Walking

The Mendip area has a good network of public footpaths but there are several waymarked long-distance routes that cross the hills.

The Society runs a programme of regular walks details of which can be found under Events.

• Mendip Way

The Mendip Way is a 50 mile (80km) long-distance footpath across the Mendip Hills from Weston-super-Mare to Frome. On Ordnance Survey maps and waymarks it is divided into two sections: West and East.

The West Mendip Way (31m or 50km) starts from the Bristol Channel at Uphill Cliff and runs via Loxton, Crook Peak, Wavering Down, south of Shipham, around the southeast side of Cheddar Gorge, down to Draycott, through Priddy and Ebbor Gorge, Wookey Hole to Wells.

The East Mendip Way (19m or 30km), continues the route from Wells, running north of the villages of Dinder and Croscombe before skirting Shepton Mallet and passing Downhead, Chantry and Whatley to Great Elm and into Frome.

The Society is currently undsertaking a project to remark the Mendip Way, at the same time rationalising and revising the route, so that it can be walked in both directions; from west to east and also from East to West which is currently impossible. A new guide book is also being prepared. For more information on The Mendip Way look here. A dedicated web site is also in preparation.

• Two Rivers Way

A 20 mile (32km) long-distance footpath from Congresbury to Keynsham that follows the valleys of the River Yeo and River Chew to the River Avon. It passes through the villages of Chew Stoke, Chew Magna and Compton Dando.

• Limestone Link

This is a 36 mile (58 km) long-distance footpath linking the Mendip Hills to the Cotswolds at Cold Ashton in Gloucestershire. It is marked by an Ammonite way-marker. The Mendip section starts between Churchill and Rowberrow, near Dolebury Warren and passes, roughly west to east, above the villages of Blagdon and Compton Martin, then through West Harptree. It then runs through Temple Cloud, Hallatrow and Durcott before turning north through Dunkerton and Southstoke, south of Bath.

• Monarch’s Way

A short length of this 615-mile (990 km) long-distance footpath crosses the Mendip Hills from north to south. The Path approximates to the escape route taken by King Charles II in 1651 after being defeated in the Battle of Worcester. The route is waymarked with a yellow sign showing a picture of the ship Surprise above the Prince of Wales three-point feathered crown which is superimposed on a Royal Oak tree. From north to south the Path runs through Dundry, Winford and Chew Stoke to Compton Martin then across to Wookey Hole and into Wells.

• Macmillan Way

This is a long-distance footpath developed to raise funds for the charity Macmillan Cancer Relief. It links Boston, Lincolnshire to Abbotsbury in Dorset and has a total distance of 290 miles (470 km). It crosses the eastern end of the Mendip Hills and is waymarked. From north to south it passes through Buckland Dinham, Great Elm, Whatley, and Nunney.