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Romantic Ebbor Gorge

Recommended by

Our view

"The small but sublime limestone gorge that inspired Coleridge to write one of his best-known poems, 'Kubla Khan'."

Walk directions

From the notice board at the top end of the car park descend a stepped path. After a clearing, turn left, signposted 'The Gorge'. The wide path crosses the stream to another junction.

Turn right, away from the gorge down the valley to a road. Turn left, to pass through Wookey Hole village. At its end the road bends right; take a kissing gate on the left with a 'West Mendip Way' post. After two more kissing gates turn left up a spur to the top of Arthur's Point.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Small paths and field-edges, with a rugged descent, many stiles

Landscape - Vast view across the Levels, then tight little gorge

Dog friendliness - English Nature asks that dogs to be on leads in reserve

Parking - Ebbor Gorge car park above Wookey Hole or Wookey Hole's car park

Toilets en route - At Wookey Hole's visitor car park

Walks in Somerset Dog-friendly walks in Somerset

About the walk

When Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) wanted to paint in words the ultimate in sublime landscape, he based his poem not on Snowdonia (which he had visited) but on Somerset. The setting of Kubla Khan (1816) is based partly on Culbone Combe, on the Exmoor Coast, and partly on memories of a visit...

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About the area

Somerset remains rural and unspoiled, and ever popular areas to visit are the limestone and red sandstone Mendip Hills rising to over 1,000 feet, and by complete contrast, to the south and southwest, the flat landscape of the Somerset Levels. Another popular spot, the Quantocks, once the haunt of poets Coleridge and Wordsworth, are noted for their gentle slopes, heather-covered moorland expanses and red deer.

Route details

Difficulty:

Hard

Gradient:

Moderate

Distance:

4.75 miles (7.7kms)

Ascent:

1000ft (305m)

If you like this walk, you can try more routes in the area.

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Romantic Ebbor Gorge

Recommended by

Our view

"The small but sublime limestone gorge that inspired Coleridge to write one of his best-known poems, 'Kubla Khan'."

Walk details

Difficulty:

Hard

Gradient:

Moderate

Distance:

4.75 miles (7.7kms)

Ascent:

1000ft (305m)

Walk directions

From the notice board at the top end of the car park descend a stepped path. After a clearing, turn left, signposted 'The Gorge'. The wide path crosses the stream to another junction.

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Bear right for 60yds (55m) into woods again. The path now heads down through woods to a field.. Go down left to a kissing gate back into the wood. At once, and before the lime kiln just ahead, turn up left between boulders to pass between high quarry crags. Bear right along the wood foot to join a short track ahead. It leads to a four-track junction with a waymarker post standing in a stone plinth.

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Turn sharp left, on to tarred track that bends right then left through Model Farm, to Tynings Lane. Turn left for 85yds (78m) to a signposted stile on the right. Go up with a fence on your right, then bear left to a gate with a stile. Go straight up the next field, aiming for a gateway below the top left corner with tractor ruts running into it. A track leads up through a wood and a field. From the gate at its top slant upwards in the same direction to another gate next to a stile 100yds (91m) below the field's top left corner.

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A faint path runs along the tops of three fields with a long view across the Levels away to your left. With a stile on the right and a gate and horse trough in front, turn downhill keeping the fence on your right; follow it to a stile leading into the Ebbor Gorge Nature Reserve.

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A second stile leads into a wood. At a junction with a red arrow and sign marked 'Car Park' pointing forward, turn right into the valley and go down it – this narrows to an exciting, rocky gully. At the junction below the gorge turn right, signposted 'Car Park'. You are now back on the path taken on the outward walk. After crossing a stream turn left at a T-junction to the wood edge, and back right to the car park.

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Location

Starting point

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Small paths and field-edges, with a rugged descent, many stiles

Landscape - Vast view across the Levels, then tight little gorge

Dog friendliness - English Nature asks that dogs to be on leads in reserve

Parking - Ebbor Gorge car park above Wookey Hole or Wookey Hole's car park

Toilets en route - At Wookey Hole's visitor car park

Walks in Somerset Dog-friendly walks in Somerset

About the walk

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Somerset

Romantic Ebbor Gorge

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

Get an AA guide

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Romantic Ebbor Gorge

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

Get an AA guide

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Walking in Safety

Get an AA guide

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