Montacute Castle: a motte and bailey castle on St Michael's Hill.
7 ha
Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife✦Heritage
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome7 ha
Getting here
50.94984, -2.72233
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦61+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Robin and Blackbird
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦61+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Robin and Blackbird
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Robin, Blackbird, Woodpigeon +58 more · last seen 2026; Deciduous woodland — woodpeckers, warblers and woodland birds
Free
Birds — Robin, Blackbird, Woodpigeon +58 more · last seen 2026; Deciduous woodland priority habitat
Free
Historic site with public access
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Meadow Brown, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood +81 more · last seen 2025
Free
🍂Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Eyebright, Parnassus Dandelion, Red Beard-moss +40 more · last seen 2024
Free
Dogs allowed with public access
Free
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km2 signed routes nearby · 17 public paths nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Monarch's WayWalking route990 km▾
approximate route of Charles II's escape
Named routeRef MWLength 990 kmRegional walking route
River Parrett TrailWalking route80 km▾
Named routeRef RPTLength 80 kmRegional walking route
Wash Lanepublic footpath · 85 m▾
Public pathpublic footpathLength 85 mPath type: residential
Wash Lanepublic footpath · 89 m▾
Public pathpublic footpathLength 89 mPath type: residential
Back Lanepublic footpath · 99 m▾
Public pathpublic footpathLength 99 mPath type: residential
3 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Route 26Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 26National Cycle Network
South Somerset CyclewayCycling route▾
Named routeRegional cycle route
Main RouteCycling route4 km▾
Named routeRef 26Length 4 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
7 public paths nearby
Public paths
No named routes yet. Public paths are shown on the map.
Photos
Montacute : St Michael's Hill Tower
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Wildlife to spot
7,992 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
7,992 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds35 species
springsummerautumn
2026▾
Robin · Wren · Woodpigeon · Jackdaw · Carrion Crow +30
- RobinErithacus rubecula2025
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
- JackdawColoeus monedula2025
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
- Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
- GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- DunnockPrunella modularis2025
- MagpiePica pica2025
- Great TitParus major2025
- SwiftApus apus2025
- SwallowHirundo rustica2025
- StonechatSaxicola rubicola2025
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
- RookCorvus frugilegus2025
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2025
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
- NuthatchSitta europaea2025
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2025
- Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2025
- LapwingVanellus vanellus2025
- JayGarrulus glandarius2025
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
- House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
- WhitethroatCurruca communis2025
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
Grey Squirrel · Hazel Dormouse
- Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
- Hazel DormouseMuscardinus avellanarius
Grass Snake
- Grass SnakeNatrix helvetica
Green Shieldbug · Harlequin Ladybird · Glow-worm · Eristalis arbustorum · Swollen-thighed Beetle +11
- Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina
- Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis
- Glow-wormLampyris noctiluca
- Eristalis arbustorumEristalis arbustorum
- Swollen-thighed BeetleOedemera nobilis
- Minotaur BeetleTyphaeus typhoeus
- 7-spot Ladybird
Dandelion · Perennial Rye-grass · False Oat-grass · Elder · Cock's-foot +71
- DandelionTaraxacum
- Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne
- False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius
- ElderSambucus nigra
- Cock's-footDactylis glomerata
- Wood DockRumex sanguineus
- Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
7,992 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds35 species
springsummerautumn
2026▾
Robin · Wren · Woodpigeon · Jackdaw · Carrion Crow +30
- RobinErithacus rubecula2025
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
- JackdawColoeus monedula2025
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
- Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
- GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- DunnockPrunella modularis2025
- MagpiePica pica2025
- Great TitParus major2025
- SwiftApus apus2025
- SwallowHirundo rustica2025
- StonechatSaxicola rubicola2025
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
- RookCorvus frugilegus2025
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2025
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
- NuthatchSitta europaea2025
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2025
- Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2025
- LapwingVanellus vanellus2025
- JayGarrulus glandarius2025
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
- House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
- WhitethroatCurruca communis2025
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis2025
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
Grey Squirrel · Hazel Dormouse
- Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
- Hazel DormouseMuscardinus avellanarius
Grass Snake
- Grass SnakeNatrix helvetica
Green Shieldbug · Harlequin Ladybird · Glow-worm · Eristalis arbustorum · Swollen-thighed Beetle +11
- Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina
- Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis
- Glow-wormLampyris noctiluca
- Eristalis arbustorumEristalis arbustorum
- Swollen-thighed BeetleOedemera nobilis
- Minotaur BeetleTyphaeus typhoeus
- 7-spot Ladybird
Dandelion · Perennial Rye-grass · False Oat-grass · Elder · Cock's-foot +71
- DandelionTaraxacum
- Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne
- False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius
- ElderSambucus nigra
- Cock's-footDactylis glomerata
- Wood DockRumex sanguineus
- Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Coccinella septempunctata
Coccinella septempunctata
Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipesRed-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipesLesser Stag BeetleDorcus parallelipipedusLesser Stag BeetleDorcus parallelipipedusEristalis tenaxEristalis tenaxEristalis tenaxEristalis tenaxOrange LadybirdHalyzia sedecimguttataOrange LadybirdHalyzia sedecimguttataMeadow GrasshopperPseudochorthippus parallelusMeadow GrasshopperPseudochorthippus parallelusCommon Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulvaCommon Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulvaMalthinus seriepunctatusMalthinus seriepunctatusMalthinus seriepunctatusMalthinus seriepunctatusChrysogaster solstitialisChrysogaster solstitialisChrysogaster solstitialisChrysogaster solstitialisFace FlyMusca autumnalisFace FlyMusca autumnalisCommon RagwortJacobaea vulgarisCommon RagwortJacobaea vulgarisRibwort PlantainPlantago lanceolataRibwort PlantainPlantago lanceolataGroundselSenecio vulgarisGroundselSenecio vulgarisDaisyBellis perennisDaisyBellis perennisSmooth Sow-thistleSonchus oleraceusSmooth Sow-thistleSonchus oleraceusCat's-earHypochaeris radicataCat's-earHypochaeris radicataBittersweetSolanum dulcamaraBittersweetSolanum dulcamaraAnnual Meadow-grassPoa annuaAnnual Meadow-grassPoa annuaIvyHedera helixIvyHedera helixYorkshire-fogHolcus lanatusYorkshire-fogHolcus lanatusSpear ThistleCirsium vulgareSpear ThistleCirsium vulgareCreeping ThistleCirsium arvenseCreeping ThistleCirsium arvenseLady's BedstrawGalium verumLady's BedstrawGalium verumCommon NettleUrtica dioicaCommon NettleUrtica dioicaPolygonum avicularePolygonum avicularePolygonum avicularePolygonum aviculareGreen Field-speedwellVeronica agrestisGreen Field-speedwellVeronica agrestisRemote SedgeCarex remotaRemote SedgeCarex remotaHazelCorylus avellanaHazelCorylus avellanaPetty SpurgeEuphorbia peplusPetty SpurgeEuphorbia peplusCut-leaved Crane's-billGeranium dissectumCut-leaved Crane's-billGeranium dissectumHogweedHeracleum sphondyliumHogweedHeracleum sphondyliumBroad-leaved DockRumex obtusifoliusBroad-leaved DockRumex obtusifoliusMeadow FoxtailAlopecurus pratensisMeadow FoxtailAlopecurus pratensisCommon Bird's-foot-trefoilLotus corniculatusCommon Bird's-foot-trefoilLotus corniculatusWall-rueAsplenium ruta-murariaWall-rueAsplenium ruta-murariaWater FigwortScrophularia auriculataWater FigwortScrophularia auriculataHawthornCrataegus monogynaHawthornCrataegus monogynaWood AvensGeum urbanumWood AvensGeum urbanumEnchanter's-nightshadeCircaea lutetianaEnchanter's-nightshadeCircaea lutetianaHart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendriumHart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendriumShepherd's-purseCapsella bursa-pastorisShepherd's-purseCapsella bursa-pastorisGarlic MustardAlliaria petiolataGarlic MustardAlliaria petiolataPineappleweedMatricaria discoideaPineappleweedMatricaria discoideaBristly OxtongueHelminthotheca echioidesBristly OxtongueHelminthotheca echioidesYarrowAchillea millefoliumYarrowAchillea millefoliumSmall NettleUrtica urensSmall NettleUrtica urensPrickly Sow-thistleSonchus asperPrickly Sow-thistleSonchus asperSmooth Hawk's-beardCrepis capillarisSmooth Hawk's-beardCrepis capillarisHollyIlex aquifoliumHollyIlex aquifoliumIvy-leaved ToadflaxCymbalaria muralisIvy-leaved ToadflaxCymbalaria muralisGreater PlantainPlantago majorGreater PlantainPlantago majorHerb-RobertGeranium robertianumHerb-RobertGeranium robertianumRed ValerianCentranthus ruberRed ValerianCentranthus ruberPellitory-of-the-wallParietaria judaicaPellitory-of-the-wallParietaria judaicaSlender SpeedwellVeronica filiformisSlender SpeedwellVeronica filiformisCreeping CinquefoilPotentilla reptansCreeping CinquefoilPotentilla reptansCreeping ButtercupRanunculus repensCreeping ButtercupRanunculus repensLesser Swine-cressLepidium didymumLesser Swine-cressLepidium didymumThyme-leaved SpeedwellVeronica serpyllifoliaThyme-leaved SpeedwellVeronica serpyllifoliaCrested Dog's-tailCynosurus cristatusCrested Dog's-tailCynosurus cristatusHedge WoundwortStachys sylvaticaHedge WoundwortStachys sylvaticaSycamoreAcer pseudoplatanusSycamoreAcer pseudoplatanusGreat MulleinVerbascum thapsusGreat MulleinVerbascum thapsusRed CloverTrifolium pratenseRed CloverTrifolium pratenseNavelwortUmbilicus rupestrisNavelwortUmbilicus rupestrisBlack MedickMedicago lupulinaBlack MedickMedicago lupulinaPendulous SedgeCarex pendulaPendulous SedgeCarex pendulaBrambleRubus fruticosusBrambleRubus fruticosusSelfhealPrunella vulgarisSelfhealPrunella vulgarisLords-and-LadiesArum maculatumLords-and-LadiesArum maculatumCow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestrisCow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestrisGround-elderAegopodium podagrariaGround-elderAegopodium podagrariaCommon BentAgrostis capillarisCommon BentAgrostis capillarisRosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifoliumRosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifoliumRamsonsAllium ursinumRamsonsAllium ursinumGround-ivyGlechoma hederaceaGround-ivyGlechoma hederaceaSnowdropGalanthus nivalisSnowdropGalanthus nivalisBluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta x hispanica = H. x massartianaBluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta x hispanica = H. x massartianaCommon TwaybladeNeottia ovataCommon TwaybladeNeottia ovataEvents & activities nearby
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