Heath House

Heath House is a tiny hamlet on the western fringe of Wedmore parish in Somerset, tucked between the villages of Blackford and Wedmore itself on the flat expanse of the Somerset Levels. There is little more here than a scatter of farms and cottages, including the Grade II listed building that gives the hamlet its name, believed to date from the seventeenth century, but the setting is what draws people: wide Levels skies to the west and the long ridge of the Mendip Hills rising to the north and east.

This is a place to pass through rather than to stay for its own sake, and it makes an honest, low-key base for exploring the surrounding countryside. Wedmore, with its shops, pubs and church, is barely a couple of miles away, while the cathedral city of Wells and the legendary town of Glastonbury are both within easy reach for a day out, leaving Heath House itself as a peaceful spot to return to at the end of it.

Top things to do near Heath House

Heath House itself has no attractions to speak of, but it sits within easy striking distance of some of Somerset's best-known sights.

• Wells Cathedral — England's first entirely Gothic cathedral, around nine miles east, with its famous scissor arches and medieval clock.
• Glastonbury Tor — the iconic hilltop tower visible for miles across the Levels, steeped in myth and legend, a short drive south.
• Mendip Hills AONB — the limestone ridge to the north offers walking, cycling and views back across the Levels, with Cheddar Gorge at its western end.
• Wedmore village — the nearest proper village, with a parish church, shops and pubs, just over a mile away.
• Somerset Levels wetlands — the flat, watery landscape around Westhay and Shapwick Heath is excellent for birdwatching, particularly winter starling murmurations.

Getting to Heath House

Heath House lies just off the B3151, between Wedmore and Blackford, around nine miles west of Wells and roughly 22 miles south of Bristol. The nearest mainline railway station is Highbridge & Burnham-on-Sea, with connections onward to Bristol and beyond; Bristol Airport is around 40 minutes' drive. The M5 motorway (Junction 22 or 23) is the most convenient route in by car, from which the hamlet is reached via a network of quiet Levels lanes.

Best time to visit Heath House

Late spring through early autumn brings the best weather for walking the Mendip ridge and exploring the surrounding villages, with long evenings over the flat Levels landscape. Winter has its own appeal for birdwatchers, when starling murmurations over the nearby reedbeds draw visitors from across the country, though the low-lying Levels can be prone to flooding after heavy rain, so it is worth checking local conditions before travelling in the wetter months.

Where to stay near Heath House

Heath House itself has no visitor accommodation, so most visitors base themselves in nearby Wedmore, Wells or Cheddar, all of which offer a range of cottages, bed and breakfasts and small hotels within a short drive.

Food and drink near Heath House

There are no pubs, cafes or shops in Heath House itself. For food and drink, the nearest options are in Wedmore village, just over a mile away, which has a small selection of pubs and a village shop, with a wider choice of restaurants and cafes in Wells and Cheddar.