Explore the woodlands and gorges of the Mendip Hills with these 5 walks, ranging from short rambles to long treks through the Somerset countryside

North Somerset Times: Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, UK (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, UK (Getty Images/iStockphoto) (Image: Archant)

Beacon Batch from Cheddar Gorge

This easy circular walk of seven and a half miles takes you past both Black Rock and Long Wood Nature Reserves, visiting Tyning’s Farm, Beacon Batch, Charterhouse and both Velvet Bottom and Black Rock Nature Reserves before returning to the start at Black Rock Car Park in Cheddar Gorge.

North Somerset Times: (Copyright Anthony O'Neil and licensed for reuse under [CC BY-SA 2.0] https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ )(Copyright Anthony O'Neil and licensed for reuse under [CC BY-SA 2.0] https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ ) (Image: Archant)

The Mendip Way

This 50 mile trek goes from the Roman port Uphill near Weston-super-Mare to the old market town of Frome. It does so via the central Mendip plateau and through the stunning Cheddar Gorge, where you’ll encounter the legendary Wookey Hole. You’ll go through woodlands, valleys and several historic old towns.

North Somerset Times: (Copyright John M and licensed for reuse under [CC BY-SA 2.0] https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)(Copyright John M and licensed for reuse under [CC BY-SA 2.0] https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/) (Image: Archant)

The Monarch’s Way

If you fancy a walking holiday and you’ve 10 days or even more to spare then you might fancy embarking on the Monarch’s Way – so called because it’s the route King Charles II escaped by in 1651 after his defeat in the Battle of Worcester. The entire walk is 615 miles long and starts at Worcester before finishing at Shoreham-by-Sea. The Somerset portion of the journey heads south from Bristol through the Mendip Hills via Chew Valley Lake to Wells and then Yeovil. En-route you’ll pass the pretty villages of Priddy and East Harptree.

North Somerset Times: Priddy.Priddy. (Image: Archant)

Three Priddy Droves

A very pleasant day jaunt – and a walk for the less-obsessive walker is the four and a half mile, Three Priddy Droves route. These once well-travelled market routes have now become lovely wildlife corridors and perfect for a good stroll on a warm summer’s day. There are also plenty of plants, lichen, birds, reptiles and small animals to look out for en-route. The circular walk begin and ends in the village of Priddy, outside the New Inn itself, and is described as ‘moderate’, taking around two and a half hours to complete.

Bleadon Hill and Loxton

Hilly, slightly rocky and a bit muddy in wet weather, this circular route starts at Roman Road Car Park and is the shortest on our list at just four miles long. It should take around two hours to complete by which time you’ll have revelled in the gorgeous panoramic views from Bleadon Hill – the highest point of the westerly Mendips. You’ll also see the village of Loxton and the River Lox on which it prettily sits.

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