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Mendip Hills
Dramatic gorges and ancient woodland rising above the Somerset Levels
Mid Somerset
Opening times for 1 May 2024
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Two accessible spaces at the car park on the south side of Cheddar Gorge. All other car parks are on flat surfaces. Naturally uneven paths, which may become muddy and slippery after wet weather. Steep ascents and descents at all sites. Dogs welcome - keep on leads around wildlife.
By road
The Mendip Hills are located between M5 junctions 21 and 22. Brent Knoll is 3 miles E of Burnham-on-Sea. Crook Peak and Wavering Down are 2 miles W of Axbridge. Cheddar Gorge is 8 miles NW of Wells, sign-posted off the M5, A371 Axbridge to Wells road and A38 Burnham to Bristol road. Ebbor Gorge is 3 miles NW of Wells, close to Wookey Hole
On foot
All the National Trust's Mendip Hills' sites are easily accessed from nearby towns and villages. Brent Knoll is a ½ mile walk on footpaths from Brent Knoll village and East Brent. Ebbor Gorge is a ½ mile walk from Wookey Hole village. Crook Peak and Wavering Down are ¾ mile walk from Winscombe and Axbridge. Cheddar Gorge is just on the edge of Cheddar village. Crook Peak, Wavering Down, Cheddar Gorge and Ebbor Gorge are all located on the West Mendip Way, a long-distance footpath that travels through the Mendip Hills from Uphill, near Weston-Super-Mare, to Frome. Ebbor Gorge is also located near the Monarch's Way long-distance footpath, which traces Charles II's journey from Worcester to the South Coast when he escaped to France during the English Civil War
By train
The closest train stations are Weston-Super-Mare, Highbridge & Burnham and Yatton
By bus
Brent Knoll: First bus 102, Weston-Super-Mare (passing close to train station) to Bridgewater, alight at Brent Knoll village. Cheddar Gorge: First bus 126, Weston-Super-Mare (passing close to train station) to Wells, alight at Cheddar village (½ mile). Or First bus 668 Street to Bristol, alight at Tweentown, Cheddar (½ mile). Crook Peak and Wavering Down: First bus 126, Weston-Super-Mare (passing close to train station) to Wells, alight at Winscombe. Ebbor Gorge: First bus 670, Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge (passes close train station) to Wells and Wookey Hole, alight Wookey Hole village. Or First bus 126, Weston-Super-Mare (passes close train station) to Wells, alight Easton (1 mile)
By bicycle
The Strawberry Line, part of National Cycle Network (NCN) route 26 (from the Somerset coast to the Dorset coast), is an 8 mile traffic-free cycle path through the Mendips along a disused railway line from Yatton to Cheddar. It links Cheddar to King's Wood, near to Crook Peak and Wavering Down. NCN route 3 (Bristol to Land's End in Cornwall) passes within 1 mile of Ebbor Gorge and 2 miles of Cheddar Gorge. From both, quiet lanes link to the NCN
Highlights
Cheddar Gorge
At almost 400 feet deep and 3 miles long, this is England’s largest gorge and spectacular landscapes.
Crook Peak and Wavering Down
Crook Peak is one of Mendip's most distinctive hills, with a unique expanse of limestone grassland and rugged outcrops of stone to play on when you get to the top. Enjoy panoramic views across to Glastonbury Tor and Brean Down.
Mendip Way
Walk 50 miles across the Mendips from Uphill to Frome.
The Strawberry Line
Cycle this 10 mile route following the Cheddar Valley Railway from Yatton to Cheddar built in 1869 to carry strawberries from Cheddar.
Things to see and do
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Things to see and do in the Mendip Hills
Explore the Mendip Hills and the wildlife within. Visit Ebbor Gorge, the perfect place to bring the whole family, or head to Burrow Mump for scenic views across Somerset.
Top trails
Trail
Sand Point circular coast walk
Follow this circular coastal walk for wildlife, archaeological features and great views across the Bristol Channel to Wales.
Places to stay
Brean Cove Apartment
A dog-friendly apartment with sea views located at the foot of Brean Down.
Summerhouse Cottage
On the Tyntesfield estate, this former hunting lodge has an octagonal summerhouse and farmland views.
Lytes Cary
Stay in the west wing of Lytes Cary Manor within the Arts and Crafts inspired garden.
3 Lytes Cottage
Stay in the grounds of the Lytes Cary estate in this pretty Victorian cottage.
About Mendip Hills
The Mendip Hills are most important for their large stretches of calcareous grasslands, ancient wooded ravines and stunning geology; threatened species such as adders, dormice, horseshoe bats and skylarks; and woodland and grassland flora, including endemic whitebeam species, and Somerset’s county flower, such as the Cheddar Pink.
They are fantastic places for walking, cycling and horse riding and the views from the top of these hills are truly breathtaking.
Nearby Brent Knoll shares the same landscape characteristics and its grassy peak can be spotted from many places on the Mendips.
In October 2023 the Mendip Hills became one of Natural England’s newest ‘super’ National Nature Reserves. The new National Nature Reserve draws together all the existing important places for wildlife along the south facing slopes, including our sites at Brean Down, Crook Peak and Cheddar Gorge. It means these unique habitats of limestone grassland will be protected and through partnership working, will be places where nature thrives now and in the future. This is the second in the new King’s Series of National Nature Reserves, which will see five major National Nature Reserve created every year for the next five years - 25 in total.
Our work
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Our work in the Mendip Hills
From dry-stone walling to cattle grazing, a lot of important environmental work goes into the management of the Mendip Hills. Find out more about what our rangers and volunteers do.
Article
Ash dieback in north and west Somerset
Ash dieback is a devastating disease threatening veteran trees and woodlands in north and west Somerset.
Support us
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How your membership supports our work
Thanks to the support of our members, we're able to carry out our important conservation work across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Discover some of the crucial ways that you help us care for nature, beauty and history for future generations.