www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk PLACES TO GO A Bleadon Hill Car park that puts you near the highest point of the western end of the AONB, stunning views of the Bristol Channel. The Mendip Way passes at this point. (North Somerset Council) Wild Walk route 3. B Crook Peak Distinctive peak that most of us see from the M5. Classic Mendip limestone grassland with outcrops of craggy limestone. Very steep walks to the summit. (National Trust). C King’s Wood Ancient oak woodland that lets you on to Wavering Down and Crook Peak. Mendip Way and NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL, THE AONB GUIDE TO MEET UP WITH NATURE the Strawberry Line can both be joined here. (National Trust). Wild Walk route 7. NATIONALLY PROTECTED A GOOD DAY OUT On Black Down, look out for kestrels hovering over the D Shute Beautiful grassland slopes providing views over bilberries and heather as they search for small mammals. Exmoor Shelve Hill historic Axbridge. Parking at Axbridge lay-by below. because of the landscape and We want you to get the most out of your visit, and leave with ponies and Devon ruby red cattle help to keep invasive bracken (National Trust). happy memories of your time spent here. By following the what lies beneath under control. Countryside Code, you can help look after yourself and safeguard E The Perch Climb past coppice woodlands and the redundant quarry to emerge on to the grassland plateau. The Mendip Hills throughout its long history the rural beauty of the area for your next visit. At Blagdon and Chew Valley Lakes, enjoy the multitude of (Somerset County Council). has been all things to us; a place to live and aquatic, shore-line and meadow plants, supporting a rich variety of The Countryside Code – Respect, Protect, Enjoy. work, a place to worship or defend, a place to moths, butterflies, damsel and dragonflies and other invertebrates. F Cheddar Nationally famous gorge boasting the highest inland Gorge limestone cliffs in the country. Incredible cave systems exploit through mines and quarries and a place • Be safe – plan ahead and follow any signs In and on the lakes are species of fish and wildfowl including trout with tourist facilities. Circular paths loop round the top to enjoy. All of these are still valid today. Each and great crested grebes, together with the elusive otter. of the gorge. (Longleat Estate / National Trust). use has left its mark on the land and over time • Leave gates and property as you find them At Bleadon Hill, buzzards circle over unimproved limestone G Velvet Distinctive landscape formed as a result of lead these characteristic marks have formed what • Protect plants and animals and take your litter home grassland. A variety of grasses including the rare crested hair Bottom mining in the past. The nature reserve links Charterhouse we see today. Reserve to Cheddar Gorge. (Somerset Wildlife Trust). • Keep dogs under close control grass, together with herbaceous plants such as orchids and the A landscape of many layers with modern agriculture on rare spring cinquefoil can be seen. The grassland is home to many H Charterhouse Unique historic lead mining area with impressive GUIDE • Consider other people medieval field systems, on top of Roman towns, hiding ancient insects and butterflies including the previously extinct large blue. examples of “gruffy ground”. (Somerset Wildlife Trust / cave systems, where early man sheltered. Enjoy your visit today Somerset County Council / Privately owned). At Draycott Sleights, adders and slow worms may be seen. The VISITOR through the layers of history. This amazing array of landscapes For the full Countryside Code visit I Blackmoor Old lead mining area steeped in history with a grassland and rock host Cheddar pink, green winged orchid, rufous in one area is enough for you to discover all year round; a hot www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk Reserve surreal landscape of lumps and bumps formed from the grasshopper, and greater and lesser horseshoe bats. Peregrine summers afternoon on Black Down, the autumn colours across spoil heaps. A unique mix of habitats including ponds falcons swoop overhead. and wetlands, heath and woods makes this site incredibly Chew Valley Lake, winter mist in the vale of Avalon viewed from important for wildlife. (Somerset County Council). Deer Leap and the first flush of spring green in Netherwood. East Harptree Woods, a conifer plantation that is now managed to benefit wildlife including grassland, heath, areas of water and J Priddy Green Historic green at the heart of Priddy, with the famous hurdle stack and venue of the Priddy Sheep Fair that AREA OF OUTSTANDING deciduous trees. Dragonflies, bluebells, autumn crocus, ferns, dates back over 600 years. Wild Walk route 8. mosses, fungi, and badgers provide year round interest. NATURAL BEAUTY (AONB) K Deer Leap The best view in Somerset from this open windswept King’s Wood is rich in wildlife, with