A dramatic landscape of cliffs, caverns, and sweeping views.
The Mendip Hills National Landscape, in Somerset, is one of England’s most striking areas for walking holidays and outdoor adventures. Carved from limestone, the Mendips are famous for their dramatic gorges, ancient caves, and ridge-top views stretching across the Somerset Levels, Bristol Channel, and as far as South Wales.
This protected area blends rugged natural beauty with deep human history. Walkers can explore iconic landscapes like Cheddar Gorge, Wookey Hole, and Ebbor Gorge, while long-distance trails such as the Mendip Way traverse the ridges and valleys. Villages like Axbridge and Priddy provide traditional bases, while nearby cities like Wells and Bristol make the Mendips easily accessible for short breaks or longer stays.
Counties: Somerset
Mendip Way
A 50-mile route linking Weston-super-Mare with Frome, crossing the heart of the Mendips and passing Cheddar Gorge, Wells, and historic villages.
Cheddar Gorge Circular Walk
One of England’s most famous walks, combining steep limestone cliffs, wooded slopes, and panoramic views.
West Mendip Way
The western section of the Mendip Way, from Uphill near Weston to Wells, with spectacular coastal and ridge walking.
Ebbor Gorge Nature Reserve Walks
Shorter trails through a wooded limestone gorge near Wookey Hole, with wildlife and rock formations.
They lie in Somerset, stretching from Weston-super-Mare in the west to Frome in the east, south of Bristol and Bath.
The Cheddar Gorge Circular Walk is the most famous, while the Mendip Way provides a long-distance option across the whole landscape.
Yes — short walks in Ebbor Gorge, the Strawberry Line cycle path, and nature reserves are ideal for families.
Spring and summer bring wildflowers to the limestone slopes; autumn colours are vivid in the woodlands; winter offers clear ridge-top views.
Beyond walking, the Mendips are known for caving, climbing, mountain biking, and exploring caves like Wookey Hole.