West Mendip Explorer: Somerset Heights to Somerset Levels
Independent Walking
West Mendip Explorer: Somerset Heights to Somerset Levels
J ust south of Bristol, the Mendip Hills is a beautiful and varied landscape. A dramatic scene of wild, open plateau is interrupted by deep gorges such as Burrington Coombe and Cheddar Gorge. Cheddar is England’ s largest gorge, and with its weathered crags and pinnacles, one of the country’ s most spectacular natural sites. The area is littered with historic sites, such as the Priddy Nine Barrows, a Bronze Age cemetery, and the Roman lead mines at Charterhouse. The area has been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and on its steeper slopes flower rich grasslands and wooded coombes offer varied habitats for a wide variety of wildlife. The Mendips overlook the Somerset Levels to the South, where there are wetland nature reserves and where, of course, the iconic sight of Glastonbury Tor rises above the Levels. Nestled below the Mendips is the beautiful medieval city of Wells, with its magnificent Cathedral and moated Bishop’ s Palace.
Walks: day-by-day
Day 1: Arrival – Welcome & night at Victorian seaside resort Weston-Super-Mare.
Day 2: Weston- Axbridge The first day’ s walking takes you along the seafront before climbing from the marina at Uphill to the highest point of the western edge of the Mendips at Bleadon Hill. You will pass through the small village of Loxton before climbing to the distinctive craggy limestone outcrop of Crook Peak where you will have great views of the Somerset Levels spread out to the south. You will then proceed onto the heathland of Wavering Down and Cross Plain before descending via the Strawberry Line to Axbridge. 13 miles( 22km)
Day 3: Axbridge- Rickford Leave the West Mendip Way to explore the woods and heathland above Burrington Coombe that form the northern edge of the Mendips. The trail takes you up onto Dolebury Warren, an Iron Age hill-fort and a wonderful viewpoint. The route then detours up to the highest point on the Mendips, Beacon Batch at 325m, which resembles Exmoor or the Pennines. Look down into Burrington Coombe & descend to picturesque village of Rickford. 11 miles( 18km)
Day 4: Rickford- Cheddar An ascent back onto the Mendips, the route takes in the area of Ubley Warren, a landscape of rakes and bumpy ground made by the Roman excavation of lead, and then walk through Velvet Bottom to reach the Black Rock Nature Reserve at the head of Cheddar Gorge. Check out the views from the Lookout Tower before descending to Cheddar via Jacobs Ladder. Explore the village famous for its show caves and world famous cheese. 10 miles( 16km) Optional extra night in Cheddar with a further walk around the perimeter of the Gorge
Day 5: Cheddar- Priddy From Cheddar the route follows the Mendip escarpment south west giving you superb views over the Somerset Levels before moving up to the village of Priddy, which lies in a small hollow at an elevation of nearly 1,000 feet( 300 m) above sea-level, and is home to pre-historic sites such as Priddy Circles, a henge monument contemporary with Stonehenge, and Priddy Nine Barrows, a Bronze Age cemetery. 10 miles( 16km)
Day 6: Priddy- Wells Your walk goes through Ebbor Gorge, a small and hidden limestone gorge and down into Wookey Hole, famous for its caves. The route then descends to the lovely medieval city of Wells. Time to explore the Cathedral and Bishop’ s Palace and the rest of the City. 7 miles( 11km). Optional additional night in Wells with a chance to explore the wonderful surrounding countryside with great views over to Glastonbury Tor. 13 miles( 22km) Day 7: Wells- Glastonbury Take a direct route to Glastonbury to Glastonbury Tor explore the town 10 miles( 18km) Or Bus trip to Glastonbury for a longer day exploring home of the King Arthur legend, Glastonbury Abbey, the Chalice Well and the Glastonbury Thorn. 7 miles( 12km)
Day 8: Departure: Depart after breakfast or extra day in Glastonbury.
At a Glance
GUIDED / INDEPENDENT Price: Grade: Profile:
See Price List
Dates: April Oct
Accommodation
Independent Walking
♦ A varied walking holiday designed to discover the best of the Mendips
♦ Stunning Cheddar Gorge, the largest gorge in England
♦ Great panoramic views from the Mendip Hills
♦ A countryside full of interest with pre-historic
sites, Roman remains and pretty historic villages
♦ Medieval city of Wells with its superb cathedral
♦ Explore Glastonbury, home of the King Arthur Legend with its Tor and abbey
Price P / P See Price List or Web Site for details Extra nights possible in Cheddar, Wells or Glastonbury
Walking Profile
5 or 6 days self-guided walking moving between guest houses. The walking days on this independent holiday average about 16km or 10 miles. The walking varies with some fairly level sections, whilst others include sizeable ascents up and down from the Mendips Hills. Your walking holiday follows several sections of the way-marked Mendip Way trail, whilst on other days you’ ll explore different areas of the Mendips using local footpaths and bridleways.
A range of good quality small hotels, bed and breakfasts and inns. In some locations the choice of accommodation is limited so please book early to ensure that we can secure our first choice accommodation. Where possible, we choose guest houses with a distinctive local character, where charming surroundings are married with a warm welcome. All accommodation is on a B & B basis. Evening meals are taken in local cafes, tea rooms, restaurants and pubs.
Holiday Profile
7 nights: 5 or 6 days self-guided walking moving between guest houses.( Extra nights and walking days possible)
Included 7 nights accommodation on a B & B basis, full walking notes and maps, transfer at the end of the holiday to local train station,
transport of luggage
What’ s not included
Travel to and from the Mendips; all lunches & evening meals, visits, travel insurance contact @ highpointholidays. co. uk
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