a varied ground flora that medieval settlement site. (Somerset County Council). The Mendip Hills is a place of such scenic quality that it has been If you experience access difficulties on Public Rights of Way, indicate continuous woodland cover over a long period of time. L Ebbor Gorge Steep wooded gorge designated a National Nature designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. visit the Frequently Asked Questions page of our website for You may see great tits, blue tits, nuthatches, robin and songthrush, Reserve with way marked trails to follow. the contact details of local authority Rights of Way Teams to along with insects such as spiders, beetles and butterflies. Badgers, This designation recognises (Natural England / National Trust). report the issue. deer and a range of fungi, ferns, mosses and plants such as wood that the Mendip Hills is M Wookey Famous cave system and visitor attractions. anemones, bluebells, wild garlic and dog’s mercury are also found. one of England’s finest Hole Caves (Privately owned). landscapes, an area For your safety: The Mendip Plateau around Priddy provides the opportunity to N Stockhill Modern forest over old lead workings with easy treasured by everyone • Park in designated car parks not field gateways or on verges spot the common lizard and lichens and mosses colonising the bare Forest going trails and forest walks. (Forestry Commission). with special protection rock of the dry stone walls. The rough grassland provides homes to O Priddy Nature has reclaimed this lead mining site to form and management. • Never leave any valuables on view in your car mammals, the food source of barn owls, which may be seen silently Mineries a flowing landscape of tall grasses and ponds. Walks up to • Check weather conditions and dress appropriately hunting often along field boundaries at late dusk. North Hill, Mendip’s second highest hill and Priddy Nine Barrows can start here. (Somerset Wildlife Trust). P East Easy going trails take you through the woods to the last Harptree remaining lead smelting chimney on Mendip and superb Woods views over Chew Valley Lake. (Forestry Commission). WHAT LIES BENEATH? MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE Wild Walk route 6. Chew Valley Chew Valley Lake internationally important for birds The geology shapes the life and work of us all, even today, in Q ON MENDIP M4 Lake Visitor and a much loved area for fishing (permits from the Mendip Hills AONB. Essentially a huge piece of limestone For details of local buses call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 Centre Woodford Lodge) and sailing. The place to start for any with whaleback ridges that allows water to percolate through, visit to Chew Valley Lake with tea shop, information, or visit www.traveline.org dissolving the stone to create the legendary cave network and M4 toilets, picnic areas and trails. (Bristol Water). CARDIFF then appearing along the spring line. For miles around we benefit To help you plan a longer visit to the Mendip Hills AONB R Woodford A great place to relax near the lake with café, from the water that is captured in Blagdon and Chew lakes and contact one of our local Tourist Information Centres. Lodge fishing shop and picnic areas. (Bristol Water). at Cheddar Reservoir. Countless generations have used the cave www.visitsomerset.co.uk or www.visitbristol.co.uk M5 BRISTOL S Blagdon Lake Views from the pumping station bridge across the network with ‘Cheddar Man’ in Cheddar and Burrington Combe beautiful lake. (Bristol Water). Wild Walk route 2. having the earliest recorded cemetery in Britain. T Burrington Gently rolling grassland and woods above Burnham-on-Sea Street A370 A38 A37 Ham Burrington Combe. (Open Access Land). Cross section of Mendip Hills landscape 01278 787852 01458 447384 WESTON SUPER A38 Black Down Black Down, an extensive area of heathland concealing a village on [email protected] [email protected] MARE U World War II decoy town. Beacon Batch trig point is the drainage spring line swallet Glastonbury Wells highest point in the AONB at 325m giving you the best in fissures A368 (or stream sink) 01458 832954 01749 672552 views of North Somerset. (Open Access Land). [email protected] [email protected] AONB Wild Walk route 1. spring A371 Sedgemoor Services Weston-super-Mare A39 V Rowberrow Straddling the highest ridge on Mendip this modern 01934 750833 01934 888800 Forest plantation links to Black Down and contains a good WELLS old red somersetvisitorcentre@ westontouristinfo@ network of bridleways for you to enjoy. sandstone somerset.gov.uk n-somerset.gov.uk (Forestry Commission). cave Shepton Mallet A39 A361 W Dolebury Iron Age hillfort renowned for beautiful flowering shale streamway 01749 345258 Warren and grasslands. (National Trust / Avon Wildlife Trust). [email protected] BRIDGWATER Hillfort limestone X Banwell Romantic victorian gothic castle in landscaped water-filled cave Castle gardens with tea shop.