Mendips

The Mendips are carboniferous limestone hills, situated a few miles south of Bristol, just north of the Somerset Levels. There have been quarries and mining here from early times, all mining has now ceased. Caving, climbing and hiking are popular outdoor activities.
The caves at Cheddar contain traces of Palaeolithic man. Lead, copper, silver were mined from the Bronze Age, through Roman times up until the nineteenth century.
The tops of the Mendips consist mostly of grassland, grazed by sheep and there is a wide variety of plant and animal life for those interested in natural history.

• Priddy
• Charterhouse
• Cheddar
• Wookey Hole
• East Harptree
• Wells

By plane

Bristol International airport is well served from most of Europe and is a few miles north.

By train

The nearest railway stations are at Bath, Bristol, Weston super Mare and Frome.

By bus

• First Bus operate services in the area.

Road

Fairly easily accessible from the M5 motorway, Bristol, Bath, Wells, Weston super Mare.

Walking

Many of the more interesting destinations are only accessible on foot. Walking guides are available from the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty service.

The Chew Valley Explorer bus serves many of the local villages. Some other bus services are provided by First Bus as above. Otherwise you need to walk or use a car.

• Blackmoor Reserve
• Black Rock Reserve
• Bleadon Hill
• Burrington Combe
• Charterhouse
• Cheddar Gorge
• Cheddar Caves
• Chew Valley Lake
• Crook Peak
• Dolebury Hillfort
• Ebbor Gorge
• Priddy Green
• Stockhill and Priddy Mineries Reserve
• Wookey Hole

Outdoor pursuits

• Mendip ClimbA guide to local climbs

• Mendip Outdoor Pursuits

  address: The Warehouse, Silver Street, Congresbury
  Offer a variety of activities including climbing, abseiling, caving, hill walking, orienteering.

• cheddarclimbingcaving.co.ukCaving, climbing, abseiling, kit hire.

• Somerset Wildlife Trust

  address: Chancellor’s Farm, Plummer’s Lane, Priddy
  Manages several nature reserves in the Mendip Hills, information on website.

• Chew Valley Lake

  phone: +44 1275 332339
  address: Woodford Lodge, Chew Stoke, Bristol
  Over 260 different species of birds have been recorded, ranging from tiny reed warblers to Bewick's swans. Permits available for some reserve areas, also for fishing the lake.

• Wessex Cave Club

  address: Upper Pitts, Eastwater Lane, Priddy
  Local caving club, with a club cottage that can accommodate groups up to 15.

• Mendip Caving GroupCharterhouse based group with a cottage that can accommodate 30, hold keys to a variety of caves.

• Shepton Mallet Caving Club

  address: The Mineries, Wells Road, Priddy
  Cottage with bunk bed accommodation for 25, some camping accommodation.

• Axbridge Caving GroupTraining, advice, equipment, books and videos available, regular organised expeditions. Meet in the Hunters Lodge, 2nd Sunday of month.

• Charterhouse Centre

  address: Charterhouse-on-Mendip, Blagdon, Bristol
  Offers climbing, abseiling, caving, mountain biking, accommodation and campsite.

• Mendip Hills Outstanding Area of Natural Beauty

  phone: +44 1761 462338
  Downloadable walking guides.

Events

• Priddy Folk Festival

  address: The Green, Priddy
  3-day folk music festival in July annually, with craft fair, club tent, camp site, dance events.

Many of the pubs serve good food, there are cafes and restaurants in Cheddar and Wells.

Most villages have pubs amongst which are:

• Hunters Lodge

  address: Bristol Road, Priddy
  Real ale, pub grub, traditional style, open fires. Popular with cavers.

• The Queen Victoria Inn

  address: Pelting Drove, Priddy
  Real ales, cider, pub grub, folk evenings.

• New Inn

  address: The Green, Priddy
  Real ales, pub grub, bed and breakfast accommodation.

• Druids Arms

  address: Bromley Road, Stanton Drew
  Real ale, beer garden, food, handy for Stanton Drew stone circle and Chew Valley Lake.

• The Crown

  address: High Street, West Harptree
  Good beer and cider and homecooked food. In the heart of Chew Valley at the foot of the Mendips.

There are a number of guest houses, also some self-catering accommodation, camping and caravan sites and a few independent hotels. Full lists available from Somerset County Tourist Information

• Self Catering Somerset
  address: Binegar Green
  Self-catering Somerset holiday accommodation. Spindle cottage is a 17th-century cottage high on the Mendip hills. Set in a garden complete with summerhouse, gazebo and a conservatory. Step inside the cottage and you find a world of make believe with carvings of mushrooms, spiders web, birds and mice in oak beams and stone work.

• The Penscot Inn

  address: The Square, Shipham, Nr Cheddar
  Twelve en suite rooms, 3-star rated. Restaurant and bar.

• Burcott Mill

  address: Wookey, Wells
  Bed and Breakfast adjacent to a working water-powered flour mill.

• Home Farm Cottages

  address: Barton, Winscombe, Nr Cheddar
  Self-catering accommodation Set in 2 acres of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Barton, near Cheddar.

• Broadway House Holiday Park

  address: Cheddar
  Touring caravans, camping, some lodges, swimming pool in summer, children's play area, convenience shop, restaurant and bar.

• Anela B&B

  address: Lower North Street, Cheddar
  A friendly B&B located in the very centre of Cheddar village - convenient for all facilities and just a short, level walk from the Gorge.

Outdoor activities such as climbing, caving and abseiling should only be undertaken with suitably qualified groups. The hills contain many old mine workings and even undiscovered pot-holes, so walkers should be well equipped and use good maps.

Other local attractions near the Mendips are:

• Glastonbury
• Street( with Clarks Shopping Village)
• Frome
• Bath
• Weston-super-Mare
• Wookey Hole Caves (full of adventure for little kids)
• Cheddar
• Bristol
• Bridgwater