Blackdown Hills

Blackdown Hills National Landscape
Blackdown Hills National Landscape near Dalwood, Devon
Location of the National Landscape in England
Location	Devon and Somerset, England
Coordinates	50°56′49″N 3°13′47″W / 50.94694°N 3.22972°W / 50.94694; -3.22972
Area	370 km2 (140 sq mi)
Established	1991
Website	blackdownhillsaonb.org.uk

The Blackdown Hills, or Blackdowns,^[1] are a range of hills along the Somerset-Devon border in south-western England. The plateau is dominated by hard chert bands of Upper Greensand with some remnants of chalk, and is cut through by river valleys.

The Blackdown Hills were designated in 1991 as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).^[2] In November 2023, AONBs became National Landscapes.^[3] The hills support an extensive range of wildlife leading to the designation of 16 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).

There is evidence of human occupation since the Iron Age. Fortifications include the remains of ancient hill forts, Norman motte-and-bailey castles and Second World War airfields. There are also religious buildings such as Dunkeswell Abbey and village churches. The hills are crossed by a network of minor roads with major transport routes including the M5 motorway running around the periphery.