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Black Rock Limestone Outcrop – Velvet Bottom Nature Reserve loop from Middledown Nature Reserve

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Hiking trails & Routes

Black Rock Limestone Outcrop – Velvet Bottom Nature Reserve loop from Middledown Nature Reserve

Moderate

hikers

Black Rock Limestone Outcrop – Velvet Bottom Nature Reserve loop from Middledown Nature Reserve

02:23

8.84km

120m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Last updated: May 7, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Mendip Hills National Landscape

Waypoints

Start point

Get Directions

2.37 km

Wild Goats Near Shipham, Mendip Hills

Highlight • Natural

A peekaboo I see you!!!!

Tip by

2.42 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!

Tip by

3.37 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.

Tip by

4.70 km

Velvet Bottom Nature Reserve

Nature Reserve

5.49 km

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.

Tip by

5.73 km

Mendip Hills National Landscape

Highlight • Natural

Sprawling across Somerset, the Mendip Hills are a chain of picturesque rolling limestone hills. Situated to the south of Bristol and Bath, the hills run from Weston-super-Mare to Frome, covering 76 sq miles (198 km2). With stunning landscape of grassland, woodland and rocky hills, the area is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is also popular with cavers thanks to its dramatic gorges and intricate network of caves.

You can find out more information about the hills, here: nationaltrust.org.uk/mendip-hills

Tip by

8.84 km

End point

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

3.67 km

2.49 km

1.32 km

1.31 km

Surfaces

2.08 km

2.04 km

1.66 km

1.59 km

934 m

Elevation

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

Highest point (260 m)

Lowest point (180 m)

Weather

Wednesday 15 July

28°C

14°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 17.0 km/h

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Black Rock Limestone Outcrop – Velvet Bottom Nature Reserve loop from Middledown Nature Reserve

Wild Goats Near Shipham, Mendip Hills

Black Rock Steep Rocky Path

Black Rock Limestone Outcrop

Velvet Bottom Nature Reserve

Mendip Hills National Landscape

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