Section 3 of 5, West Mendip Way
Shipham to Cheddar
4.9 miles (7.9 km). About 2 hours, easy.
Start: ST 455 574. Finish: ST 467 537. OS grid.
Take it with you: download this section's GPX file (it opens in OS Maps, Komoot, Outdooractive or a GPS unit) or open the start in OS Maps.
Up and down
About 203 m of climbing and 319 m of descent; highest point 267 m.
Getting there
The section starts at Shipham.
- Car parks
- Car park, 970 m from the start. Directions ST 450 582Car park, 970 m from the start. Directions ST 450 582
No bus stop or station within a kilometre of the start. Nearest: the bus stop at Star, Broadway Junction, 2 km away (Directions); Puxton Park station (heritage railway), 8 km away (Directions).
Getting back
The section finishes at Cheddar. Stations and bus stops near the finish:
- Bus stops
- Gough's Cave, 210 m from the finish. Directions ST 466 539Tweentown (East Bound), 680 m from the finish. Directions ST 460 536Tweentown (West bound), 700 m from the finish. Directions ST 460 536
Planning the West Mendip Way
- Planning the whole trail: mendiphills-nl.org.uk.
- The guidebook the trail recommends: The Mendip Way Guide (Mendip Hills National Landscape).
What to expect
Underfoot: earth, rock and mud 23%, paved or flagged 22%, gravel and tracks 7%; the rest (48%) isn't recorded.
About 22% on roads with traffic.
Path grade, where mappers have given one: clear path 100%.
On the way: 6 gates.
Steepest climb: about 93 m in a kilometre (1 in 11), starting 3.6 miles in.
From OpenStreetMap, where mappers have recorded it: check before you go.
Pubs and cafés
- Cafés
- Gough's Café, Cheddar: at the finish.Lion Rock Tearooms, Cheddar: at the finish.Café Gorge, Cheddar: at the finish.Holly House Tea Rooms, Cheddar: 4.9 miles in, about 250 m off the way.Rockface, Cheddar: 4.9 miles in, about 300 m off the way.Waterfall Cafe & Ice Creams, Cheddar: 4.9 miles in, about 400 m off the way. Step-free.
As OpenStreetMap records them. Opening times change, so check before you set off.
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