Wellington Monument rises 175 feet on the edge of the Blackdown Hills, the tallest three-sided obelisk in the world and a tribute to the Duke of Wellington's victory at Waterloo. The foundation stone was laid in 1817, but money ran short and the column was only finished in 1854; lightning strikes and failed repairs followed, and the National Trust, its owner since 1934, reopened it in 2021 after a major restoration. A path lined with beech hedges leads from the car park, 500 yards away, through a wildlife-rich meadow that suits a picnic, and a one-mile walk takes in the woodland and views. Guided tours climb 232 steps to the top; there is no other way inside. Reviewers praise the friendly, informative volunteers, the easy level walk through the trees and the coffee cart. Tips from visitors: book the climb ahead, and pay for parking through the JustPark app, since the machine has been vandalised. There are no toilets.
