Loading…
Loading map…
Hang tight while the map initialises.
A seven-day loop through Somerset's ancient heart: Wells Cathedral, Glastonbury Tor, the artisan market town of Frome, and the drama of Cheddar Gorge. Everything within 25 miles; no leg over 45 minutes.
Somerset is often overlooked in favour of its more celebrated neighbours, but this small county contains some of England's most distinctive landscapes and best-preserved historic towns. This loop from Wells circles the county's most celebrated inland destinations in compact stages: the cathedral city of Wells, the mystical heights of Glastonbury Tor, the independent market town of Frome, and Britain's deepest gorge at Cheddar. No leg exceeds 45 minutes, leaving maximum time at each destination.
Best time: May to October
England's smallest cathedral city has one of its finest Gothic buildings. Wells Cathedral's west front holds over 300 medieval statues, the scissor arches are extraordinary, and the 14th-century astronomical clock still ticks. The moated Bishop's Palace and Vicars' Close, Europe's oldest complete medieval street, are all within a few minutes' walk.
England's smallest cathedral city has one of its finest Gothic buildings. Wells Cathedral's west front holds over 300 medieval statues, the scissor arches are extraordinary, and the 14th-century astronomical clock still ticks. The moated Bishop's Palace and Vicars' Close, Europe's oldest complete medieval street, are all within a few minutes' walk.
Park at the multi-storey on Princes Road. Cathedral entry is £8; free weekday evensong at 5:15pm is worth attending. The city is compact and fully walkable from any central car park.
The Tor rises above the Somerset Levels with St Michael's ruined tower on its summit, visible for miles on clear days. Below it, Glastonbury Abbey's ruins are among England's most atmospheric: a place of Christian pilgrimage since the 7th century. The market town's independent shops and cafes reward an afternoon's browsing.
The Tor rises above the Somerset Levels with St Michael's ruined tower on its summit, visible for miles on clear days. Below it, Glastonbury Abbey's ruins are among England's most atmospheric: a place of Christian pilgrimage since the 7th century. The market town's independent shops and cafes reward an afternoon's browsing.
Glastonbury Tor (National Trust) is free; the Wellhouse Lane car park is a 20-minute walk from the summit. Book Abbey entry online. The town centre is compact and easily walkable.
Frome (pronounced 'Froom') is Somerset's most characterful market town. Cheap Street, the steep medieval thoroughfare, has kept nearly all its 17th-century shop fronts. The first-Sunday independent market draws buyers and makers from across the region. A growing arts and food scene is anchored by fiercely independent businesses.
Frome (pronounced 'Froom') is Somerset's most characterful market town. Cheap Street, the steep medieval thoroughfare, has kept nearly all its 17th-century shop fronts. The first-Sunday independent market draws buyers and makers from across the region. A growing arts and food scene is anchored by fiercely independent businesses.
Park at Merchant Barton car park in the town centre. If visiting on the first Sunday, arrive by 10am for the best choice. Accommodation fills quickly on market weekends; book well ahead.
Britain's deepest gorge cuts through the Mendip Hills here. The cliffside paths above give views across Somerset; the gorge road winds 3 km below for a spectacular drive. The Cheddar Caves hold Gough's Cave, where Cheddar Man (9,000 years old) was discovered, and Cox's Cave with its stalactite chambers. Allow a full day for both.
Britain's deepest gorge cuts through the Mendip Hills here. The cliffside paths above give views across Somerset; the gorge road winds 3 km below for a spectacular drive. The Cheddar Caves hold Gough's Cave, where Cheddar Man (9,000 years old) was discovered, and Cox's Cave with its stalactite chambers. Allow a full day for both.
Book caves tickets online in advance; combined entry covers all caves and is best value. The gorge road is a single carriageway and gets congested in summer; arrive before 9am or after 4pm.
The loop ends where it began. A stop at Wookey Hole, four miles outside Wells, adds a 45-minute cave tour through chambers carved by the River Axe before the final drive back into the city.
The loop ends where it began. A stop at Wookey Hole, four miles outside Wells, adds a 45-minute cave tour through chambers carved by the River Axe before the final drive back into the city.
Wells connects to Bristol by frequent buses (45 minutes) and to Bath in 35 minutes. For London, Castle Cary station (6 miles) has direct trains to Paddington in 1 hour 40 minutes.
Culture
Wells Cathedral
England's first complete Gothic cathedral, built 1175–1490. The west front is a screen of medieval sculpture with over 300 statues, the largest such collection in the world. Inside, the scissor arches and the 1390 astronomical clock are unforgettable. Entry £8; free for services.
Culture
Vicars' Close, Wells
The only complete medieval street surviving in Europe, built in the 1340s to house the Vicars Choral of Wells Cathedral. Forty-two identical houses, a chapel, and a library occupy a single cobbled lane — virtually unchanged in nearly 700 years.
Viewpoint
Glastonbury Tor
A solitary hill rising 158 metres above the Somerset Levels with St Michael's ruined tower on the summit. The 20-minute walk from the National Trust car park rewards with views across Somerset, Wiltshire and, on clear days, into Wales. Free to visit year-round.
Culture
Glastonbury Abbey
Ruins of one of England's wealthiest medieval abbeys, founded in the 7th century. The extensive grounds include the Lady Chapel, remains of the Great Church, and a museum of artefacts. King Arthur's legendary burial is associated with the site.
Scenic Drive
Cheddar Gorge Road
Britain's deepest gorge stretches 3 km through the Mendip Hills. The B3135 winds between limestone cliffs up to 137 metres high. Combine the gorge road drive with the clifftop path for the full scale of the landscape from above and below.
Activity
Gough's Cave and Cheddar Man
Gough's Cave runs 115 metres into the Mendip Hills and holds Cheddar Man's 9,000-year-old skeleton, the oldest complete human skeleton in Britain, discovered in 1903. The adjacent museum includes a DNA-based reconstruction of how he may have looked.
Sign in to add photos from your trip.
Make this route your own with Routebook Pro
Reshape the stops, plan accommodation, activities and budget, then save and export your own trip pack.
See plans →Driven this route?
Share your rating to help others.
Be the first to share a tip or ask a question about this route.
A 6-day one-way drive along England's only UNESCO World Heritage coastline, from Exeter through fossil-rich Dorset to the chalk stacks of Swanage.
Routebookby Routebook
An 8-day driving loop from Exeter combining wild Dartmoor moorland with the best coastal towns of South Devon, including Plymouth, Salcombe, Dartmouth and Brixham.
A 7-day loop through England's most history-rich county: from the seaside spectacle of Brighton to the chalk cliffs of Beachy Head, the 1066 battlefield at Battle, and the cobblestoned medieval streets of Rye.
Routebookby RoutebookRoutebookby Routebook