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

The village has a very long history and some prehistoric remains may be found, from about 100 BC to well beyond. In the Middle Ages local iron ores were smelted in small bloomeries (furnaces) to produce pure iron. In Saxon times a battle was fought at Simonsburrow between the native Britons and King Ime's Saxon army, which put an end (temporarily) to the King's expansion to the west.

Hemyock was the former home of the St Ivel dairy processing plant, formerly where the butter spreads 'St Ivel Gold' and 'Utterly-Butterly' were produced before being moved to a factory in the north of England.

Hemyock was also the birthplace of the National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs. The first Young Culm Farmers Club in England began here in 1921, and it continues to prosper as the Culm Valley Young Farmers Club.