With some of the most attractive landscapes in the whole of UK, the Mendip Hills, one of the 46 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, are a haven for walkers, cyclists, horse riders, wildlife lovers and those wanting something that extra bit thrill-seeking. There is a good choice of holiday accommodation to book should you wish to spend a few days or more here. Local accommodation providers have much experience in providing the type and standard of holiday homes that visitors want. Find country cottages of every size and style, thatched holiday homes and roomy farmhouses.
Holiday cottages to rent in the Mendips
The Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty stretches from Weston-Super-Mare eastwards as far as Chewton Mendip
Consisting of a vast area from the East of Wells to the banks of the Bristol Channel with spectacular views across to Wales, the Quantocks and Glastonbury Tor, the Mendip Hills are renowned for its array of limestone, stunning Chew Valley lakes, underground caves and fascinating ancient history. They are also home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Plants such as ling, bell heather and western gorse thrive in the limestone grassland environment, whereas it is common to see sheep and cattle graze in the hills and a plethora of butterflies, bats and birds such as the Willow Warbler flying high in the sky above you.
Mendip caves to explore during your holiday
The Mendip Hills are just as beautiful below ground as above ground and evidence of this are the famous underground attractions of Cheddar Gorge and Wookey Hole Cave. At 400 feet deep and 3 miles long, Cheddar Gorge is England’s largest gorge and is well worth a visit for the whole family. Why not enjoy an instructor led thrill-seeking Rocksport experience in Gough’s Cave and the Black Cat Chamber? Did you know that the cave was named after its discoverer Richard Gough whose son placed a light on the floor and a silhouette of a cat mysteriously appeared on the wall? If this isn’t for you, then see what all the fuss is about and try and beat the clock in a brand-new Cheddar-themed escape room. The choice is all yours at Cheddar Gorge!
The secrets of Wookey Hole revealed
Alternatively, Wookey Hole Cave is the UK’s largest cave system and another wonderful day out for all the family in the heart of the Mendip Hills. How about exploring over 20 fantastic underground attractions, including The Cathedral Cave, one of the most famous caverns in the history of cave diving and The Witch’s Parlour, a paradise of stalagmites and stalactites with waterfalls of shining crystalline stone? With Chamber 20, a series of recently blasted tunnels uncovering previously unseen caverns and formations, opening its doors in 2018, Wookey Hole Cave and the Mendip Hills in general has never been so much in the public eye.
The New-Age town of Glastonbury is high on the list of places to visit if you holiday in the Mendips
Hello Glastonbury! This vibrant Somerset town may be widely known across the world for its high-profile acts like Lionel Richie, Rolling Stones and Radiohead in recent years, but there are other fantastic attractions to behold in this picturesque part of the world, such as the Holy Grail which is supposedly buried inside the Tor; a 14th century tower with panoramic views of the surrounding areas. In the centre of the town is Glastonbury Abbey, once one of the richest abbeys in England and the burial place of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere. Another intriguing fact is that The George and Pilgrim Hotel, a Grade I listed building and intriguingly the oldest pub in South West England, was built in the late 15th century to accommodate travellers to and from the abbey.
A record breaking place to visit
As well as being the location of the world’s favourite music festival, another place that is nestled in the Mendip Hills is Wells. Home to a magnificent gothic tour-de-force cathedral but also to a meagre yet incredibly lucky 10,000 residents, Wells is officially the smallest city in England! The cathedral, one of the South Wests shining lights, is an architectural masterpiece with intricate carvings, a spectacular chapter house and one of the very earliest mechanical clocks still in existence within the UK. Looking for more things to do in the city? Just around the corner from the cathedral is Vicar’s Close, the oldest and arguably most beautiful street of 14th century houses in the whole of Europe and built primarily to provide accommodation to the vicars…hence the name!
The Strawberry Line and other good things in the Mendips
You may have heard of Strawberry Fields up in Liverpool…but the Mendip Hills is more well known for its old Strawberry Railway Line, a 30-mile traffic free walking and cycling route from Mendip Vale and Evercreech up in the mountains to the coastal town of Clevedon. An amazing chance to see the countryside in all its splendour, why not enjoy picturesque routes such as Sandford Orchards, famed for its 100-year tradition of cider making by local business Thatcher’s Cider Company which can be tasted at the nearby Thatcher’s Farm Shop and the hard limestone clad Shute Shelve Tunnel in Winscombe, an original 165-metre railway tunnel and the home to several species of bat and rare cave spiders. As you finish your journey through the Mendip Hills, you’ll be sorely tempted to stop off at The Strawberry Line Café on Platform 1 of Yatton Railway Station, open seven days a week and completely community run with local, Fairtrade and ethically produced ingredients. The perfect place to dive into a Ploughman’s Platter with bread from Pullin’s Bakery or a Quiche that’s made with TLC by Brockley Stores.
Find holiday homes of a very good standard in the Mendip Hills, Somerset
With these amazing attractions just a snippet of what to expect from the Mendip Hills, why not make a memorable trip to the South West of England and uncover more hidden secrets across the sensational county of Somerset.