Mendips

The Mendips are a range of hills in northern Somerset in the south-west of the United Kingdom. The area is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Understand
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 19th 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.


 * Mendip Hills AONB website

Destinations

 * Priddy
 * Charterhouse
 * Cheddar and its gorge.
 * Wookey Hole
 * East Harptree
 * Wells the small city with a big cathedral as the southern-most point of the Mendips

By plane
Bristol 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.

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

See

 * Blackmoor Reserve
 * Black Rock Reserve
 * Bleadon Hill


 * Charterhouse


 * Cheddar Caves
 * Chew Valley Lake


 * Priddy Green
 * Stockhill and Priddy Mineries Reserve

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

Drink
Most villages have pubs amongst which are:



Sleep
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



Stay safe
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.

Go next
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