• The Mendip Way

• 1 May - 30 September

• 7 nights: From £675 per person based on 2 sharing
• Extra night in Cheddar or Wells with additional optional walk supplied £60p/p
• Loyalty scheme reduction applies for returning customers (see terms and conditions)

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• 7 nights, 6 days independent walking between guest houses.

• Stunning Cheddar Gorge, the largest Gorge in England
• Great panoramic views from the escarpments of the Mendip plateau over the Somerset Levels and the Bristol Channel
• Medieval city of Wells with its magnificent cathedral
• The vibrant market town of Frome with its historic centre

• 7 nights B&B in a variety of small quality guest houses or small hotels with ensuite accommodation. Lunches are picnic meals, often provided by your guest house. Evening meals are taken in your guest house or in local pubs and restaurants where you'll have a choice of local cuisine.

1. 7 night's accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis
2. Transport of luggage between guest houses
3. Transfer at end of holiday to local train station.
4. Detailed walking maps and notes including information about the places through which you'll be walking

1. Transport to Weston Super Mare
2. Lunches, evening meals and drinks
3. Entrance fees
4. Travel insurance
5. Parking charges if bringing own vehicle

1. Take a look at all our independent walking holidays

Walking Profile

A moderate walking holiday with each day's walk averaging 16km or 10 miles. The walking varies with some fairly level sections, whilst others include sizeable ascents and descents from the Mendip Hills. Your walking holiday follows the national long distance trail, The Mendip Way, made up of the West and East Mendip Ways. Walking will include walking on all sorts of terrain and conditions; muddy or boggy areas as well as tarmac.

Day 1: Arrival

Welcome and night at Weston Super Mare.

Day 2: Weston-Super-Mare - Axbridge

The first day’s walking takes you along the seafront before climbing from the marina at Uphill to the highest point of the western edge of the Mendips at Bleadon Hill with views of Crook Peak, the Bristol Channel and the Somerset Levels. You will pass through the small village of Loxton before climbing to the distinctive craggy limestone outcrop of Crook Peak where you will have great views of the Somerset Levels spread out to the south. You will then proceed onto the heathland of Wavering Down and Cross Plain before descending via the Strawberry Line to Axbridge, your overnight location. Up to 22km (13 miles)

Day 3: Axbridge - Cheddar

The route returns to the West Mendip Way at Shute Shelve Hill and then skirts to the south of Shipham, before passing through the plantations on Rowberrow Warren via Rowberry Bottom. The path then descends into a valley via Long Wood and Black Rock Nature Reserve at the top of Cheddar Gorge, before descending the gorge to the village of Cheddar. 11km (7 miles)

Day 4: Cheddar - Priddy

From Cheddar the route follows the Mendip escarpment south west giving you superb views over the Somerset Levels before moving up to the village of Priddy, which lies in a small hollow at an elevation of nearly 1,000 feet (300 m) above sea-level, and has evidence of occupation since neolithic times; it is home to the Priddy Circles, a henge monument contemporary with Stonehenge, Priddy Nine Barrows and Ashen Hill, Bronze Age cemeteries, as well as the Priddy Mineries nature reserve. 16km (10 miles)

Optional additional night in Cheddar with a further walk around the perimeter of the Gorge

Day 5: Priddy - Wells

From Priddy the day’s walk goes through Ebbor Gorge, a small and hidden limestone gorge and down into Wookey Hole, with its caves, which are open to the public and known for its legend surrounding a witch. The route then descends to the lovely medieval city of Wells. Time to explore the Cathedral and Bishop’s Palace and the rest of the City. 11km (7 miles)
Optional additional night in Wells with a chance to explore the surrounding countryside and villages with great views over to Glastonbury Tor, taking in Friars Oven, Croscombe and Dinder. 22km (13 miles)

Day 6: Wells - Shepton Mallet

The Mendip Way departs Wells along a path beside the Bishop's Palace moat and then climbs through woods via Tor Hill and then joins a track past King's Castle wood, the site of an iron age settlement. The path follows a route high above the village of Croscombe (an alternative route can be taken via the villages of Dinder & Croscombe to return to the Mendip Way via Ham Woods) and then goes through Ham Woods and descends to Shepton Mallet. Before that you can get a look at the now redundant viaduct and tunnel at Windsor Hill. You will approach the town via the old railway line of the Somerset and Dorset Railway and take a look at the town on the way to your accommodation. You can pass the old prison, which when it closed in 2013, was the UK's oldest operating prison having opened in around 1625. 11km (7 miles)

Day 7: Shepton Mallet - Frome

Depart Shepton Mallet with views of the Charlton Viaduct as the route goes over Ingsdons Hill to Chelynch passed a flooded quarry at Waterlip before climbing to the highest point on the Mendip Way. Here you will find Cranmore Tower, 45m high 19th century folly open to the public for wonderful views. The path goes through Asham Wood, one of the largest of the ancient semi-natural woods in the Mendips before passing Chantry and Great Elm adjacent to Whatley Quarry. The path then heads into Frome where the Mendip Way terminates. Explore some of Frome's medieval cobbled streets. 22km (13 miles)

Day 8: Departure

Departure after breakfast or additional day in Frome.