The Mendip Hills
Attractions > Somerset Landscapes - Around Wells
The Mendip Hills are an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. They extend from just east of Wells almost to the Bristol Channel. Man has lived and worked on the Hills for many thousands of years. There are numerous burial mounds and the Romans mined for lead and what is left of these workings can be found at Charterhouse. These days the hills are enjoyed by the many visitors for the walking, biking, horse riding trails and the fantastic views. One of the best hills to climb is Crook Peak and although not that high it has far reaching views over the Somerset Levels and over the Bristol Channel to Wales. King John's Hunting Lodge is an early Tudor timber-framed wool merchant's house dating from about 1500. Ebbor Gorge is not on the scale of Cheddar Gorge but offers a beautiful meadow trail with wild flowers, wildlife and a small rocky gorge to walk through. Brean Down is not part of the Mendips but it is an extension of the hill range that juts into the Bristol Channel. This rocky outcrop is also a nature reserve that can be reached via a coast road from Burnham.
We have added a link to the AONB site for you to find walking routes/wildlife walks from 2 to 8 miles in length and biking trails on the Mendips. Each walking trail is in the form of a downloadable A4 sheet which provides detailed information about the walk plus a map.
The Mendip Society is a group of some 500 like-minded people who come together in the interests of conserving and enhancing the Mendip Hills and the surrounding area, for everyone to enjoy. They organise walks most weekends - click here to find out where the next events are.