Haddon Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Haddon Hill |
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The trig point on the top of Haddon Hill
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,164 ft (355 m) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Somerset, England |
| OS grid | SS962286 |
Haddon Hill is a cool ridge in west Somerset, England. It's located near a village called Hartford, which is part of Brompton Regis. This hill sits on the edge of Exmoor National Park. However, it's separated from the main Exmoor area by the valleys of the River Haddeo and River Exe.
The highest point of Haddon Hill is marked by a trig point. This point is 1,164 feet (355 meters) above sea level. A large part of the hill is open for public access. This means you can walk freely across much of the upper areas. There are also public footpaths that cross the hill from north to south. Many tracks run along its length, too.
Most of Haddon Hill is inside the national park. The park's boundary follows the B3190 road. This road cuts diagonally across the eastern end of the ridge. It goes from Watchet to Bampton. You can drive to the hill from this road. From Haddon Hill, you can see great views of Wimbleball Reservoir. This large lake is in the Haddeo valley, just north of the hill.
What is Haddon Hill Made Of?
Haddon Hill and its neighbor, Heydon Hill, are mostly made of a type of rock called Pickwell Down Sandstones. These rocks are very old. They formed during the Devonian period, which was millions of years ago. These rocks are sedimentary, meaning they were formed from layers of sand and mud. People used to quarry, or dig out, stone from the hill in the past.
Ancient Discoveries on the Hill
There's a circular area on Haddon Hill with a bank and a ditch. People once thought it was a Bronze Age burial mound, called a tumulus. However, experts now believe it's not.
There is a real Bronze Age cairn on the hill. A cairn is a pile of stones built by people. This one is about 9.3 meters (30.5 feet) across. Also, several ancient Roman coins have been found at Hadborough. This area is at the western end of Haddon Hill.
Haddon Hill During World War II
During World War II, a military camp was built on Haddon Hill. This camp had several buildings. It was used to house soldiers from the United States Army. These soldiers were preparing for the Normandy landings in 1944. The Normandy landings were a huge invasion during the war.
