North Hill

North Hill is not a hotel hub in itself, but its position on the Mendip Hills just outside Wells makes it a useful base for those who prefer a quieter stay within reach of England's smallest city. Wells itself has a small range of characterful options, from traditional coaching inns near the cathedral to independent bed and breakfasts on its quieter streets, while the villages scattered across the Mendip plateau, including Priddy and those around Cheddar, add country pubs with rooms and small guesthouses to the mix.

Because this stretch of the Mendips is rural, accommodation tends to be small-scale rather than big chain hotels, and booking ahead is worth doing in summer when Cheddar Gorge and Wookey Hole draw day-trippers into the area. Staying up on the hill rather than down in the Levels also means cooler nights and better stargazing, since the Mendip Hills AONB has some of the darkest skies in the South West. For those wanting cathedral views on their doorstep, Wells is the obvious choice; for a more remote feel, the villages further along the ridge towards Priddy offer a genuine sense of Mendip countryside.

The surrounding Mendip Hills pack in a surprising amount for such a compact area, from show caves to one of the best gorges in the country.

• Wells Cathedral — the centrepiece of England's smallest city, with its famous scissor arches and medieval West Front, is a short drive from North Hill.
• Cheddar Gorge — Britain's largest gorge, with limestone cliffs up to 137 metres high, show caves including Gough's Cave, and a clifftop walking trail with sweeping views over the Levels.
• Wookey Hole Caves — a show cave system carved by the River Axe on the edge of the Mendips, with chambers open to visitors year-round.
• Ebbor Gorge National Nature Reserve — a steep, wooded limestone gorge managed by Natural England, with waymarked trails and viewpoints over the Somerset Levels.
• Priddy — the highest village on the Mendips, known for its ancient Priddy Circles earthworks, its village green pound, and as a gateway to Mendip caving country.
• Glastonbury Tor — the striking tower-topped hill visible from high points across the Mendips, a National Trust site and one of Somerset's most recognisable landmarks.

Wells has a good spread of independent cafes, pubs and restaurants around its market place and cathedral green, while Mendip villages such as Priddy and Cheddar have traditional pubs serving local ales and hearty food after a day on the hills. Options directly on North Hill itself are limited, so most visitors head into Wells or the nearby villages for meals.

Wild camping is not legally permitted in England without the landowner's permission, and the same applies across the Mendip Hills around North Hill, so a proper campsite or a farmer's explicit agreement is the way to camp here responsibly. That said, this part of Somerset has a good number of small, independent campsites spread across the plateau towards Priddy, Cheddar and the villages around Wells, many of them working farms that have diversified into camping and glamping alongside their fields.

The terrain on North Hill and the wider Mendips is typically firm, well-drained limestone grassland and pasture, crossed by dry stone walls and the occasional old quarry working, which makes it good walking country but also means pitches can be exposed to wind on higher ground. Bringing sturdy tent pegs and windbreaks is sensible if camping up on the ridge rather than down in a sheltered valley. Water can also be scarce on the porous limestone away from villages, so it is worth checking what a site provides before relying on natural sources.

Late spring through early autumn is the most reliable camping season, when the ground is driest and evenings are light enough for walks along the ridge towards Ebbor Gorge or Priddy. Midsummer brings the best weather but also the busiest show caves and gorge car parks nearby, so early starts help. For those who want fewer guy ropes and more comfort, glamping options including bell tents, shepherd's huts and pods have grown steadily across the Mendips in recent years, offering a way to enjoy the hills' dark skies and quiet lanes without pitching a tent from scratch.