It’s not just Glastonbury Festival that draws people into our Mendips holiday cottages each year. There are also many natural and man-made wonders in this inspiring part of Somerset which includes far more than the high limestone ridge of the Mendip Hills AONB that gives the region its name. 

Aside from the cave-riddled hills and beautiful rolling landscape, the region boasts a historic coastline, England’s smallest city, fantastic local produce and a vast range of outdoor activities. 

So breathe in that clean West Country air as we take a virtual tour of our top 10 things to do in the Mendips that will entertain families, history buffs and wildlife lovers alike.

1 Brean Down

Brean Down by David Blaikie

Where: Brean TA8 2RS
Details: At the most westerly point of the Mendip Hills, you’ll find the 98-metre-high Brean Down, one of the great landmarks of the Somerset coastline. Here you can enjoy a beach walk or saunter the 1.5 miles along the natural ‘pier’ which juts out into the Bristol Channel, facing south Wales and the Somerset Levels. Steeped in intriguing stories, from prehistoric worship to Second World War weapon testing, there’s a fort and Romano-Celtic temple for history lovers to explore as well as a great variety of birds, plants and butterflies. Afterwards, pop into the Cove Café for a well-earned breather!
Find out more: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brean-down

2 Cheddar Caves and Gorge

Cheddar Gorge by Matthew Robey

Where: Cheddar BS27 3QF
Details: This dramatic gorge is Britain’s largest and home to the famous Cheddar Caves. With sheer cliff faces looming 450m above the winding road, ‘Britain’s Grand Canyon’ is an imposing sight. While you’re there be sure to visit the amazing system of show caves – Gough’s Cave has stunning stalactites and stalagmites, while in Cox’s Cave you can witness ghostly mirrored pools. You’ll soon burn off that cream tea on the 274 steps to the lookout tower or the cliff-top gorge walk, a three-mile circular route! The view from the top features weathered limestone crags, fascinating fissures and caves as well as ancient pinnacles reaching for the sky. Enjoy a picnic above the rock formation and look out for nesting peregrine falcons and wildflowers.
Find out more: www.cheddargorge.co.uk

3 Feast on local food

Take a tour of the Thatchers orchards and mill ©Thatchers Cider

Where: Various locations
Details: There are lots of delicious cheeses, preserves and meats produced locally, which you can pick up easily from farm shops or farmers’ markets in the local towns and villages. Lye Cross Farm Shop, named ‘Best Local Farm Shop’, stocks their award-winning cheddars, local food and drink at very competitive prices. Alternatively, sample some of Mendip Moments’ award-winning ice cream which is handmade on the family dairy farm at Lower Haydon Farm in Wells. Or try their sorbets which are made from fresh Mendip water thanks to the dairy’s very own natural spring. Another favourite is the Thatchers Cider shop at Myrtle Farm in Sandford. This award-winning family business also offers guided tours of their orchards and mill where visitors can see the 100-year-old cider making process in operation.
Find out more: www.thatcherscider.co.uk

4 Glastonbury

Glastonbury Tor by c.art

Details: Ancient legends and Arthurian myths aplenty await visitors at Glastonbury. There are several sites to explore: the enchanted Glastonbury Tor, purported to be the fairy Isle of Avalon; the Chalice Well, said to be the resting place of the Holy Grail; and Glastonbury Abbey, where the grave of King Arthur and his Lady Guinevere is said to lie. Topped by the ruined St Michael’s Church tower, the steep, conical hill which forms the Tor is a great place for children to run about and have fun while Glastonbury itself is a delight to explore with its ancient buildings and pubs and a plethora of alternative shops, a magnet to those interested in the mysteries. We’ll let you draw your own conclusions about the myths and legends!
Find out more: www.glastonburyabbey.com

5 Take to the saddle

Where: Various locations
Details: Let the horse take the strain and enjoy the hills, woods and stunning views of the Mendips by horseback. There are a number of riding centres within a short drive of our Somerset cottages, including Shipham Riding who offer escorted hacking over the picturesque Mendip Hills and countryside. Tynings Trekking Centre offer day rides, pub rides and hourly rides and cater for all abilities, from the beginner to more experienced riders who can enjoy a faster canter over endless tracks and open moorland.

