• West Mendip Explorer: Somerset Heights to Somerset levels

• 1 May - 30 September

• 7 nights: From £720 per person based on 2 sharing
• Extra night in Cheddar, Wells or Glastonbury with additional optional walk supplied £70p/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 eclectic town of Glastonbury, home of the King Arthur legend with its Tor and abbey ruins

• "Enjoyed discovering this region and walking in its beautiful landscape and appreciated the English hospitality." G. Noetzlin, Switzerland

• 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 place 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. Bus transfers where required
6. 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 several sections of the West Mendip Way, whilst also exploring other sections of the area using bridleways and local footpaths. 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 - Rickford

Today, you leave the West Mendip Way to explore the woodland and heathland above Burrington Combe that form the northern edge of the Mendips. The trail takes you up onto Dolebury Warren, an Iron Age hill-fort and a wonderful viewpoint that’s hidden from the busy main roads by its surrounding wooded slopes. The trail follows the Limestone Link passed various limestone caves such as Rod’s Pot and Bos Swallet. The route then detours up to the highest point on the Mendips, Beacon Batch at 325m high on Black Down which with its peat, gorse and heather resembles Exmoor or the Pennines. The route then takes you onto Burrington Ham with an opportunity to reach a point where you can overlook the head of Burrington Combe before descending to your overnight stop in the picturesque village of Rickford. 18km (11 miles)

Day 4: Rickford - Cheddar

An ascent back onto the Mendips from Rickford and then a south easterly route provides views to the north of Blagdon and Chew Valley Lakes. Turning south west the path takes in the area of Ubley Warren, a landscape of rakes (worked mineral veins) and bumpy ground, visible under a carpet of grass and scrub made by the Roman excavation of lead, and then walking through Velvet Bottom where the vegetation is so distinctive because of the high levels of lead. Then the path reaches the Black Rock Nature Reserve at the head of Cheddar Gorge. You will cross the road (which descends through the gorge) and walk up onto the cliff walk to give spectacular views over the Gorge. Check out the views from the Lookout Tower before descending to Cheddar via the 274 steps of Jacobs Ladder. Time to explore the village also famous for its show caves and of course it’s home to the cheese known throughout the world. 16km (10 miles)

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

Day 5: 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)

Day 6: 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 7: Wells - Glastonbury

Take a direct walking route to Glastonbury to Glastonbury Tor and explore the town. 18km (10 miles)
Or Bus trip to Glastonbury for a longer day exploring home of the King Arthur legend, Glastonbury Abbey, the Chalice Well and the Glastonbury Thorn. Take a route out onto the Levels to appreciate the view of the Tor. 12km (7 miles)

Day 8: Departure

Departure after breakfast or additional day in Glastonbury.