Rodney Stoke

Tucked beneath the southern scarp of the Mendip Hills, Rodney Stoke is a quiet Somerset village that punches well above its size when it comes to scenery. The A371 runs straight through it, linking Wells to Cheddar, but step off that road and you are quickly among steep wooded slopes, ancient hedgerows and grazing pasture that fall away towards the flat expanse of the Somerset Levels. It is the kind of place many people drive past on their way to Cheddar Gorge without ever stopping, which is exactly why it rewards those who do.

The village itself is small: a cluster of stone cottages, a village hall, a handful of working farms and the handsome Grade I listed Church of St Leonard, whose 1624 carved screen was a gift from Sir Edward Rodney, of the family that gave the village its name. Rodney Stoke appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Stoches', and traces of much older occupation survive nearby at Westbury Camp, an Iron Age hillfort enclosure on the plateau above. Today the parish stretches from the flat levels in the south up onto the open Mendip plateau in the north, giving it an unusually varied landscape for such a small place.

Top things to do in Rodney Stoke

Rodney Stoke rewards walkers and nature lovers more than sightseers, but there is plenty within easy reach to fill a few days.

• Rodney Stoke National Nature Reserve — Designated in 1957, this 123-acre reserve of ash and lime woodland and calcareous grassland clings to the steep, south-facing scarp of the Mendips right beside the village. It is renowned for rare wildflowers including bird's nest orchid, meadow saffron and purple gromwell, alongside carpets of bluebells and wood anemones in spring. There is no dedicated car park and the lanes are narrow, so it is best explored on foot from the village.
• Draycott Sleights — Just along the scarp from Rodney Stoke, this Somerset Wildlife Trust reserve shares the same limestone grassland habitat and is one of the best places in the Mendips for butterflies and orchids through the summer months.
• Church of St Leonard — A Grade I listed church dating to around 1175, with an intricately carved 1624 rood screen and a series of striking Rodney family memorial sculptures inside. Well worth a quiet half hour.
• Westbury Camp — An Iron Age hillfort enclosure and Scheduled Ancient Monument on the Mendip plateau above the village, with far-reaching views south over the Levels.
• Cheddar Gorge and Caves — England's largest gorge is only a few miles up the road, with dramatic limestone cliffs, show caves, cheese shops and a testing clifftop walk with views across to Wales on a clear day.
• Mendip Hills AONB — Rodney Stoke sits right on the edge of this designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, offering miles of quiet lanes, bridleways and open grassland ideal for walking, cycling and horse riding.
• Somerset Levels — To the south, the flat, drained wetlands of the Levels are a birdwatcher's favourite, with reed beds, drainage rhynes and wide skies that are especially good for starling murmurations in winter.

Getting to Rodney Stoke

Rodney Stoke sits directly on the A371 between Wells and Cheddar, around 5 miles north-west of Wells and 3 miles south-east of Cheddar, making it an easy stop by car for anyone touring the Mendips. Bristol is about 20 miles to the north via the A38 and A371, roughly 40 minutes' drive, while Bath is around an hour away. The nearest mainline railway stations are at Yatton and Weston-super-Mare, both roughly 40 minutes away by car, with bus connections along the A371 corridor linking Wells, Cheddar and the surrounding villages. Bristol Airport is the closest airport, about 30 minutes' drive to the north.

Best time to visit Rodney Stoke

Spring is a highlight, when the nature reserve's woodland floor fills with bluebells and wood anemones and the rare orchids begin to appear. Summer brings long days for walking the Mendip plateau and exploring Cheddar Gorge, along with the best weather for the Levels' waterways. Autumn paints the reserve's ancient woodland in colour and thins out the crowds at nearby Cheddar, while winter is the season for dramatic Somerset Levels skies and starling murmurations, best enjoyed wrapped up warm with a pub fire to return to afterwards.

Where to stay in Rodney Stoke

Accommodation in the village itself is limited to a scattering of farmhouse bed and breakfasts and self-catering cottages, which suits Rodney Stoke's quiet, rural character. Camping and glamping options are available on farms in the surrounding parish and towards Cheddar and Wells, making the most of the Mendip scenery. For a wider choice of hotels, guesthouses and larger self-catering properties, nearby Wells and Cheddar are both only a few minutes' drive away and offer considerably more options.

Food and drink in Rodney Stoke

The Rodney Stoke Inn is the village's traditional pub, serving as the natural hub for locals and visiting walkers alike. A little further along the A371, the villages and towns around Cheddar and Wells add plenty of choice, from farm shops and cider makers taking advantage of the orchards on the Levels, to cheese producers trading on Cheddar's dairying heritage. Wells itself, a short drive away, has a good spread of cafes, pubs and restaurants around its cathedral and market place for those wanting more variety after a day on the hills.