to seek out. It’s located in the woodland on the left of the pathway if you are travelling up from the carpark. Be prepared to seek it out though. It is not visible from the path and blends in nicely against the backdrop of trees.

Came across a section of old wall, after going to inspect it, beyond it were ruinous buildings and foundations. there were so many just hidden in bushes and trees. No signs to say what they were, and nothing found online. I wonder what was here and when these buildings were from?

Beautiful panoramic views across miles upon miles of countryside.

Staple Hill is a hill in the English county of Somerset, the highest point in the Blackdown Hills. It is classed as both a Marilyn and a Hardy. This is one of the points on the Staple Fitzpaine Herepath ( I could think of other things to call the Herepath, but i'd get banned ) a part of Forestry England woodlands. There is a loop walk, starting from the car parking area, of 800m taking in a couple of view points with the paths upgraded early in 2009 to be suitable for disabled access.

Norman castle The earthworks at the site are larger than would normally be found in a castle from the Norman period, raising speculation that it reused previously developed features. The castle was probably built by Robert, Count of Mortain in the 11th century. Archaeological evidence suggests it was built in several stages. During the first a rampart enclosing 7.5 acres (3.0 ha) was built. Soon after the Norman Conquest a smaller inner ringwork was constructed. The site was later converted into a motte and bailey, with a corner of the 20 feet (6.1 m) high motte serving as a barbican. By the early 12th century the castle was no longer in regular use. However, its use was resumed during The Anarchy, a period of civil war and unsettled government during a succession dispute between the supporters of King Stephen (1135–1154) and those of his cousin, the Empress Matilda. Continued use in the later 12th century may have been by administrators of the surrounding royal forest as a base for operations against poachers.

Castle Neroche is a Norman motte-and-bailey castle on the site of an earlier hill fort in the parish of Curland, near Staple Fitzpaine, Somerset, England. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The origin of the term Neroche is believed to be a contraction of the Old English words nierra and rechich or rachich for Rache, a type of hunting-dog used in Britain in the Middle Ages, giving a meaning of the camp where hunting dogs were kept. This also gives the site its alternative name of Castle Rache. Iron Age The reason for the construction of Iron Age hill forts has been a subject of debate. It has been argued that they could have been military sites constructed in response to invasion from continental Europe, sites built by invaders, or a military reaction to social tensions caused by an increasing population and consequent pressure on agriculture. The dominant view since the 1960s has been that the increasing use of iron led to social changes in Britain. Deposits of iron ore were separated from the sources of tin and copper necessary to make bronze, and as a result trading patterns shifted and the old elites lost their economic and social status. Archaeologist Barry Cunliffe believes that population increase played a role and has stated "[the forts] provided defensive possibilities for the community at those times when the stress [of an increasing population] burst out into open warfare. But I wouldn't see them as having been built because there was a state of war. They would be functional as defensive strongholds when there were tensions and undoubtedly some of them were attacked and destroyed, but this was not the only, or even the most significant, factor in their construction.

***TRIGGER WARNING*** Contains adult based information. Car park is free to use, and not locked of an evening. I got here late in the evening, and I stayed in the back of 4x4. Set up bed and settled in for the night. closing the blinds, also have blacked out windows. Unbeknownst to me, as i'm not local to this area, it is a hotspot for ... Dogging. A lot of activity through out the night with vehicles coming and going. But I ignored it, watched a bit of deadliest catch and fell asleep. 7 hours later, car park empty apart from yours truly, and my venture out began.

A lovely hidden corner, old streets and buildings in the middle of town.

Was also a water pump station