ENJOYING AND GETTING TO THE MENDIP HILLS

There are many ways to enjoy the Mendip Hills and you don't need a car! Ideas for those interested in the open air include:

• walking the West Mendip Way along the edge of the Mendip Hills between Weston super Mare and Wells, extending eastward on the East Mendip Way to Shepton Mallet and Frome. The West Mendip Way can easily be taken in stages using the broadly parallel hourly bus route, and can incorporate visits to Wookey Hole Caves, Ebbor Gorge National Nature Reserve and Cheddar Gorge & Caves. The East Mendip Way can also be broken up into stages, but more careful bus research is needed by the walker.
• cycling Route 3 of the National Cycleway across the Mendip Hills to Wells and linking from the Bath -Bristol Cyclepath
• walking or cycling the Strawberry Valley Way from Yatton to Cheddar.

Yatton, Weston super Mare and Frome are all on the national rail network, and Wells is a hub for local bus services, with National Express coach services from Newcastle, York, Birmingham, London, London Heathrow Airport and Weymouth.

Local buses link Weston super Mare and Wells via Cheddar and Winscombe, Wells and Bath, Wells and Bristol, Wells and Wookey Hole.

New and innovative bus services are developing:

• ”Chew Valley Explorer Bus"
• The "East Mendip Connector Bus" serves the East Mendip Hills villages on a fixed route, but can also be booked to pick up from other places - a leaflet can be obtained from somersetconnections@wsatkins.co.uk or call 01823 358299.
• A post bus service is being developed between Wells and the plateau top at Priddy.

Public Transport Information can be had from:

• National Rail Inquiries 0345 484950 http://www.rail.co.uk/
• National Express 0990 808080 http://www.nationalexpress.co.uk/
• Somerset Bus Information from Atmos Ltd: 01823 358299 or e-mail     somersetconnections@wsatkins.co.uk 
• North Somerset, Bristol and Bath & NE Somerset Bus Information: Traveline 08706082608
• First Badgerline Bus Services 0117 955 3231 http://www.firstbadgerline.co.uk/

In addition

• Cheddar Showcaves have operated inclusive coach/caves packages from Bath and Bristol hotels.  Phone 01934 742343
• Cheddar Showcaves have also operated a free bus (The Brean Flier - Stopless/Topless) from Brean to Cheddar Gorge at Spring Bank Holiday and in the  high summer Phone  01934 742343.

Tourist Information Centres:

Cheddar 01934 744071
Wells 01749 672552
Shepton Mallet 01749 345258
Weston super Mare 01934 888800
Frome 01373 467271

Walks books and leaflets are available from bookshops, the tourist information centres and from the Society's bookstall at indoor events. Mendip District Council publish a leaflet listing their walks leaflets, available from the Frome tourist information centre. See also www.mendip.gov.uk