Brendon Hills
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| Brendon Hills | |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,388 feet (423 m) |
| Location | Somerset, England |
| Coordinates | Coordinates: |
| OS grid reference | SS950371 |
The Brendon Hills are composed of a lofty ridge of hills in the west of Somerset, England. The terrain is broken by a series of deeply incised streams and rivers running roughly southwards to meet the River Haddeo, a tributary of the River Exe.[1]
The hills are quite heavily cultivated unlike their neighbouring upland areas of Exmoor and the Quantock Hills. Over the centuries they have been mined for minerals, notably ironstone from which iron is extracted for making steel.[2] During the nineteenth century this activity reached a peak with the West Somerset Mineral Railway, including an 800 feet (244 m) incline, being built to take the ore to Watchet from where it was sent to Ebbw Vale for smelting. The main mining operations ended when the mines were worked out towards the end of the 1800s.
The hills merge level into the eastern side of Exmoor, and they are included within the Exmoor National Park. The highest point on the hills is Lype Hill at 1,388 feet (423 m) above sea level the range meets Exmoor. The highest point on the ridge itself is 1,350 feet (411 m). Both points are marked by Ordnance Survey trig points and are located within enclosed farmland.
The hills are on the route of the Coleridge Way.
[edit] References
- ^ Brendon Hills NMP. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-11-23.
- ^ Brendon Hills. Everything Exmoor. Retrieved on 2007-11-23.
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