809kbBreadcrumbs
141. Mendip Hills
• A chain of prominent limestone hills extending inland from the coast and rising up sharply from surrounding lowlands.
• An open, largely treeless, limestone plateau with karst features, cave systems, dry stone walls and sparse settlement.
• Dramatic gorges, cliffs and escarpment slopes around the plateau.
• A sharp contrast between the open plateau and steep escarpment slopes of the karst landscape and the more complex, gentler landforms in the east.
• Many industrial archaeological sites reflecting the lead, coal and cloth industries.
• Perpendicular church towers.
• Country houses in the east with wooded parks.
• Buildings in local stone with pantile roofs: stones include grey limestone, reddish dolomitic limestone and grey or honey-coloured oolitic limestone.
• Outstanding prehistoric ritual landscapes.
For further details on this character area and for an introduction to the region, please see the PDF documents in the box at the top right hand side of this page.
