Mendip Way
Mendip Way | |
---|---|
Length | 80 km (50 mi) |
Location | Mendip Hills, Somerset, England |
Designation | Recreational Route |
Trailheads | Weston-super-Mare grid reference ST314585 to Frome grid reference ST776480 |
Use | Hiking, and some sections of bridleway. |
Elevation | |
Highest point | 280 m (920 ft) |
Lowest point | Sea level |
Hiking details | |
Trail difficulty | Moderate. Includes some steep climbs. |
Season | All |
Sights | Mendip Hills, Somerset Levels, Bristol Channel... |
Hazards | Adders |
The Mendip Way is an 80-kilometre (50 mi)[1] long-distance footpath across the Mendip Hills from Weston-super-Mare to Frome. It is divided into two sections.
The West Mendip Way was opened in 1979 and starts at the Bristol Channel at Uphill Cliff. It climbs the Mendip escarpment affording views over the Somerset Levels. It then crosses the central Mendip plateau leading down to Cheddar Gorge and on to Wells. Most of the western section is within the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.[2] From there the East Mendip Way continues through Shepton Mallet to Frome.
The Mendip Way connects with the Macmillan Way, Monarch's Way, and Samaritans Way South West. The western trailhead of the Limestone Link is within 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) of the Mendip Way near Shipham.
Route description
After crossing the A38, the path ascends again, heading now into the heart of the Mendips. After skirting to the south of Shipham, the path passes through the plantations on Rowberrow Warren, then joins a minor road for a short distance. Just to the south is GB Cave discovered by Francis Goddard and Charles Barker in 1939. It is one of the many caves in the Mendips. There are also several round barrows in this area.
After a short section along the A371, the route heads back up into the hills, passing close by Draycott Sleights SSSI and the airfield of the Mendip Gliding Club. At the top of the hill is the earthworks of an ancient settlement, and several more roundbarrows are passed on the way to Priddy. Priddy village green has been the site of a sheep fair since 1348, and the New Inn appeared there in 1373.[3] Heading south from Priddy, the route passes through Ebbor Gorge National Nature Reserve, and on to Wookey Hole, famous for its cave and witch legend. The Monarch's Way long-distance footpath joins here, and shares some, but not all, of the same route on the way to Wells.
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Draycott Sleights.
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A copse in fields on the Mendips near Priddy.
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Looking down into Ebbor Gorge.
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This old lime kiln near Wells is one of several to be seen along the route.
The route leaves Wells by way of the path around the Bishop's Palace moat, then enters the woods at Tor Hill, a National Trust property, and passes by the top of a disused quarry. It then joins a track which was formerly used by horse-drawn transport to avoid paying tolls on the main road. This track passes by King's Castle wood, a reserve of the Somerset Wildlife Trust and the site of iron age camp.[4] It takes the route on to the high ground of Lyatt and Furzy Sleight. Passing high above the village of Croscombe, the path then goes through Ham Woods and turns southeast to descend towards Shepton Mallet. Approaching town, the route roughly follows the line of the now derelict Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway. The two large viaducts that carried the railway around the town are Grade II listed buildings.[5][6]
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Ham Woods Viaduct
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The Mendip Way passes the outskirts of Shepton Mallet via a number of alley ways.
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Charlton Viaduct
Leaving the town behind, the path goes over Ingsdons Hill to the hamlet of Chelynch. At Waterlip the route passes by a flooded quarry, then climbs to 280 metres (919 ft), the highest point on the Mendip Way. This is the site of Cranmore Tower, a 45-metre (148 ft) tall 19th century folly, now a grade II listed building.[7] Asham Wood is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest and the largest and most diverse of the ancient semi-natural woods in the Mendips. Further on, the hamlet of Chantry is one of the Thankful Villages which suffered no casualties in the First World War. The path then goes alongside Whatley Quarry which has been the subject of environmental criticism. At Forbury Bottom, the Macmillan Way shares the route for a short way until Great Elm. The path then leads into Frome where the Mendip Way terminates.
Services
Weston-super-Mare and Frome are served by train and coach.[8][9] Buses run regularly on routes parallel to the Mendip Way, from Weston-super-Mare to Wells, and Wells to Frome.[10] Accommodations and campsites can be found along the route.[11] The route is covered by Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps 141, 143 and 153, and Landranger maps 182 and 183. The route is shown on recent editions of these maps.
Two publications provide more information:
- Uphill to Frome: a guide to the Mendip Way, by David Wright ISBN 0-9539237-0-3. A guide to the complete route, with maps.
- West Mendip Way by Andrew Eddy, Weston Heritage Centre. Detailed guide to the western section Uphill to Wells, with maps.
See also
- Geology of the Mendips
References
- ↑ "Mendip Way". The Ramblers Association. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
- ↑ "Visiting". Mendip Hills AONB. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
- ↑ "Ebbor Gorge". Real Alternative Site. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
- ↑ "King's Castle Wood". Somerset Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
- ↑ "Images of England". English Heritage. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
- ↑ "Images of England". English Heritage. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
- ↑ "Images of England". English Heritage. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
- ↑ "National Rail Enquiries". National Rail website. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
- ↑ "Book coach tickets". National Express website. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
- ↑ "Timetables; Bristol, Bath and the West". First Group website. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
- ↑ "Somerset Accommodation". Retrieved 2008-03-24.