Somerset

Cadbury Camp hill walk

Climb the steep hill behind Tickenham to discover the earthworks of Cadbury Camp Iron Age hillfort. Enjoy stunning views across the Severn Estuary and the Mendip Hills and look out for wildlife including adders in this nature conservation area.

Near to

Cadbury Camp

Start point

Tickenham village hall car park, grid ref ST445715

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 2.5 (km: 4)

Duration1 hour 20 mins

Dog friendly***

*The route is on footpaths and through woodland. There are steep, rocky climbs. For further details, see Terrain section.
**Involves steep climbs, uneven ground, steps, gates and stiles. For further details, see Access section.
***Keep dogs under close control. For further details, see Facilities section.

Address
Tickenham village hall, Clevedon Road, Tickenham, Clevedon, BS21 6RX
Directions via Google Maps
By bus
Take First Bus services 362, 363, X6 or X8 from Bristol bus station to Clevedon.
On foot
A path to the site begins near Tickenham village hall – look for the public footpath sign.
By train
There is a mainline station at Nailsea, 2 miles (3.2km) away.
Cycling
The walk is close to National Cycle Network Route 41, down in the Gordano Valley to the north. A bridleway runs across the northern edge of the site.
By road
The starting point, Tickenham village hall, is on the B3130 Clevedon Road.
Total stages: 13
Total stages: 13
Start point
Tickenham village hall car park, grid ref ST445715
Stage 1
At the front of the village hall, turn left onto the Clevedon Road (B3130). Turn left again at the public footpath sign, go through the pedestrian gate, and continue up the footpath, which runs along the side of an orchard.
Stage 2
Go through the kissing gate, up the steps and up a very steep hill. Climb over the stile to enter National Trust land – Cadbury Camp – and continue up the footpath to a bench.
Stage 3
The bench here is a great place to stop for a rest and enjoy the view. To continue your walk, head up the hill towards the ramparts of the Iron Age hillfort. Bear right until you reach a gap in the ramparts and go through into the centre of the camp.
Stage 4
Continue straight on through the camp, bearing left to exit the camp through its entrance.
The Iron Age hillfort
Cadbury Camp is a scheduled monument. It was built in the late Iron Age by a local community that later became part of the Dobunni tribe. They dug out ditches and threw back the soil to make high banks for the fortress to protect them from invading forces. They added a high timber fence on top of the banks and a complex entrance to make the hillfort difficult to attack. The tribe chose the ridge for their fort because of its elevated position, giving good views over the land below, which at the time was boggy marsh.
Stage 5
As well as being an Iron Age hillfort, Cadbury Camp is also an important place for nature conservation. Pause at the information panel here to find out more about the site.
Stage 6
Continue down the path and exit National Trust land through a metal pedestrian gate.
Stage 7
Turn right onto the bridleway – Cadbury Camp Lane – then left next to a wooden fence. Continue following the path downhill through the ash woodland. Turn left along the lane towards a house gate, then head down a steep rocky gully and under the M5 motorway.
Stage 8
Leave the footpath at The Kennels, turning right then left onto the lane. Follow the lane until you reach a public bridleway sign on your left, also signed Fir Tree Bungalow.
Stage 9
Turn left onto the bridleway and follow it up the hill and back under the motorway, continuing up the rocky gully to some stables.
Stage 10
Turn left onto Cadbury Camp Lane, re-entering National Trust land via a stile on the right.
Stage 11
Turn right and follow the bottom edge of the site, parallel with the fence line, exiting National Trust land over a stile.
Stage 12
Continue straight on down the hill. turning right at the fork. Then follow the level path behind the fields.
Stage 13
Turn right through the kissing gate onto the footpath you started on. Continue down past the orchard, exiting the footpath through the pedestrian gate onto the Clevedon Road. Turn right and return to your starting point at the village hall car park.
End point
Tickenham village hall car park, grid ref ST445715
Trail map
The Cadbury Camp climb walk, Somerset | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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