The clue is 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 gorgeous Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, The Pelican in the village of Chew Magna is just a 5 minute drive away. We have a delicious food offering focused on hearty pub classics, along with plenty of award-winning Butcombe beer behind the bar.
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.
Rowberrow Warren is also popular with mountain bikers, but there is plenty of room for everyone to enjoy the nature, wildlife and tranquility that this area offers.
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 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.
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 9 miles from The Ring O’ Bells.
Located in the heart of Chew Magna, The Pelican sits on the edge of the Mendips surrounded by beautiful Somerset countryside.
To reach The Pelican from Rowberrow Warren, you must head south-west and turn right onto Holloway Lane, before continuing onto Rowberrow Lane. Turn right onto the A38 and continue for 5.5 miles.
Turn right onto New Road and continue onto Kingdown Road for about a mile, before turning left onto Parsonage Lane. Turn right onto Felton Lane and almost immediately right onto High Street (B3130). After approximately 300 metres, turn left onto Chew Road (B3130) and you will find The Pelican on your right.
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