Bradley Cross

Bradley Cross is a small hamlet on the edge of the Mendip Hills, tucked into the parish of Cheddar in Somerset. It sits above the town proper, on the steep, undulating ground where the limestone plateau begins to fall away towards the Somerset Levels, and its handful of stone farmhouses and cottages look out over views that stretch across Cheddar and the flat expanse of the Levels beyond.

The hamlet itself is little more than a scattering of working farms and lanes, but its setting is the real draw. It sits on Carboniferous limestone, the same rock that has been carved into Cheddar Gorge's cliffs and its famous show caves just down the hill, and the thin, alkaline soils around Bradley Cross support wild thyme, rare orchids and other chalk-loving plants that thrive on the exposed plateau above.

Top things to do near Bradley Cross

Bradley Cross makes a quiet base for exploring some of Somerset's best-known natural attractions, all within a few minutes' drive.

• Cheddar Gorge and Caves — England's largest gorge, with dramatic limestone cliffs, show caves including Gough's Cave and Cox's Cave, and a clifftop gorge walk with sweeping views over the Levels.
• Mendip Hills AONB — the hamlet sits right on the edge of this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with walking and cycling routes across open limestone grassland, dry valleys and ancient field systems.
• Cheddar Reservoir — a circular walking and cycling path around the reservoir at the foot of the hills, popular for birdwatching and gentle exercise.
• Wookey Hole Caves — a further show cave system a short drive away near Wells, with a paper mill and family attractions alongside the caves themselves.
• Wells — England's smallest city, with its medieval cathedral and moated Bishop's Palace, around nine miles from Bradley Cross.

Getting to Bradley Cross

Bradley Cross lies just off the lanes above Cheddar, reached via the A371 which links Cheddar to Axbridge and Wells. Bristol is around 18 miles to the north-west, roughly 30-40 minutes by car via the A38 and A371. The nearest mainline railway stations are at Weston-super-Mare and Yatton, both with connections to Bristol, from where a car or taxi is needed to reach the hamlet itself, as there is no direct rail or regular bus service to Bradley Cross.

Best time to visit Bradley Cross

Spring and summer bring the Mendip grassland to life, with wildflowers and orchids appearing on the thin limestone soils around the hamlet, and long days are best for exploring Cheddar Gorge on foot. Autumn colours the wooded combes below the plateau, while winter can be atmospheric but the exposed hilltop lanes are more exposed to wind and rain, so a car with good tyres is worthwhile if visiting out of season.

Where to stay near Bradley Cross

Accommodation directly in the hamlet is limited to a handful of farm cottages, with Bradley Cross Farm offering a self-contained stone cottage on a working farm. Most visitors base themselves in nearby Cheddar, which has a wider choice of guest houses, hotels and self-catering cottages, or in Axbridge, Wells or the surrounding Mendip villages, all within easy reach by car.

Food and drink near Bradley Cross

Bradley Cross has no pub or shop of its own, but Cheddar itself, a short drive down the hill, has a reasonable spread of options including The Galleries Inn, the White Hart, and a couple of Indian and Thai restaurants such as Orchid Tandoori and The Thai Orchid. For something more rural, Mendip villages nearby have their own traditional pubs worth seeking out.