View of Cheddar Gorge – Velvet Bottom Nature Reserve loop from Aveline's Hole

Hiking trails & Routes

View of Cheddar Gorge – Velvet Bottom Nature Reserve loop from Aveline's Hole

Moderate

4.7

(38)

160

hikers

View of Cheddar Gorge – Velvet Bottom Nature Reserve loop from Aveline's Hole

04:47

16.2km

440m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 6, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Mendip Hills National Landscape

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

5.15 km

View of Cheddar Gorge

Highlight • Natural Monument

Nice short walk to see the Gorge from the top. Possible to do with children (mine was 10+). You can do the circular walk around the Gorge from here and finish going down Jacob's ladder.

Tip by

6.33 km

Cox's Mill Pond

Lake

7.93 km

Feral Goats of Cheddar Gorge

Highlight • Natural

If you like goats there are lots here

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7.98 km

View of Cheddar Gorge and Cheddar Reservoir

Highlight • Natural Monument

At almost 400 feet (122 m) deep and 3 miles (5 km) long, this is England’s largest gorge and, with its weathered crags and pinnacles, one of our most spectacular natural sites. It plays host to a varied community of specialised plants and wildlife. It has been named the ‘finest example of a limestone gorge in Britain’ by the British Geological Survey. It is one of the special qualities of the Mendip Hills Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Cheddar Gorge is Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for wildlife and geology, a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) with five sites of national archaeological importance designated within the Gorge.

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9.06 km

Wild Goats Near Shipham, Mendip Hills

Highlight • Natural

A peekaboo I see you!!!!

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9.12 km

Black Rock Steep Rocky Path

Highlight (Segment) • Natural

This might not be so nice, depending on how confident/sure-footed you are, how much it’s rained, or whether you’re going down rather than up!

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10.1 km

Black Rock Limestone Outcrop

Highlight • Natural

Black Rock is a limestone outcrop above Cheddar Gorge. There are a few climbing routes here and old lime kilns. This area is owned and managed by the National Trust and part of a nature reserve.

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11.4 km

Velvet Bottom Nature Reserve

Nature Reserve

12.2 km

Velvet Bottom Nature Reserve

Highlight • Natural

Velvet Bottom is part of the wider Cheddar Complex Sites of Special Scientific Interest which is a network of nature reserves on the Mendip Hills. Each reserve has its own unique character and wildlife. All of the nature reserves are Sites of Special Scientific Interest, which provide protection to the plants and animals found there.

This nature reserve lies on the floor of a dry river valley and is long and narrow in shape. Most of the reserve can be seen from the main path. The 42-acre (17 ha) reserve is mostly rough grassland with small areas of woodland and scrub. The reserve has a long history of lead mining and there is still much evidence to be found of the site’s industrial heritage. Velvet Bottom has been managed by Somerset Wildlife Trust since 1975 and was purchased from the former owners, Bristol Water, in 1998.

Please clean up after your dog on sites on the Mendip Hills AONB to help protect the wildlife and stop grasslands becoming polluted.

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12.8 km

Blackmoor Nature Reserve

Highlight • Natural

Blackmoor Nature Reserve is part of the wider Cheddar Complex Sites of Special Scientific Interest which is a network of nature reserves on the Mendip Hills. Each
reserve has its own unique character and wildlife. All of the nature reserves are Sites of Special Scientific Interest which provide protection to the plants and animals found there.

The industrial history of the site is part of what makes it so special. Blackmoor was mined for lead as far back as Roman times, with more recent mining by the Victorians leaving the buddle pits (circular washing pits to separate lead ore), dams and settling beds that can still be seen today. The whole of the reserve is scheduled as an Ancient Monument to protect the Victorian lead workings.

The high concentration of lead in the soil prevents most plants from growing, so the flora of the site is unusual, with only specially-adapted plants able to survive. A significant area of reserve is part of the Charterhouse lead works Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Please clean up after your dog as to not damage the rare habitats at this special nature reserve.

Tip by

16.2 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

6.55 km

6.07 km

2.66 km

506 m

445 m

Surfaces

5.97 km

5.08 km

3.51 km

844 m

696 m

139 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (310 m)

Lowest point (20 m)

Weather

Sunday 11 October

19°C

13°C

19 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 12.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

June 13, 2024,Cheddar Gorge, Black Rock Quarry, Velvet Bottom, Jacobs Ladder, Lookout Tower Loop

A hike that i've put off a few times. Finally got to go. set off at 0300. 2 hour drive. saw a beautiful sunrise, then set off from the car park in the village at 0600. I love to hike as early as I can. There are less people around, and find it very peaceful. The beginning section of the …