Niver Hill
264 Meters
866 feet
24th April 2026
An Afternoon in the Mendips part 2: In Amongst the Lamas
Having ticked off the top of North Somerset I drove a few miles east (with the ever-present radio transmission of endless and forever Mandelson and Trump news updates vomiting from the speakers) and parked up at the Forestry Commission East Harptree carpark just off the Smitham Hill road. The next objective was Niver Hill, the top of Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority. North Somerset had been a brief drive by, and so I needed to stretch my legs.
Two or three cars were parked up but it was a tranquil spot, and if I had paid attention to the information board might have taken a stroll over to the nearby historical Smitham Chimney that apparently lurked in the trees to the west. Hindsight and Google maps.
Instead, unaware of the chimney’s towering brick presence, I walked the track back to Smitham Hill road, turned left and ambled down heading north.
Depending on the map you look at the tiled roof is either Springfield Farm or Pit Farm!!
Just before Springfield Farm I turned right and then southeast up Nettwood Lane, with fields to the left and bluebell enhanced woods to the right.
Pretty in blue
At the end of the wooded section a footpath headed directly east but I bore to the right and on the straight track up towards Nettwood farm at the top of the hill. At the entrance to the farm, I stopped and looked directly east towards a cluster of trees on the ridge about 300 meters away. Having looked at various maps months earlier I knew that the high point was located just by the last most northern tree, but there was no obvious route across the field from the farm.
The high point, just at the last tree on the left
It wasn’t to be and sometimes you just have to accept it. From the position I was in I felt as if I was at a similar height and decided I had done enough. Heading back down a couple of space aged yurts appeared in the first field. I enjoy camping, but this looked a bit too artificial (maybe I need to get over these prejudices).
A pod of yurts with a view
A bit further down and another field presented a gathering of curious lamas. As I walked on by, they stood stock still and gave me the unwavering eyeballs until I had passed. I guess they thought I might have been a food bringer.
Maintaining their gaze
Back at the car I felt that I had enough time to do part three of the Mendip challenge and get to Dundury Hill East, just to the south of Bristol, and what has recently emerged as the top of Bristol Unitary Authority after previously being reported as Cossham Hospital which I had ticked off last year.
I drove north, first through East and then West Harptree and then on the A368 towards Bishop Sutton. By now, unless I was to get very lucky, my time was probably up, and so when a lay-by appeared next to Chew Valley Lake, I pitched up and bought an ice cream from the van that was doing good business. Unfortunately, the ice cream (that came in at just under £4) was an overwhelming disappointment (Mr Whixxy) and I fought a desperate battle with the heat to lick as much of the abysmal product down whilst simultaneously looking out at the birds on the water, the buzzards in the air, and the view across the lake and back towards the trees on the hills beyond that marked Niver Hill and the point I hadn’t quite achieved.
The view back to Niver Hill (try taking a photo at the same time as preventing a total ice-cream disaster)
Dundry Hill East would have to wait another day, but as I drove towards Bristol city centre, the Peter and the Donald stories continued to remorselessly dribble out from the speakers. I figure that what we need more of is Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers and a little less Mr Whippy’s.
In February 1999 (it says it on the internet!) I managed to see Johathan Richman at the Jazz Cafe in Camden Town. I can’t remember if he played Ice Cream Man, but that didn’t matter – he was simply magnificent.
El Colmado 57 