On leaving the village, the route passes the Priory Gate House, an early 16th century building of great architectural interest. Above the entrance there is an oriel window with a different carving under each of the lights, and right at the top there is a coat of arms carved in the central merlon of the battlements.
The route then ascends the steep wooded slope of St Michael's Hill, the Mons Acutus (meaning 'steep hill' in Latin) that gave the village its name. According to legend, the Holy Cross was found on the hill in the reign of King Canute, and was later taken to Waltham Abbey in Essex, which then became known as Waltham Holy Cross. The hill is surmounted by a circular stone tower, built in 1760 on the site of Montacute Castle. At the top of the tower is a little room with a fireplace and four windows looking out over the countryside.
The walk continues through Hedgecock Hill Wood, where there are badger setts, to the Iron Age hill fort on Ham Hill. This is the largest hill fort, in terms of area, in Britain.
Within the ramparts of Ham Hill Hill Fort is a fascinating area of little hillocks, the result of centuries of quarrying. The quarries yielded a beautiful golden brown stone called Ham Hill Stone which was used in Exeter Cathedral, Sherborne Abbey and many famous houses.
The area is now a country park, an ancient monument and a site of special scientific interest. From the ramparts there are splendid views to the east, north and west.
Also on Ham Hill is a new site, a modern stone circle. It was erected as a Millennium project to commemorate the many centuries of quarrying that have gone on at Ham Hill and all the men who have worked there. Pieces of shell and other small fossils can be seen in the stones.
On the return to Montacute from Ham Hill the well preserved deserted medieval settlement of Witcombe is visited. Earthworks on the site include a holloway, lynchets, small enclosures, house platforms and a pond. Part of the site, including two house sites, is under plough. A quantity of medieval sherds and other material, including iron slag, has been recovered from the site of Witcombe village.
