Gordons B&B, Cheddar
Gordons is a well-rated, family-run bed and breakfast in Cheddar at the foot of Cheddar Gorge. Warm welcome and comfortable rooms at this B&B which has an on-site restaurant and pool.
Highlights
Stunning Cheddar Gorge the deepest Gorge in England
Lots of historic interest and English charm throughout
Great panoramic views from the escarpments of the Mendip plateau over the Somerset Levels and the Bristol Channel
The 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
Let 's discover the full itinerary!
Day 1: Arrival in Weston-Super-Mare
Welcome to your guest house in Weston-Super-Mare on the coast of the Bristol Channel.
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.
Overnight: Axbridge, Walk: 22km, +355m
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 passing 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.
Overnight: Rickford, Walk: 18km, +600m
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 southwest 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.
Optional additional night in Cheddar with a further walk around the perimeter of the Gorge
Overnight: Cheddar, Walk: 16km, +340m - shorter option available
Day 5: Cheddar - Priddy
From Cheddar the route follows the Mendip escarpment southwest 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.
Overnight: Priddy, Walk: 16km, +350m
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.
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
Overnight: Wells, Walk: 12km, +100m.
Day 7: Wells - Glastonbury
Take a direct walking route to Glastonbury and explore the town.
Or Bus trip to Glastonbury for a longer day exploring the home of the King Arthur legend, Glastonbury Abbey, the Chalice Well and the Glastonbury Thorn. From Glastonbury take a trail out onto the Levels to appreciate the view of the Tor. 12km
Overnight: Glastonbury, Walk: 21km, +520m.
Day 8: Departure from Glastonbury
The 7-night holiday ends after breakfast.
At a glance
1 April - 31 October
From £775 per person (based on 2 sharing), 7-night option
Self-Guided
7 nights / 6 days walking
Linear Trail
Distance: 12-22km per day
Ascent: 100-600m per day
Small B&Bs, amily run hotels & inns
Bed and breakfast
Other walking holidays in South West Britain
Mendip Hills, Southern England
This self-guided walking holiday in north Somerset, England, explores the western edge of the Mendip plateau. Just south of Bristol, the Mendip Hills is a beautiful and varied landscape. A dramatic scene of wild, open plateaux is interrupted by deep gorges such as Burrington Coombe and Cheddar Gorge. Cheddar is England’s deepest gorge, and with its weathered crags and pinnacles, one of the country’s most spectacular natural sites. The area is littered with the remnants of man’s industrial and social past, such as the Priddy Nine Barrows, a Bronze Age cemetery, and the Roman lead mines at Charterhouse.
The weathering of the limestone hills has created a network of caves as well as gorges, with Cheddar Caves and Wookey Hole Caves open to the public. The area has been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and on its steeper slopes flower rich grasslands and wooded coombes offer varied habitats for a wide variety of wildlife. The Mendips overlook the Somerset Levels to the South, where there are wetland nature reserves and where, of course, the iconic sight of Glastonbury Tor rises above the Levels. Nestled below the Mendips is the beautiful medieval city of Wells, with its magnificent Cathedral and moated Bishop’s Palace.
Holiday Profile
- 7 nights, 6 days of independent walking between guest houses
- Option of extra nights in Cheddar, Wells, or Glastonbury to visit these interesting towns
Dates
Everyday of the week subject to availability from 1 April to 31 October
Walking Profile & Grade
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. Your holiday includes walking on all sorts of terrain and conditions; muddy or boggy areas as well as tarmac.
This walking holiday is graded moderate. You should have some experience of day walking and be in reasonable health. See more information about walking grades.
Accommodation & Meals
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 served in your guest house or in local pubs and restaurants where you'll have a choice of local cuisine.
Where are the Mendip Hills?
When to Travel
Our self-guided walking holiday in Somerset is available from 1 April to the end of October. Rainfall in the south of England is below the UK average. July has the lowest level of rainfall on average of any month, as well as the warmest temperatures. As some parts of the walk follow ridgetops and hills, you may be exposed to windy conditions, which may help to keep it fresher in warmer weather but may make it feel cold in poor weather. Here is more detail concerning the walking seasons.
Spring
The climate is generally mild in spring, especially from April onwards with a good number of sunny clear days, interspersed with cooler and wet weather. During April and May the average daytime temperatures are between 12°C and 17°C.
Summer
Most days in summer range from mild to warm with the possibility of some rare hotter days. There may be overcast and humid conditions in the summer and the risk of storms is highest in the summer. From June to August the average daytime temperatures are between 18°C and 22°C.
