One of the great things about living in Somerset is that you’re still within walking distance or a short drive of stunning scenery and a great picnic spot.
You may have seen all the best green space in your area, but there’s plenty to explore not far away. From family walks to dog walks, from climbs with magnificent views to forest trails, there is something for everyone.
From forests and lakes to landmarks and views, each attraction on this list has something unique to offer that could brighten up your weekend. Here are 11 of the favorite walking routes in and around Somerset
READ MORE: Eight of our favorite long-distance walks and trails in Somerset
Cheddar Gorge
Where: Cheddar, Somerset
Length of the route: 3 km
Cheddar Gorge, Somerset (Image: Getty Images)
Cheddar Gorge is England’s largest gorge and offers stunning features such as weathered rocks and pinnacles. The gorge is an incredible 400ft deep and 3 miles long, and the cliff top walk takes people on a 3 mile route with some of the best views in Somerset.
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Gloucestershire Way A view of May Hill and the spire of Highnam Church from Alney Island (Image: Bristol Live)
Where: The full width of Gloucestershire, from the Welsh border town of Chepstow to Tewkesbury on the River Severn
Length of the walk: 94 miles, divided into 12 different routes
This massive 94 mile route can be divided into 12 different walks, all varying in length and difficulty. The route takes you through the Forest of Dean, the Severn Plain and the Cotswolds linking the Wye Valley Walk and Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail to the Severn, Cotswold, Oxfordshire Lanes and from the heart of England.
Check the weather and travel before you go – find the latest local information here
Somerset West Coast Trail
Where: Parking at Steart, next to Bridgwater Bay Nature Reserve
Walking length: 25 miles or broken down into routes
Somerset West Coast Path (Image: Bristol Live)
The West Somerset Coast Path is a great walk to organize your day. The 25 mile stretch from Burnham on Sea to Minehead gives you plenty of great coastal views, and if you fancy a bite to eat along the way there are a number of places to go along the way , including Kilve, Williton, Blue Anchor and Dunster.
Bath Skyline Promenade
Where: Bathwick Hill, Bath
Length of the route: 6 km
A great way to appreciate the beauty of Bath and all the scenery around it. The Bath Skyline Walk takes you through six miles of grassland and ancient woodland to secluded valleys.
The Cleeve Hill and Common Walk View from the top of Cleeve Common over Cleeve Hill in the Cotswolds between Cheltenham and Winchcombe, Gloucestershire. (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Where: Cleeve Hill, Cheltenham
Length of the route: 4.5 km
A 4.5 mile walk through the highest common point in the Cotswolds for stunning views of the Malverns and Wales, provided the weather is clear. The town is ideal all year round for walking, but walkers should be careful in bad weather.
Blagdon Lake
Where: At the foot of the Mendip Hills
Course length: 1 mile
Blagdon Lake (Image: Getty)
Blagdon Lake is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and it’s easy to see why. There is a well-maintained trail that runs along the shore of the lake and through the lakeside forest that offers breathtaking views. The Discovery Wood can also be visited, which features deer, badgers, foxes and otters. On the nature trail there are wildflower meadows with green winged orchids, knapweed, white daisies and pink devils.
Weston Woods
Where: Worlebury Hill Road, Weston-super-Mare
Length of the route: 2 km
Weston Woods (Picture: Bristol Live)
West Woods offers 130 acres of woodland, which has something for everyone. It’s ideal for hikers who want to explore steep hills, but there’s also a gravel path that’s been built to accommodate parents with pushchairs and wheelchair users. A newly laid level access road, approximately one and a half miles in length, connects the main Worlebury Hill Road entrance to Fort Hill.
Glastonbury Tor
Where: Glastonbury, Somerset
Length of the route: 2 km
Glastonbury Tor at sunset
Steeped in history, Glastonbury Tor is one of the West’s most famous landmarks. The top of the tor offers lovely views over the Somerset Levels and children will no doubt enjoy a stroll around St Michael’s Tower, the listed building that sits at the top of the hill.
Chew Magna Flyer
Where: Chew Magna, Somerset
Length of the route: 3 km
A three mile circular walk starting in the beautiful village of Chew Magna. The walk gives people the chance to enjoy the many historic buildings in the village as well as country lanes which offer great views of the surrounding hills and some of the ancient stone bridges which cross the River Chew and Winford Brook.
Stourhead Terrace Walk Stourhead
Where: Stourton, Wiltshire
Walking length: 5.5 miles
A magnificent 1,072 hectare estate at the source of the River Stour near Warminster, Wiltshire. The estate includes a Palladian mansion, the village of Stourton, gardens, farmland and woodland. Stourhead has been part-owned by the National Trust since 1946.
Westbury White Horse
Where: Westbury, Wiltshire
Walking length: 8 miles
The eight-mile circuit begins and ends at the parking lot next to the Westbury White Horse and the Bratton Camp earthworks. The walk starts on tracks and flat ground along the Imber Range fences, going up the road to the ‘ghost village’ of Imber. It then arrives above Eddington to present some spectacular views.
What’s your favorite picnic spot in Somerset? Share your ideas with other readers in the comments section of this article
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Source: www.somersetlive.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-05-14 10:30:00
