[citation needed] Hemyock is the largest village on the Blackdown Hills, which is now designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

[3] Hemyock is a typical upland settlement consisting of a central "town" surrounded by a number of hamlets (Culm Davey, Millhayes, Simonsburrow, Ashculme, Tedburrow, Madford, Mountshayne etc.).

[4] In Saxon times a battle was fought at Simonsburrow between the Blackdown Templars, led by Godwin the Narrowminded against the heathen tribes of Culmstock.

On 5 November 1380, King Richard II granted Sir William and Lady Margaret Asthorpe a licence to crenellate the Hemyock manor house; meaning the permission to fortify it.

[7] During the English Civil War it was held for Parliament, subjected to a brief but brutal siege and eventually slighted to destroy its military value.

[citation needed] Hemyock remains a viable village, with a school, medical facilities, one garage, one accident repair centre, two hairdressers, one public house, one convenience store, one Post Office & store, two playing fields, a Parish Hall, a community centre and two churches.

The first mechanically operated butter factory in the West of England was started at Mountshayne in 1886 by 4 local farmers, this was later transferred to Millhayes, subsequently becoming part of St. Ivel.

Newcomers to the village will be pleasantly surprised by the range of cultural and hobby groups, while long term residents can still enjoy traditional Hemyock pursuits such as cowbarging and gazing wistfully at the mists over Culmstock Beacon.