Autumn
The climate can vary from some pleasantly mild days, particularly at the start of September to cooler days in October. Visitors can see some wonderful autumn colours in the gardens open to the public along the trail. From September to end of October the average daytime temperatures drop from 18°C to 14°C.
Navigation, Walking Notes & Maps
This walking holiday for the most part follows clear paths, tracks, and minor roads. Some sections follow the long-distance walking trail, the West Mendip Way which is clearly signposted, whilst others follow local trails which are less well-signed and less frequently used. Our walking notes are very detailed and include intermediate distances for sections of the trail. They also include information about the sites which can be explored along the route. We supply one walking guide per person on this holiday.
Travel Options
To Get to Weston Super Mare
By Train
To Weston: Weston Super Mare lies on the mainline from Bristol to the South West. Direct trains are available from London, Birmingham, Gloucester, Cardiff, Taunton and Exeter.
By Car
It is possible to use long stay car parks in Weston subject to availability (cost approx £12 to £25 for a week)
By Air/Bus
The nearest airport is Bristol. It is possible to get an airport bus to Weston (A2). Service runs hourly from 7.13am until 19.47pm and journey takes about an hour. More expensive would be a taxi from the airport, about 15 miles (24km) from Weston.
By Coach
National Express operates services to Weston Super Mare.
Note: Please check concerning the availability of a holiday before booking any flights or trains. If you need further information or would like to discuss any aspect of your travel arrangements, please contact us, we’re here to help you.
Price
- 7 nights, 6 days walking - From £775
- Prices are per person and based on 2 sharing a room
What's included in the price
- 7 night's accommodation on a B&B basis
- Transport of luggage between guest houses
- Transfer at end of walking holiday to local train station
- Detailed walking notes with information about the local sites
- OS walking maps
What's not included in the price
- All lunches and evening meals
- Drinks (except at breakfast)
- Transport to Weston-Super-Mare
- Travel Insurance
- Bus transfers or parking fees
- Any entrance fees
Payment
- A deposit payment of 30% or at least £250 or 250€ per person must be made to confirm your booking. The balance of payments is due 8 weeks before the holiday date. If the holiday date is less that 8 weeks away at the time of booking, then the full price should be paid.
7 nights B&B in a variety of small quality guest houses with ensuite accommodation. Mixture of inns or pubs, bed & breakfasts, and small hotels. They are located in delightful historic properties, mainly in villages, but some in beautiful locations in the countryside. The B&B's are generally 4-star AA-rated. Lunches are picnic meals, often provided by your guest house. Evening meals are taken in local pubs and restaurants. There will be plenty of local specialities to try and of course the local real ales. A couple examples of the types of guest house we use are shown below.
The Sheep and Penguin, Wells
The Sheep and Penguin pub is a recently refurbished inn in the centre of the historic city of Wells. Beautiful rooms and a warm cosy feel to this high quality establishment.
Extra Nights
Extra nights are possible at any of the stopovers during the holiday. We would recommend an extra night at any of the following places: Cheddar, Wells, and Glastonbury. They all have plenty of sites to visit and explore. For example, Wells is the smallest city in England famous for its 13th-century Cathedral. The name Wells comes from three wells dedicated to Saint Andrew, one in the marketplace and two within the grounds of the Bishop’s Palace and cathedral. A walled precinct, the Liberty of St Andrew, encloses the 12th-century Cathedral, the Bishop’s Palace, Vicar's Close, and the residences of the clergy who serve the cathedral.
Combining walking holidays
Our West Mendip Explorer walking holiday can be combined with any of our walking holidays in southern England such as the the nearby Great Stones Trail or our Wonders of Wessex walking holiday.
Tailor-Made Trips
Here is a selection of tailor-made trips to inspire you when considering your next holiday in southern Britain.
A Quintessential English Coastal Getaway
Embark on an extraordinary journey, weaving through the captivating tapestry of England's coastal wonders and historical treasures. From the treasures of the UNESCO listed Dorset coast to the beautiful remote Scilly Isles located beyond the tip of Cornwall your coastal adventure will be a rural escape sandwiched between the cultural delights of London and the Cotswolds.
An Unforgettable Adventure Through the English Countryside
Imagine a 10-day English adventure packed with historic castles, charming villages, and a dose of that classic British charm. This trip has a bit of everything for everyone. Get ready for a down-to-earth exploration that's all about enjoying England's diverse landscapes and soaking in its unique culture. It's going to be 10 days of awesome discoveries and shared experiences – the kind of trip that sticks with you long after you've unpacked your bags.