- Mendip hills National Landscape
- Visiting the Mendip Hills
Visiting the Mendip Hills
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Draycott Sleights & Rodney Stoke NNR Leaflet
Download this map and guide to discover the wildlife and heritage at this National Nature Reserve on the southern slopes of the National Landscape.
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Mendip Hills National Landscape Visitor Guide
You are welcome to download and print our Visitor Guide or Contact us for a copy and we’ll be happy to put one in the post.
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Mendip Hills National Landscape Chew Valley Visitor Guide
Please download your copy of the Chew Valley Visitor Guide here – it is no longer available in print.
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A Guide for Dog Owners and Dog Walkers on the Mendip Hills National Landscape
The Mendip Hills National Landscape is a great place for dogs and their owners. But please remember that you
and your dog share the outdoors with others. You have the right to explore the footpaths and bridleways as well as areas of ‘Access Land’ providing that you act responsibly and keep your dog under control at all times.
This handy leaflet will ensure you and your dog have a great visit to the Mendip Hills National Landscape.
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Black Down & Burrington Ham
Black Down trig point is the highest point on Mendip offering terrific views across to Wales. Significant wildlife and archaeology and excellent for walking, cycling and horse riding.
Burrington Combe and Ham to the North are designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest for their wildlife habitats.
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Cheddar Gorge
The internationally famous Cheddar Gorge boasting the highest inland limestone cliffs, dramatic caves and cliff top walk.
To find out more, click here.
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Chew Valley
A chance to slow down and relax around Chew Valley Lake with cafe, tearoom and nature trails. The Grebe nature trail is suitable for pedestrians, pushchairs and wheelchairs.
To find out more, click here.
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Crook Peak
A distinctive peak of open grassland with areas of gorse and scrub. The Mendip Way passes over the peak (OS Explorer Maps 141 and 153). There is a car park with picnic tables on Webbington Road.
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Priddy
The village green is at the centre of the ancient settlement of Priddy. The Hurdle stack on the green is a symbol of the ancient wool trade and Priddy sheep fair.
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Kings Wood
An ancient woodland with ground flora, access to Wavering Down and Crook Peak and is on the route of Mendip Way adjacent to the Strawberry Line.
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Priddy Mineries & Stockhill Forest
Nature has reclaimed this former lead mining site and is an amazing area for wildlife watchers. Walks up to North Hill and Priddy Nine Barrows can start here.
Sitting next to the Mineries is Stockhill Forest offering easy-going trails.
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Deer Leap
An open access site with fantastic views over the Somerset Levels. Excellent for walks, picnics, flying kites. There is a car park with picnic tables.
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East Harptree Woods
An evergreen forest offering easy-going trails and superb views across the Chew Valley leading to Smitham Chimney, the last remaining lead smelting chimney on Mendip.
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Bleadon Hill
The highest point of the Western end of the Mendip Hills offering 360 degree stunning views.
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Ebbor Gorge
A dry limestone gorge and is a designated National Nature Reserve.
To find out more, click here.
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Wookey Hole Caves
A visitor attraction that takes in the 50,000 year History of the caves.
Click here for more information.
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Cheddar Gorge & Caves
You can enjoy the awe-inspiring cliffs to the subterranean stalactite show caves at this visitor attraction. It is also an international centre for caving and rock climbing.
Click here for more information.
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Blagdon Lake
The lake covers 440 acres and is classified as a SSSI by Natural England for the wildflower meadows and bird populations. The long, narrow shape makes it ideal for both boat and bank fishing.
Click here for more information.
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Dolebury Warren
An iron age hillfort of great interest for its grassland, limestone heath vegetation and ancient field systems
Tourist Information Centres
Please check as details may change
- Bath Tourist Information Centre Bath Abbey Church Yard, Bath BA1 1LY Tel:0906 711 2000 Email: tourism@bathtourism.co.uk Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm, Sun 10am-4pm
- Burnham On Sea TIC, South Esplanade, Burnham-On-Sea, Somerset, TA8 1BUTel: 01278 787852 Email: burnhaminformation@gmail.com Open every day 10am -2pm until 25th March and then 10am-4pm. Closed on Easter Sunday
- Cheddar Visitor Information Centre The Cliffs, Cheddar BS27 3QE Tel: 01934 744689 Email: cheddargorgevic@gmail.com Open 1030 to 1530 at weekends, and 1030 to 1300 on weekdays
- Frome TIC, The Library, Justice Lane, Frome, Somerset BA11 1BE Tel: 01373 465757 Email: touristinfo@frome-tc.gov.uk Open Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm, Sat 9.30am-4pm
- Glastonbury TIC, High Street, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 9DP Tel: 01458 832954 Email: info@glastonburytic.co.uk Open Mon-Thurs 10am-4pm, Fri and Sat 10am-4.30pm
- Shepton Mallet TIC, 70 High Street, Shepton Mallet BA4 5AS Tel:01749 345258 Email: enquiries@visitsheptonmallet.co.uk Open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm and Sat 10am-1pm
- Street TIC, Clarks Village, Farm Road, Street, Somerset BA16 0BB Tel: 01458 447384 Email: info@streettic.co.uk Open Mon-Sat 10am-4pm and Sun 11am-4pm
- Taunton TIC, Library, Paul Street, Taunton, Somerset TA1 3XZ Tel: 01823 336344 Email: tauntontic@tauntondeane.gov.uk Open Mon-Sat 9.30-4.30 closed Sundays and Bank Holidays
- Wells Visitor Information Service, Wells and Mendip Museum, 8 Cathedral Green, Wells, BA5 2UE Tel: 01749 671770 Email: visitwellsinfo@gmail.com Open Winter Mon-Sat 11am-4pm Summer Mon – Sat 10-5
Discovering Black Down
This was a three year project (2013-2016) funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The project was designed to raise awareness of the wildlife and archaeological value of the Black Down and Burrington Commons through activities, events and training.
In recent years erosion and damage to specific features and the site in general has occurred through a combination of recreational use, sensitive site conditions and weather.
The legacy of Discovering Black Down will be to ensure local community and user group volunteers continue to play an active role in the care and conservation of this area’s heritage.
The project has now come to a close but the website Discovering Black Down will remain available.
Download the Discovering Black Down app for maps, memories and lots more
Greentraveller Guide to the Mendip Hills National Landscape
The Greentraveller online guide to the Mendip Hills National Landscape was launched in 2013 and the Facebook campaign is now running. Greentraveller has already produced guides for a number of National Landscapes and National Parks that list where to stay, visitor attractions, eating out and activities. This work was a part funded by a Sustainable Development Fund grant.
We hope you enjoy your visit to the Mendip Hills. Please contribute to their conservation and enhancement; your donations support local community and voluntary groups in the area.
You can make a donation online through our Just Giving page here. For more information you can also visit the Mendip Hills Fund page.