Where to go and what to do in Somerset - The Mendip Hills

The Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is located to the south of Bristol. The area includes the lakes of the Chew Valley and the western and central parts of the limestone ridge known as the Mendip Hills. The limestone landscape includes an open windswept plateau, wooded combes, steeply cut gorges and flower rich valleys. The area was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1972 .Bleadon Hill grid ref: 357578 Lay by providing views of the coast and on the West Mendip Way. Parking in lay-by. AONB Walk Cards: Bleadon and Bleadon Hill 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. AONB Mountain Bike Trail Guide Blackdown and Roberrow Forest, AONB Walk Card: Charterhouse grid ref: 502557 Unique historic lead mining landscape dating from the Roman period. Excellent for walks. AONB Walk Card Charterhouse, Netherwood leaflet. On 673 bus route. Car parking at Velvet Bottom, Blackmoor Reserve and Charterhouse Centre. AONB Walk card: Charterhouse. 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. 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. AONB Walk card: Deer Leap. 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. 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. Stockhill and Priddy Mineries Reserve grid ref: 547514 Forest plantation with easy going trail. Priddy Mineries offers walks over old lead workings. Cheddar Gorge grid ref: 467539 Dramatic limestone gorge with TIC, 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. 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 or in Charterhouse Centre car park. Short walk from Charterhouse Centre bus stop. AONB walk card: Charterhouse. 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. AONB walk card: Charterhouse,Netherwood leaflet 1.Netherwood leaflet 2. 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 second Wednesday in August. AONB walk card: Deer Leap 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 Crooks Peak. On route of West Mendip Way, adjacent to Strawberry Line. AONB walk card: Winscombe Hill. 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.Car park. 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. Car parking in lay by.