6 Tee Off

Burnham & Berrow Championship Golf Course by Ken Grainger

Where: Various locations
Details: A stay at our Somerset holiday cottages offers guests a variety of golfing choices, including a round at Burnham & Berrow Championship Golf Course. The Mendip Spring Golf Course boasts magnificent views of the Mendip Hills. 

7 The Strawberry Line

The Strawberry Line by Sam Saunders

Where: Yatton to Cheddar (part of Route 26 of the National Cycle Network)
Details: This former railway line, constructed in 1869, takes its name from the tasty cargo it once carried from the strawberry fields on the slopes of the Mendips near Cheddar. The Strawberry Line has since been developed into an organised network of cycle- and walker-friendly paths. It takes you through flat marshes and cider apple orchards around Yatton, steep wooded valleys and a tunnel under the Mendips, to historic Axbridge and the awe-inspiring Cheddar Gorge. If you don’t have your own bike you can hire one from Cheddar Cycle Store, right on the Strawberry Line.
Find out more: www.thestrawberryline.org.uk

8 Try an adventure sport

Abseiling with Mendip Activity Centre

Where: Various locations
Details: A wide range of outdoor sports and leisure activities take place in the Mendips. Adrenalin junkies should check out Mendip Activity Centre who offer a host of activities suitable for the whole family. They provide activities from their bases and sites across the Mendip Hills; from climbing, abseiling and kayaking to archery, rifle shooting, geocaching and learning survival skills, there is bound to be an activity to suit. They also have a dry slope for skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing. They cater for all abilities so whether you are new to the activity or want to brush up on your acquired skills, they are happy to accommodate!
Find out more: mendip.me

9 Wells

Wells Cathedral by Stewart Black

Details: Technically a city, as it is home to a cathedral, Wells has all the charm of a small village and is a lovely place to while away a few hours. England’s smallest city is the jewel of the Mendips, set around Wells Cathedral which is renowned for its magnificent Gothic carvings. The cathedral also houses a wonderful clock, with mechanical knights who exchange blows every hour. Around the corner from the cathedral is Vicar’s Close, the oldest street of 14th century houses in Europe. And nestled beside the cathedral is the impressive Bishop’s Palace, still official residence of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, surrounded by a moat whose waters bubble up from the pools that give the city its name. Don’t miss the Wednesday farmer’s market.
Find out more: www.wellscathedral.org.uk; www.bishopspalace.org.uk

10 Wookey Hole

Wookey Hole by steve p2008

Where: Wells BA5 1BB
Details: Spelunking fans (loosely speaking, people who like caves) will marvel at these spectacular show caves, the biggest in Britain. A tour of the caves, which takes around 40 minutes, now includes Chamber 20 – see if you can spot the legendary Witch of Wookey along the way! But that’s not all – a host of over 20 other attractions await. These include the prehistoric Valley of the Dinosaurs, the oldest handmade paper mill in Britain and a Victorian penny arcade as well as a confounding mirror maze that makes for a hilarious experience. There’s also a cave museum, pirate zap zone, soft play areas, and an unmissable 4D cinema experience. Round the day off with a round of Pirate Island adventure golf!
Find out more: www.wookey.co.uk

What else?

Kingsley Lake View benefits from awe-inspiring views to the Mendip Hills AONB and Chew Valley Lake

Our top 10 things to do in the Mendips are just some of the fantastic things to do when you stay at our self catering Mendips holiday cottages. For more attractions and experiences, browse our ‘Things to Do & Events’ section for each property listing and make the most of your getaway in the Mendips!