Things to see and do at Wellington Monument

A monumental tour

After a 3 year project, we are able to open Wellington Monument up to the public for the first time in 20 years. You can walk up the spiral staircase and experience the magnificent views from the top.

Our tours of the monument run during the spring and summer months and are bookable online. You’ll get to climb the newly restored staircase and enjoy views over Somerset.

Tours of the monument

The tours begin at the base of the monument, with a safety briefing, overview of the monument’s history and safety equipment (hardhat and radio) given out. This then leads to a self-led climb and a chance for you to take in the views before making your descent, this will take around 20 minutes. You will then receive a badge and a leaflet to commemorate your visit.

The climb on average takes around 5 minutes, up 232 steps in a relatively small spiral staircase. Please take this into account when booking your visit. Sensible footwear (closed toe and flat heeled) is required.

Book your tour

Tours of the monument have finished for the winter and will begin again in the spring.

Check availability and book your tour

History to discover

The Wellington Monument is the tallest three-sided obelisk in the world. A swinging stone at its pinnacle allows you to see it move with the wind. On your visit, it is impossible to miss this historic structure.

Walking at Wellington Monument

The most popular walk is a one-mile meander through trees and grassland - a great way to explore the immediate area.

There are a wealth of other walks on the surrounding Blackdown Hills AONB, more details can be found on the Blackdown Hills website.

Wildlife to spot

There is an array of wildlife to see when you visit the monument, with veteran oaks, beech and sweet chestnut trees providing ideal bird nesting sites and bat roosts. Tree creepers, nuthatches and great spotted woodpeckers can often be seen or heard if you listen carefully.

The grassland is rich in plant life and provides a valuable food source for dragonflies and butterflies such as the common blue.

What to look out for

• The views of the Blackdowns and across to the Quantocks and Exmoor.
• The common spotted orchid on the grassland, flowering in early summer.
• The autumn colours of the beech hedgerows.
• The freshly restored stonework, you’ll notice the new stones are much lighter in colour.
• Listen out for the sounds of bugs and bees in the grass directly in front of the monument.