Colmers Hill Walk

Colmers Hill

A brisk walk up Colmers Hill from our car park will take between 30 and 40 minutes to the top from where you will have a panoramic view of the sea and the beautiful rolling hills of the Dorset countryside.

Dogs on leads welcome.

Walking up Colmers Hill takes about 45 minutes. It is a pleasant short walk with a steep but steady slope taking you to the summit – offering scenic views and perfect photo opportunities of West Dorset, East Devon, out to the sea and beyond. You will pass through some fields of sheep so please make sure you always close gates behind you and keep dogs on leads and under control.

Directions

From the car park, turn into the gate with the sign saying “Colmers Hill Permissive Path’ that will lead you into a field.
After entering the field, walk diagonally across to the next gate.
Continue following the signs and make sure that you close each gate behind you.
When you reach Shutes Lane, bear right so you walk round to the back of the bottom of Colmers Hill.
You will see a natural path made by sheep – this will take you to the summit of the hill.
Another naturally made path takes you down the front of Colmers Hill. Follow the bottom of the hill round until you see a gate leading onto Shute’s Lane.
Walk down Shute’s Lane to arrive in Symondsbury Village. You will pass the church and school. Turn right to stop at our café for refreshments!

Things to remember:

Most of the time, sheep roam in the fields leading up to Colmers Hill as well as the hill itself – so please keep dogs on leads when sheep are present. This trail is a permissive path. We have free parking.

The history of Colmers Hill

Colmers Hill’s significance extends back into the 1600’s where it was long called the Colmers Tenement in the Lord of the Manor’s Court Rolls. In about 1650, Elizabeth Lush, the daughter of John Colmer, was the tenant. This is where Colmers Hill got its name from. Two hundred years later in the 1800’s a vicar of the same family name, Rev. John Colmer, was the new tenant. The hill then became ‘Colmers’ again after two hundred years.

The Colfox family has since owned Colmers Hill as part of Symondsbury Estate for over 100 years. The Estate has created a permissive path up the hill so the walking trail can be shared with visitors.

During World War I, John Sprake, woodman to Thomas Alfred Colfox, planted Caledonian Pine on the top of the hill. Sir John Colfox then planted Monterey Pine in 2006. The trees have since grown into what is now the iconic silhouette you see today.

Walking up Colmers

  • Time: 45 mins approx
  • Height: 417ft – steep but steady

What to bring

  • Walking boots or wellies on rainy days
  • Waterproof coat

Wildlife to look out for

  • Buzzards
  • Rabbits
  • Deer

Views

  • Symondsbury Estate
  • West Dorset
  • East Devon
  • Sea horizons

Refreshments

  • Symondsbury Store for supplies and trail maps
  • Symondsbury Kitchen for an after walk hot drink

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