Big Visitor Count reveals changing use of the Mendip Hills National Landscape since 2019

The Mendip Hills National Landscape Team, in partnership with the local farming and landowner community, set up 16 monitoring stations across key sites in the Mendip Hills to capture visitor data as part of the Big Visitor Count 2026. Many people live, work and play in the Mendip Hills and this data allows us to best support each of these groups in a positive way.

Kelly Davies, Sustainable Recreation Officer at the Mendip Hills National Landscape Team, who collates and analyses this data commented, “The Big Visitor Count has become an essential part of how we understand and care for Mendip. Now in its seventh year, it gives us a snapshot in time of how these specific sites and paths are used and paints an evolving picture of how people use this special place. That information is key to balancing access with conservation.”

The count takes place on the same Saturday, for the same 4-hour time period at 16 different locations across the National Landscape. Across the 7 year period the Crook Peak site is getting busier, closely followed by Cheddar Gorge. Whereas there were some surprises with reductions in visitors to Velvet Bottom and Dolebury Warren.. Both of which were normally high on the visitor list. The majority of users do so on foot, with over 69%. Followed by users with a four-legged friend at 26%.

Since the creation of the first survey in 2019, the data has helped the Mendip Hills National Landscape team work with supporting the local community to balance the enjoyment and health benefits offered by visiting. Alongside those whose livelihoods depend on the very
ground that is accessed. Whilst protecting what is a unique part of the South-west. We work with landowners and the farming community and have provided grants to improve pathways, gates, signage and information well over the £200k mark in total.

The Mendip Hills National Landscape team is also conducting a user survey that will deepen our knowledge, which will be made available in late 2026. For support on access, please contact our Farming in Protected Landscapes team FiPL@mendiphills-nl.org.uk.