The very best places to stay in
Mendips and Wells
The Mendip Hills feel like a secret corner of Somerset — a landscape of hidden gorges, ancient woodlands and dramatic ridgelines that seem to stretch on to another land entirely. Caves drip with prehistory, wildflowers fill the limestone meadows and life feels a little more elemental. Walkers, wild swimmers and weekend wanderers are drawn here for its sense of freedom: huge skies, open paths and moments of blissfull stillness.
Then there’s Wells — England’s smallest city, and arguably one of its most beautiful. Cobbled streets radiate from the cathedral’s honey-stone façade, and the medieval moat around the Bishop’s Palace shimmers with waterlilies and swans. It’s a place where you can wander from market square to meadow in minutes, past antique shops, indie cafés and ancient archways that look lifted from a film set. Visit midweek, when the tourist crowd has thinned, and you’ll have it almost to yourself. See our top Kip tips for the region, below.
Our hideaways in Mendip, Wells and Somerset beyond are made for luxuriously slow escapes — romantic cabins tucked away in the woods, stunning farm-style retreats with wide-open views and design-led barns that make rainy afternoons a joy. From here, you can hike the gorge at Cheddar, swim in secret springs, or sit outside The Crown at Wells with a cider in hand as the cathedral bells chime the evening in. Just wonderful.
Featured stays in
Mendips and Wells
Curate your Mendips and Wells stay
Kip tips
foodie treat
Book a long, lazy lunch at The Ethicurean near Wrington — a glasshouse restaurant overlooking the rolling Mendip hills, where the menu sings with garden-grown produce and Somerset spirit.
must visit
Wells Cathedral — even if you’re not a history buff, the sheer beauty of its medieval stonework and the tranquillity of the cloisters will inspire a moment of reverence. Pop into the nearby Cathedral Café for locally roasted coffee and the best view in town.
Secret kip tip
Follow the stream from Ebbor Gorge down through the woods at dawn — the birdsong here is almost orchestral, and you’ll often have it entirely to yourself.
best activity
Hike the Cheddar Gorge Trail. Go early or late in the day to catch the light spilling over the cliffs, and pack a picnic for the lookout near Pavey’s Lookout Tower.
with kids
Head to Wookey Hole Caves — part wonderland, part natural history museum. The underground chambers are spectacular, and there’s plenty of quirky fun above ground too (think penny arcades and an old-fashioned paper mill).
for walkers
Try the West Mendip Way: 30 miles of wildflower meadows, wooded valleys and limestone ridges. Do a section from Wells to Priddy for a half-day adventure with proper views.
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Why book a Mendips and Wells holiday with
Kip Hideaways?
We endlessly research and curate the very best places to stay across the UK: all gorgeous and great value. Beautiful, unique style is a must for us but it’s the thoughtful detail and owners who really care that make our hideaways so special.
Our design-led hideaways include cabins with hot tubs, dog-friendly cottages, romantic treehouses and family-friendly houses.
