Walton and Ivythorn Hills
Walton and Ivythorn Hills is a small but ecologically significant area of elevated land situated in the Somerset Levels, near the village of Street and the town of Glastonbury in Somerset, England. It forms part of the broader landscape of the Somerset Levels and Moors, which is itself one of the most distinctive and historically layered landscapes in Britain. The hills rise gently but noticeably above the flat peat moors that surround them, and this contrast is what gives them their particular character and importance. They are managed as a nature reserve by Somerset Wildlife Trust and represent one of the finest examples of unimproved limestone grassland in the region, supporting a rich variety of wildflowers, invertebrates and birds that have largely vanished from more intensively farmed parts of the countryside.
The reserve sits on the southern edge of the Polden Hills, a low limestone ridge that runs east to west across the Somerset Levels. This geological foundation is crucial to what grows here. The thin, free-draining calcareous soils support species such as cowslip, common spotted orchid, pyramidal orchid, bird's-foot trefoil, and a range of grasses that form a classic ancient meadow sward. In summer, the air above these slopes can be alive with butterflies, including marbled white, common blue, and small skipper, taking advantage of the nectar-rich grassland. The reserve is also notable for its hedgerows and scrub edges, which provide habitat for nesting birds and foraging mammals. The combination of open grassland, hedges, and scattered trees creates a layered habitat of considerable ecological value.
Historically, this corner of Somerset was deeply shaped by its proximity to Glastonbury, one of the most spiritually and historically resonant towns in England. The Somerset Levels were largely waterlogged marshes throughout the early medieval period, and the slight ridges and hills like Walton and Ivythorn would have acted as islands or causeways in that watery world. The nearby Glastonbury Abbey was a dominant influence on land management for centuries before the Dissolution, and much of the landscape visible today reflects centuries of grazing and low-intensity farming that inadvertently preserved the grassland's botanical richness. Ivythorn Hill itself carries a name with roots in Old English, suggesting long-term human familiarity with this particular spur of elevated land.
In person, the hills have an intimate and quietly rewarding quality. They are not dramatic in the way that Exmoor or the Mendips are, but their very modesty is part of their appeal. Standing on the ridge on a clear day, the views across the flat, ditch-threaded moors of the Somerset Levels are genuinely extraordinary, with the distinctive cone of Glastonbury Tor visible to the northeast and the Mendip Hills rising on the northern horizon. On still mornings, the sounds are dominated by birdsong, the rustling of wind through hedge-top willows, and the occasional distant farm machinery. In spring and early summer, the grassland is carpeted with flowers and the whole reserve feels alive with insect movement and colour.
The surrounding area is rich in points of interest. Glastonbury, just a few kilometres to the northeast, offers the Tor, the Abbey ruins, the Chalice Well gardens and the full complement of its mythological associations with Arthurian legend and early Christianity. The town of Street, known historically for its Clark's shoe manufacturing heritage, lies immediately to the south and west. The broader Somerset Levels are threaded with wildlife reserves including Shapwick Heath and Ham Wall, which together form the Avalon Marshes, an internationally important wetland complex famous for its breeding bitterns and enormous winter starling murmurations. The Polden Hills ridge road offers excellent driving and cycling routes with panoramic views.
Visiting Walton and Ivythorn Hills is straightforward and free of charge, as is typical for Somerset Wildlife Trust reserves. The reserve is accessible on foot via public footpaths from the nearby lanes around Walton and Street, with limited roadside parking available. It is at its most spectacular in late spring and early summer when the wildflowers and butterflies are at their peak, though autumn brings its own pleasures in the form of fruiting hedgerows and the changing light over the moors. The terrain involves some gentle slopes over grassland which may be uneven underfoot, so reasonable footwear is advisable. Dogs are welcome but should be kept on leads during the bird nesting season to avoid disturbing ground-nesting species.