Mendip Hills
Dramatic gorges and ancient woodland rising above the Somerset Levels
Mendip Hills
Facilities and access
Mendip Hills
Overview
Dramatic gorges and ancient woodland rising above the Somerset Levels
The Mendip Hills run east-west across Somerset from Frome to Brean Down. Inside they are hiding fascinating secrets such as underground caves and rivers, making the hills a popular centre for caving.
From the outside they reveal centuries of history from the pre-historic at Cheddar to the Iron-Age at Brent Knoll and a Victorian fort at Brean Down.
They are fantastic places for walking, cycling and horse riding and the views from the top of these hills are truly breathtaking.
The hills are also a haven for wildlife, particularly if you are interested in butterflies and wild flowers.
- Telephone
- +441278751874
- somerset.countryside@nationaltrust.org.uk
Mendip Hills
How to get here
- Address
- Mid Somerset
- By cycle
- 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
- 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 road
- The Mendip Hills are located between M5 junctions 21 and 22. Brent Knoll is 3 miles E of Burnham-on-Sea and 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
- 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)
Mendip Hills
Prices
Admission free
What is Gift Aid?
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points. Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
- Gift Aid Admission or
- Standard admission
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you the Gift Aid Admission prices. But it's entirely up to you which ticket you choose. If you want the Standard Admission instead, just let us know when you come to pay.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid* — an extra 25 per cent — potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below: Payment of the additional percentage donation is entirely voluntary, so if you prefer to pay the standard admission please advise our reception staff at the till point.
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
*Gift Aid donations must be supported by a valid Gift Aid declaration and a Gift Aid declaration can only cover donations made by an individual for him/herself or for him/herself and members of his/her family.
Mendip Hills
Opening times
Sunday 28 May
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Monday 29 May
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Tuesday 30 May
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Wednesday 31 May
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Thursday 1 June
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Friday 2 June
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Saturday 3 June
- Countryside Dawn to dusk