Places to go
A beautiful landscape with unique places to visit and activities for everyone. The map below forms part of our Visitor Guide 2011 (Download 1.5MB) which you can download if you wish or contact us and we’ll be happy to post one to you. Tel: 01761 462338 or email mendiphills@somerset.gov.uk.
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Tourist Information
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Why not have a look at our gallery for a taste of what you can expect to see when you visit.
Black Rock Reserve grid ref: 474545
Coppiced woodland reserve including old quarry. Links to Velvet Bottom Reserve. On bus service 673 route and West Mendip Way (OS Explorer Maps 141 and 153). Car parking in lay by.
Blackmoor Reserve grid ref 505557
An old lead mining area steeped in history, rough grassland, heath, wetland and woodland. Industrial archaeology visible. Netherwood a small woodland on the reserve has an easy going trail. Car park and short walk from Charterhouse bus stop.
Bleadon Hill grid ref: 357578
Lay by providing views of the coast and on the West Mendip Way (OS Explorer Maps 141 and 153). Parking in lay-by.
Burrington Ham/Black Down/Roberrow Forest grid ref: 489581
Largest area of open land in the AONB. Black Down trig point is the highest point on Mendip offering terrific views across to Wales. Significant wildlife and archaeology. Excellent for walking ,cycling and horse riding. On bus route 673. Car parks at top and bottom of Burrington Coombe.
Charterhouse grid ref: 502557
Unique historic lead mining landscape dating from the Roman period. Excellent for walks. On 673 bus route. Car parking at Velvet Bottom and Blackmoor Reserve.
Cheddar Gorge grid ref: 467539
Dramatic limestone gorge with National Trust shop and information point (opening July 2010), shops, pubs, tearooms, toilets etc situated at the bottom. Public footpath around the top of the Gorge that can be joined at Black Rock at top of Gorge, Lion Rock or Lippiat Lane. Bus service 673 goes through the Gorge with other services to Cheddar. Car parks in Cheddar and gorge.
Chew Valley Lake grid ref: 574613
Lake side area with visitor centre, tearoom, nature trail, toilets: web site address www.bristolwater.co.uk/leisure.
Crook Peak grid ref: 392550
Distinctive peak. Open grassland site with areas of gorse and scrub. West Mendip Way passes over the peak (OS Explorer Maps 141 and 153). Car park with picnic tables on Webbington Road.
Deer Leap grid ref: 518492
Open access site with fantastic views over the Somerset Levels. Excellent for walks, picnics, flying kites. Car park with picnic tables.
Dolebury Hillfort grid ref:450590
Iron age hillfort of great interest for its grassland, limestone heath vegetation and ancient field systems. Bus services along A38. Take the A38 southwards from Churchill village and after the red brick terrace houses turn left into Dolebury Bottom. Follow the road which runs parallel with the A38. Please drive slowly along the lane & park in the small car park at the end of the lane. Follow the footpath to the summit.
Ebbor Gorge grid ref: 521485
Wooded gorge offering variety of walks. Car park. East Harptree Woods grid ref: 552545. Forest plantation on historic lead mining site. Car park and picnic tables. Easy going trail to Smitham Chimney, remnant of the lead mining.
Herriots Bridge grid ref: 572582
Long lay-by on road that crosses Chew Valley Lake. Popular for viewing wild waterfowl. Bus Service 673. New Manor Farm teashop on road into Bishop Sutton.
Kings Wood grid ref: 422561
Ancient woodland with ground flora. Access to Wavering Down and Crook Peak. On route of West Mendip Way (OS Explorer Maps 141 and 153), adjacent to Strawberry Line.
Priddy Green grid ref: 527513
Village green at centre of ancient settlement of Priddy. Two village pubs. Hurdle stack on the green is a symbol of the ancient wool trade and annual Priddy sheep fair that takes place on the nearest Wednesday to the 21st of Aug.
Shute Shelve Hill grid ref: 424548
Open grassland site offering views over the Somerset Levels. Parking and picnic tables in Axbridge lay-by car park. Nearby historic Axbridge.
Stockhill and Priddy Mineries Reserve grid ref: 547514
Forest plantation with easy going trail. Priddy Mineries offers walks over old lead workings.
Velvet Bottom Reserve grid ref: 502556
Nature reserve part of Charterhouse lead workings complex of sites. Rough grassland with small areas of scrub. Reserve links to Black Rock and Longwood Reserves. Car parking at side of road. Short walk from Charterhouse Centre bus stop.