As a County of remarkable contrasts, it is no wonder Somerset can offer some of the most varied and exciting terrain for walking anywhere in the UK. We have a National Park,
Exmoor and no fewer than three designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – the
Blackdown,
Mendip and
Quantock Hills.
There are coastal, cliff and canal paths; wooded, wilderness and wild flower walks and circular, long distance, and themed trails. There is even an island walk if you visit Flatholm in the Bristol Channel. You can take a trip there from Knightstone Harbour in
Weston Super Mare. Somerset is particularly welcoming to our four-legged friends making it a popular choice for dog owners.
Among the best known longer routes are the South West Coast Path, which begins in
Minehead; the Somerset stretch of the
England Coast Path; the Coleridge Way which starts from Nether Stowey, the Two Moors Way; The Mendip Way and the Parrett Trail. A recent addition is the
Castles and Coast Way.
A number of our towns and villages have Walkers are Welcome accreditation which means that they go out of their way to make sure walkers have what they need to enjoy their visits and explore the area.
Somerset offers more than 6,000 km of public rights of way and many quiet lanes where traffic is a rarity. Public transport, waymarked routes and walking guides are all there to help get you started and get you back again. Our air is guaranteed fresh every day - we have it flown in specially. If the countryside’s new to you, then every step is an adventure. The particular intimacy of Somerset’s scenery means that there’s always something new hiding round every corner. We have wildlife, historic buildings, parish churches and more, not to mention the picture perfect pubs and tucked away tea rooms.
The Levels, with their wide open vistas, willows and waterways make for relaxed strolls while the Blackdown, Mendip and Quantock Hills have steep coombes, gorges and cliffs that provide more strenuous walking and far-reaching views. A feature of the lower lying areas is the tendency for sudden lumps and bumps to appear in their midst rewarding intrepid walkers with fantastic all-round views from the summits.
There are dramatic seascapes too revealed by the coastal paths and hidden gem villages to be found by opting for leafy lanes. Somerset Wildlife Trust has scores of nature reserves where you are free to roam and discover some species that are only found here.
The Mendip Way is a 50 mile trek that takes you all the way from the fascinating hamlet of Uphill on the coast to the town of Frome dubbed by The Times as ‘one of the best places to live in Britain.’ Tracking along the ridge, which overlooks the
Somerset Levels to the south and the Chew Valley to the north, the route dips down at times to include such delights as
Cheddar and
Axbridge;
Wells and Wookey Hole. From the summit are tantilizing glimpses of secret woodlands and sunken valleys.