Magnificent Mendips

Possibly one of the most scenic routes in the Mendip Hills, starting at the Cheddar Reservoir alongside Axbridge this route will take us up via the woodland of the Cheddar Woods. Please be warned the first part of the walk will be a steep ascent starting at around 21 metres above sea level to around 250 metres above sea level. It won’t be a race though it may take us a while to do this initial climb, however we will be rewarded when we get to the top where the views are spectacular. We’ll walk on to take a look at the Callow Rocks Quarry famous for its limestone. It’s pretty much a level walk across the top of Callow Hill. Then we will descend through moorland of Shute Shelve Hill also passing through woodland as we descend still further walking into and through Rose Wood.

We’ll cross the road to go into the National Trust- Kings Wood, an ancient woodland dating back to AD1600 and covering some 76 hectares. All the ash trees in the wood are affected by dieback trees, however there are several especially old trees known as ‘the veterans’, including several very large beech, sweet chestnut, and lime trees. This woodland is also home to tawny owls, nuthatch, greater horseshoe bats, and the smallest bird in Britain being the goldcrest. There also mosses, lichens, and ferns which make this a protected Site of Specific Scientific Interest.

It will be another ascent to climb up through King’s Wood with a height gain of nearly 120 metres though not as steep or arduous as our initial climb at the beginning of our walk. We will emerge onto Wavering Down, open moorland proceeding onward to ascend up toward Crook Peak with some magnificent views. We’ll then descend scooping back away from the peak via Denny’s Hole and skirting the village of Cross to find the flat tracks, farmland, and bridle ways running alongside the narrow tributary  of the Cheddar Yeo River walking back toward our departure point of the Cheddar Reservoir. It’s when we get to the outskirts of Cross and are homeward bound that we will be able to pick up our pace due to the level terrain this being about the last third of our 12 km total distance. So in essence this walk will be tough to start with and getting easier as we make our way around this walk though with the contrast of scenery on this walk which is plentiful and forever changing so offering a well worthwhile taste of what the Mendips has to offer

BE WARNED: There will be stiles and gates to negotiate, and possibly one gate we may have to climb over. So if you have a dog this will have to be manhandled and lifted over the gate. 

Don't waste that space!

Summer walks mean lots of new and existing members excited to be getting out more. Please only book if you know you can make it. Should your plans change please free up the space immediately for someone else who could attend.

Is it dog friendly? 

Dogs are welcome to join us on this event but we do ask the following:
Please appreciate the fact that not everyone is a dog owner or lover- especially when we stop to eat
Remember we will encounter livestock, sheep, deer, and horses, and land owners and authorities have clearly signposted  their expectation of the integrity and assurity they require  of any dog owner, and their dog whilst on their farm land.
Please ensure you adhere to the Countryside Code at all times - see (Keeping Dogs Under Effective Control)
If your dog is uncontrolled and strays in open land frightening other animals or livestock, the leader is supported by the OutdoorLads board of trustees to ask you to leave the event as this is not acceptable behaviour.

New Members

Please feel free to join this as your first OutdoorLads event. If you have any questions, then feel free to message me or go to the "My First Event" section under "About Us".

Image / photo credits: 

All leader's own images - with permission for OutdoorLads to use and reuse.

My other walks for 2023:

Wivey Way and the Tone Valley – 03rd September
https://www.outdoorlads.com/events/wivey-way-and-tone-valley-230903

IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement

You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.