A Visitor's Guide To The Mendip Hills In Somerset

An Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty Near The Langford Inn

The clue’s in the name – The Mendip Hills Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty – is a gorgeous region in Somerset, home to world-class walking, hiking and cycling opportunities.

If you’re looking for the perfect base from which to explore this stunning part of the world, The Langford Inn is a cosy, welcoming, 17th century village pub that boasts some of the best circular walks, hikes and cycle routes the Mendip Hills has to offer.

With 7 beautiful boutique bedrooms, delicious food offerings and plenty of Butcombe beer on the taps, you might just find it hard to step out of the door!

Rowberrow Warren Circular Walk

Rowberrow Warren is a beautiful woodland walk, set on a hillside with large winding paths and a small babbling stream meandering through the bottom.

Although the pathways are relatively steep, the wonderful panoramic views are a reward in themselves when you reach Burrington Common at the top.

Although Rowberrow Warren is also popular with mountain bikers, there is plenty of room for everyone to enjoy the nature, wildlife and tranquility that this area offers.

Dolebury Warren & Hill Fort Circular Walk

Now a haven for wildflowers and butterflies, Dolebury Warren is the site of an Iron Age hillfort, boasting panoramic views of the Bristol Channel and the Welsh Coast on clear days!

Dolebury Warren takes its name because of its use as a rabbit warren during the medieval era, and there is still an abundance of rabbits and other wildlife in residence to this day.

Once you reach the top, enjoy the beautiful walk along the top of the ancient Hill Fort, before descending down into Rowberrow Woods. Once you reach the bottom of the woods, follow the stream back until you reach the woodland exit.

Black Down Circular Walk

Black Down is an extensive area of heathland, and the highest point in The Mendip Hills.

From the School Lane entrance, follow the stream along before taking the path that crosses the stream up into the woodland. Continue to follow the path out of the woods to the open area of Beacon Batch. At the gate, go straight across and begin a long, gentle ascent up to the trig point, where you can enjoy panoramic views across North Somerset.

However, if you want to reach the top in the quickest time possible, then you should begin from the Burrington Combe car park. This will reduce your ascent to approximately 1 kilometre.

View the full circular route.

The Strawberry Line Cycle Route

Largely traffic-free with no steep gradients, The Strawberry Line is one of The Mendip’s most popular cycle paths. The 9 mile route takes in a variety of landscapes, from the spectacular Cheddar Gorge and historic town of Axbridge, the steep wooded valleys and a tunnel through the Mendips, to the flat marshes and cider apple orchards around Yatton.

You can access The Strawberry Line in Cheddar village, which is approximately 6 miles from The Langford Inn (Postcode BS27 3EE).

Dine, Drink & Stay At The Langford Inn

Located less than 1 mile from the edge of The Mendip Hills, The Langford Inn is the perfect place to dine, drink or stay before or after a busy day exploring Somerset.

Our historic village pub dates back to the 17th century and has recently been refurbished, inside and out.

In the kitchen our passion is local produce and field-to-fork sustainability, with menus that reflect this. Expect exciting seasonal dishes alongside hearty pub classics, created from the best ingredients our Somerset larder has to offer.

This local approach also extends to our beer, with our very own award-winning Butcombe Brewery just down the road in Wrington!