You Won’t Believe What I Found in These UK Hills

🚴‍♂️ Cycling the Quantock Hills | Wild Ponies, Forest Trails & Epic Views | MTB Adventure in Somerset, UK 🇬🇧

In this vlog, I head out for an unforgettable bike ride through one of England’s best-kept secrets — the Quantock Hills, located in Somerset, South West England.

The Quantocks are a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and it’s easy to see why. With their heather-covered moorland, ancient oak forests, steep valleys, and wide-open grassy hilltops, this landscape feels like something straight out of a storybook. It’s the perfect place to explore by bike — especially if you love gravel riding, mountain biking, or just getting off the beaten path.

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🏡 Starting in Nether Stowey – A Quintessential English Village

I started my ride in Nether Stowey, a charming little village on the edge of the hills. With its traditional pubs, cosy tearooms, and friendly community vibe, it’s the kind of place that makes you want to slow down and take it all in. It’s also famous for being home to the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge — his old cottage is now a National Trust site called Coleridge Cottage.

From here, I pedalled through a network of tiny country lanes and quiet villages, working my way toward the base of the Quantocks. That’s where the real adventure began…

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🌲 Entering the Great Wood – Into the Forest We Go

Shortly after the village of Over Stowey, I entered The Great Wood, following a peaceful trail along the Cockercombe River through a beautiful area known as Cockercombe Bottom.

The trail got steep fast, and I had to take a banana break (as you do 😅). A few gates and climbs later, I was out of the woods and up onto the open moorland, where the views were nothing short of stunning.

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🐴 Riding With Wild Ponies on the Moor

This was the part I was most excited about — and it didn’t disappoint. The Quantock Hills are home to semi-wild Exmoor-type ponies, who roam freely across the hilltops. They’re technically owned by local farmers or “commoners,” but they’re totally wild in spirit.

I found myself cycling right through a herd of them, and they didn’t seem to mind one bit! I also saw sheep hiding in the bracken, and cows chilling on the trails. It felt like I was riding through a giant, open-air nature reserve.

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🛤️ The Famous Drove Road – Ancient Trails With Big Views

I followed the Drove Road, one of the most famous trails in the Quantocks. It’s an ancient route that was used to move livestock from village to village and down to market. These days, it’s a bridleway, which means it’s open to walkers, cyclists, and horse riders — and it offers some of the best views in the entire area.

Even though the weather was a bit cloudy and breezy, the dramatic skies added to the atmosphere. On a clear day, you can see all the way to the Bristol Channel and even over to South Wales.

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🐄 Cow Standoff, Sheep Patrol & a Pub Lunch

One unexpected moment? A standoff with a large brown cow blocking the path. Let’s just say… he wasn’t in a hurry to move 😅

A curious group of sheep also wandered over to inspect my electric gears — clearly, they’re fans of good tech.

After a morning of climbing, I descended into the village of Crowcombe, where I stopped at the Carew Arms pub for some much-needed fish and chips. Highly recommend if you’re ever in the area!

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🗺️ The Way Back – More Climbing, More Views

After lunch, it was time to head back to Nether Stowey. The only catch? I had to climb back over the Quantock Hills!

I passed Crowcombe Court, a beautiful historic house, and began the long climb up through Triscombe. The Quantocks aren’t the biggest hills in the UK, but they’re steep and not to be underestimated — especially with a belly full of chips.

Finally, I descended back down through The Great Wood, navigating some tricky, rooty sections on the way down. It was challenging but super fun, and the forest was absolutely magical in the late-afternoon light.

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🎥 Vlog Highlights
• 🏞️ Stunning moorland & sea views
• 🐴 Wild pony encounters
• 🐑 Sheep & cows casually chilling on the trails
• 🌲 Epic forest riding through The Great Wood
• ⛰️ Climbing to Will’s Neck – the highest point of the Quantocks
• 🍽️ Classic British pub lunch in Crowcombe
• 🚴‍♂️ Ancient trails with loads of character and history
• 🧭 Full circular route: village → forest → hills → pub → back again!

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✅ Final Thoughts

This ride was definitely one of my favourite UK cycling experiences so far. The variety of terrain, the natural wildlife, the historic trails, and the peaceful village atmosphere all combined to make it a really special day on the bike.

Whether you’re into mountain biking, gravel grinding, or just love exploring hidden gems in the UK, the Quantock Hills should 100% be on your list.