Wells Somerset and Wookey Hole Walk
The cathedral city of Wells is located in North Somerset in the Mendip Hills AONB. The city includes many historical buildings including the moated Bishop's Palace and the magnificent cathedral. There's lots of good walking opportunities around the city with woodland, nature reserves, hill climbs and parks to visit.
This circular walk from the city takes you to two of the highlights to the north of Wells. You'll visit the famous caves at Wookey Hole before continuing on to the Ebbor Gorge Nature Reserve. The route runs for a distance of a distance of about 6 miles using a section of the waymarked West Mendip Way and other public footpaths.
The walk starts from the architectural wonder of Wells Cathedral where you can pick up the West Mendip Way and follow it north west through the city and out into the countryside. You'll pass woodland around Milton Hill and Arthur's Point before coming to the village of Wookey Hole. Just to the north of the village you'll pass the paper mill and the Wookey Hole Caves. For a fee you can explore the caves which have been used by humans for around 45,000 years. This includes a show cave with a dry gallery connecting three large chambers, the first of which contains the striking Witch of Wookey formation. The attraction also includes some lovely woodland walks through the valley with views of the River Axe.
After passing the caves the route continues north and then west, climbing up to Ebbor Rocks. It's a fair climb but you are rewarded with excellent views over the surrounding countryside from the top. The area is also a nature reserve with a variety of interesting plants and flowers. There's also pretty streams and lots of interesting rock formations.
The route then loops through the gorge before heading back to Wookey Hole and Lower Milton. Other trails then lead you back into Wells where the route finishes.
Wells Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Wells Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Wells OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Wells Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Walks near Wells
- Ebbor Gorge - This circular walk explores a wonderful limestone gorge near Wookey Hole
- West Mendip Way - This splendid walk takes you through the beautiful Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty from Wells to Uphill
- Wells to Glastonbury Walk - This walk takes you from the Somerset city of Wells to Glastonbury Tor
- Glastonbury Tor - This popular walk takes you from the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey to the summit of the iconic Glastonbury Tor
- Monarch's Way - This incredible 615-mile walk approximates the escape route taken by King Charles II in 1651 after being defeated in the Battle of Worcester
- East Mendip Way - This walk takes you through the beautiful Somerset countryside from Wells to Frome along the eastern section of the Mendip Way.
You start in the city of Wells near the magnificent cathedral and pass around the moat of the splendid Bishop's Palace - Cheddar Gorge - This is a circular walk around the magnificent Cheddar Gorge in Somerset.
- Priddy - This Somerset based village is a fine place to start a walk with some fascinating ancient sites, wildlife rich nature reserves and murky limestone caverns to explore.
- Street Somerset - This pretty Somerset based village is a great place from which to explore the nearby Polden Hills and Mendip Hills
- Litton Reservoir - This circular walk visits the Litton Reservoirs in the village of Litton in the Mendip Hills area of Somerset.
- Combe Hill Wood - This circular walk explores the area around the Somerset village of Compton Dundon.
- Polden Way - This walk follows the Polden Way from Walton Hill to Hurcot in Somerset
Pubs/Cafes
The Wookey Hole Inn is a nice place to stop for refreshments on the walk. The inn has an interesting interior with décor based on the local Wookey Hole caves and the old-world, new-age Glastonbury. Behind the inn there's a fantastic sculpture garden where you can sit out and enjoy your meal. There's seating for over 100 people and it's planted with bamboos, grasses and herbs. You can find the pub at postcode BA5 1BP for your sat navs.
Dog Walking
The area is great for dog walking although it might be best to keep them on leads in the Ebbor Rocks area where there are quite steep climbs. The Wookey Hole Inn mentioned above is also dog friendly.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
To continue your walking in the area you could try the Wells to Glastonbury Walk and visit the famous Glastonbury Tor.
The long distance East Mendip Way also starts from the city and will take you through the Mendip Hills on a waymarked trail.
Photos
Wells Cathedral
Street Market near Wells Cathedral, Somerset Pennyless Porch can just be seen above the market stalls, centre left of the picture.
Wookey Hole caves. Cave chamber at Wookey Hole
Wookey Hole
River Axe in Wookey Hole
Wookey Hole, footbridge in the park.
A bear in the woods near Ebbor Gorge. In the heart of the wood in the main pathway to the bottom of the gorge is this bear made of wicker and creeper. About 7 feet tall, somehow seems to fit into the scene.
The narrow path through Ebbor Gorge