Ebbor Gorge Nature Reserve

Ebbor Gorge in the Mendips is a beautiful and magical dog walk, with lush woodland, hidden caves and glorious views of Glastonbury Tor and the Somerset Levels.

The 63.5-hectare (157-acre) site was donated to the National Trust and is now managed by Natural England. It’s a brilliant place for scrambling up rocks and exploring nooks and crannies. It may not be suitable for everyone because of the climb, but if you and your pup are up for an adventure, this is worth the drive out of Bristol.

From the free car park, an information board provides good guidance on what to look for and 3 varied nature trails are well marked, one suitable for wheelchairs and buggies. There were signs to have dogs on lead, but everyone we bumped into had their dogs off lead. The only time we put Bella on the lead was when we were getting close to the top of the gorge where there are sheer drops.

We decided to try the ‘The Gorge Scramble’, which is 2km (approximately an hour). Along this route, there are some great wicker sculptures of Ice Age animals in the woods. Later on, when you enter the ravine, the path starts getting steep, soon becoming full with boulders and rocks, so you will have to scramble up (it’s great fun though!) so make sure you have a good pair of shoes/grippy trainers on. The ravine feels prehistoric, with lush green plants and ferns poking out of every crevice, it seems to give off a magical, ancient feeling. Perfect for kids with a great imagination! Ebbor Gorge is classed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, so it’s no wonder really!

Once at the top (make sure your dog is on their lead), there are spectacular views across the Mendips. It’s a great spot to sit and have a picnic after all that walking.

You could easily spend more time here wildlife spotting, exploring the woodland and playing in streams.

 

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