Brent Knoll

Brent Knoll rises 137 metres above the flat Somerset Levels, a lone hill of Blue Lias rock capped with Midford Sands. The Bristol to Taunset railway, the M5 motorway, the A370 and the A38 all pass within a mile of its base. Two villages, East Brent and Brent Knoll, sit at its foot, the latter sharing the hill’s name. The hill dominates the landscape for miles around and can be seen from far away. Travellers on the main routes notice its steep sides and isolated shape. The hill has been a landmark since the Bronze Age and holds an Iron Age hill fort called Brent Knoll Camp. The fort has multiple ramparts that follow the hill’s contours, with the main entrance on the eastern side. Before the Levels were drained, the hill stood as an island known as the Isle of Frogs. According to legend, Ider son of Nuth, one of King Arthur’s knights, came here to slay three giants. Some claim the hill was the site of the battle of Mons Badonicus. Visitors find a steep climb to the summit rewarded by wide views across the Somerset Levels. The remains of the Iron Age fort can be seen along the ridge. The hill’s slopes are covered with grass and wildflowers in summer. On clear days the Bristol Channel and distant hills are visible. The contrast between the flat land and the lone hill makes the view striking.