Blackmoor Nature Reserve – Velvet Bottom Nature Reserve loop from Upper Flood Swallet

Hiking trails & Routes

Blackmoor Nature Reserve – Velvet Bottom Nature Reserve loop from Upper Flood Swallet

Easy

4.9

(7)

hikers

Blackmoor Nature Reserve – Velvet Bottom Nature Reserve loop from Upper Flood Swallet

01:53

6.78km

120m

Hiking

Easy hike. Easily walkable paths. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 8, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Mendip Hills National Landscape

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

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235 m

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.

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1.89 km

Wireless Station MTB Singletrack

Highlight • MTB Park

Brilliant narrow single track that links the Charterhouse area to Rowberrow Common and the trig point at Beacons Batch. It gets slippy in the winter and transition months, and with gorse and brambles you'll want to be wearing some gloves for this one.

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4.45 km

Velvet Bottom Nature Reserve

Highlight (Segment) • Historical Site

The well-marked trail follows the bottom of the valley which has had a connection with lead mining since pre-Roman times, and along the way you can take a look inside the two small caves. As you walk through the reserve you will see a series of dams and levels, a reminder of the lead mining that used to take place.

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6.37 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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6.74 km

Velvet Bottom Bridle Path and Rock Descent

Highlight • Natural

This appears to be a road on the map but it is not! The road goes down the beautifully named Velvet Bottom to Blackmore Reserve Car Park but then swiftly turns into a gravel track and then becomes a track more suitable for MTBs. Komoot took me this way as part of a ride planned using the Bike Tour profile. I was on a gravel bike and my friend was on her road bike. We decided it wasn't passable for us on that particular day (wet and windy), turned around and cycled back up the hill to the 'main road'. You might have more suitable bikes, be braver or have better weather. Not a 'Bike Tour' route for me though.

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