The Mendip Hills

A free article on Travel and Leisure

By: Iain Thomas

The Mendip Hills are full of history, and there is lots to see and do here. There are caves, museums and towns to explore, as well as an Abbey and a Cathedral. Lets have a look at some of the sights you can see.
Wookey Hole is a showcave and very popular with cave enthusiasts. It is low-key compared to Cheddar – the most famous cave, which lies in the North West corner of the Mendips. You can take a guided tour of Wookey, and see if you can spot the legendary Witch of Wookey. The tour takes about 40 minutes and after that there is a caves museum, a mirror maze and the oldest paper mill in Britain, and a host of other attractions. Wookey is a fun family day out.
Another popular attraction in the Hills is Ebbor Gorge Nature Reserve, owned by National Trust. This lovely wooded valley has evidence of inhabitation dating back to Neolithic times (about 3000BC). Archaeologists have found bones, tools, cooking utensils, and ornaments in caves throughout the Gorge. Many of which can be seen at the museum at Wookey Hole. There is also a nature trail that you can take through the gorge, and there are wonderful views out over SomersetLevels.
The jewel of the Mendip Hills is Wells. Just two miles from Wookey you will find Wells. Technically a city, as it is home to Wells Cathedral, Wells has all the charm of a small village. The Cathedral is one of the architectural highlights of Britain, replete with magnificent Gothic carvings, a unique scissors vault to brace the building against shifting medieval foundations, and a marvellous chapter house. Wells Cathedral houses a wonderful clock, with mechanical knights who exchange blows every hour.
The nearby town of Glastonbury, which is a few miles from Wells, is dominated by the enigmatic Glastonbury Tor. Topped with a 14th Century tower, the Tor draws the eye from anywhere on the surrounding Somerset Levels.
The Tor can be climbed for wonderful views, though it can be windy at the top. Legend has it that the Holy Grail is buried inside. Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor is another reputed hiding place for the Holy Grail.
Glastonbury Abbey is in the centre of Glastonbury, and at one time was one of the richest abbeys in England. During the Middle Ages Glastonbury was one of the premier pilgrimage destinations in Britain, due to ancient legends associating it with Jesus, the Holy Grail, and King Arthur.
The Abbey is well worth visiting and in the grounds you can see the burial place of King Arthur and Queen Guinivere. The graves were discovered in the 12th Century, when the monks of Glastonbury needed funds to finance the rebuilding of the Abbey. There is speculation about the tombs, and you can draw your own conclusions. However Glastonbury is a hub of legends about Arthur and things Arthurian, including the Holy Grail.

p> Also in Glastonbury is the wonderful Somerset Museum of Rural Life, housed in the Abbey's former tithe barn, and nearby is the Peat Moors Visitor Centre, where you can get a good idea of how early settlers on the Levels lived thousands of years ago.
The Somerset Levels are lovely, low farmlands split by long irrigation canals and the meandering River Brue. They make a good day out on a bicycle, or a pleasant walk. There are a series of great Rural Walk Leaflets, published by the Mendip District Council. You can pick one up at tourist information centers throughout the district.

Information about the Author:

Iain Thomas writes articles on travel leisure and tourism in the UK. He has a particular interest in walking and the national parks. He runs a website about UK Walking where you can find 1000's of walk routes and places to stay nearby.

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