The Mendip Hills: a Circular Walk from Priddy

Geoff Mullett

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A snapshot of the Mendips is to be found on this walk, graded moderate only because of one longish climb plus numerous stiles. The starting point, Priddy, is the most isolated village on this range of hills and the views over the Somerset Levels on the first half of the walk are superb on a clear day. The route passes a butterfly reserve (how do they keep them in?) then follows the West Mendip Way back to Priddy.

England - South West England - Somerset - Mendip Hills

Features

Great Views, Hills or Fells, Pub, River, Wildlife

8/2/2020 - Ian McCarthy

As others have said the New Inn at Priddy is, alas, no more. Point 3/4 the stile after Hollow Farm is very hidden in the hedgerow! But when you find it you are rewarded with a bench at the top of the field. Excellent views and lunch spot. Point 6: go up to the gate on the horizon, but don't go through it. Go left to find stile which does seem to have ever been painted yellow! Lots of very high slab stiles on this walk - those who have shorter than average legs may find it very hard going. A very good walk.

7/17/2017 - Janis Blackburne

I cursed Walking World towards the end of this walk. Firstly - there is no "New Inn on the green" but nevertheless we found the start of the walk okay. There are a ridiculous number of stiles in the this walk - but I suppose some people don't mind that. But my main complaint is that after reaching no. 6 on the description there was no "yellow painted stile" and after a lot of walking - some of it off the beaten path - we had to give up on finding the West Mendip Way. In fact we had to walk back down to the lanes and ask how to get to Priddy. It was a long way and a steep climb on a busy road too.

7/8/2015 - Tim Thornton

A glorious walk with great views and pretty villages en route. As suggested by the previous reviewer we stopped at the bench (thank you to Scadden Farm for being so thoughtful!) by the entrance to the Rodney Stoke nature reserve for our picnic lunch - a brilliant location with wonderful views and dappled shade. The navigation notes made by other reviewers are all still applicable. In addition there is no clear path from the gateway into Stoke Camp reserve along the wall to the left, though it is not difficult to get to the waymark at the left hand end of the line of trees. The "yellow-painted" stile mentioned in the notes is now almost paintless!

4/3/2013 - Mark Mallett

Terrific walk! The New Inn has now closed down and is being converted to a private dwelling, but the Queen Victoria Pub just around the corner is excellent. The walking directions were extremely clear, though I also missed the 'brace of telephone masts'at 4! The views across the Mendips to the channel and Glastonbury Tor are superb. Just before you enter the Rodney Stoke Nature Reserve, the good folk of Scaddens Farm have erected a bench to admire the view: a perfect picnic point for half way.

9/25/2011 - SANDRA WALSH

The previous navigation comments are still correct - worth updating main notes perhaps. Also I assessed 280m height gain, but only had 1:50000 map so could be a misreading by me - worth checking. Good walk.

12/27/2009 - Allison Perkins

We did this walk at the end of November on which the most part was dry and sunny. The views are fantastic from the high points of the mendips. Note on point 4 we didn't see any telephone mast! Also we took four dogs, one of which is a deer hound, who despite her size still had to be lifted over several of the styles!!!

9/29/2009 - Amanda Tovey

The stone stile mentioned in point 2 is on you left with the wooden stile your right and we could not see a whitwashed bungalow beyond the barn roof but there is a pinkish coloured house to the left. Otherwise a very easy to follow route.