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14. Dolebury Warren
Grid ref: 455 590 / Area: 93 hectares
The spectacular views across North Somerset and the
Mendips made Dolebury Warren the natural choice for
an imposing Iron Age hill fort. Today a fascinating
and unusual mixture of wildflowers carpets the grassy
ramparts and hill slopes, attracting rare butterflies.
How to get there
We encourage visitors
to use environmentally friendly forms of transport
wherever possible. Most of our reserves are easily
accessible by bicycle, with many close to the National
Cycle Network. Click
here to view a location map of
the reserve on the National Cycle Network website.
Alternatively, follow the A38 southwards from Churchill
village. Take first left turn after traffic lights
into Dolebury Bottom. Please drive slowly along lane
and park in small car park. Follow footpaths to summit.
(There is an alternative car park on the north side
of the reserve.)
Access
Please keep dogs on leads -
sheep are usually present on the hill. Some gravelled
paths and steps, but strenuous in places. No suitable
access for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
Wildlife and conservation
Small scabious,
early purple orchid and eyebright flower in the limestone
grassland which covers the summit and slopes. The unusual
mixture of wildflowers thriving on patches of limestone
heath makes this a nationally important site for wildlife.
Here 'lime-loving' plants like rockrose flourish alongside
such 'acid-loving' plants as bell heather. The acid-loving
plants survive on small patches of acidic sand blown
onto the site during the ice age.
On sunny days, you may spot many butterflies, including
small blues and marbled whites. Late May to August
is the best time to see wildflowers and butterflies,
but the spectacular views and feeling of wildness can
be enjoyed whatever the season. Anthills are very visible,
and adders, badgers, foxes and rabbits are found here.
Since myxomatosis killed many rabbits, scrub has invaded
the site, shading out grassland plants. The Trust is
checking its spread by hand clearance and controlled
sheep grazing from April to December.
Other points of interest
The visible
remains of Dolebury's past include the imposing double
ramparts of an Iron Age hill fort and a medieval rabbit
warren.
Further information
Dolebury Warren is an SSSI. It is owned by the National
Trust and managed by Avon Wildlife Trust.
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