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Cheddar Reservoir SSSI

116 ha

📷 Deanna Earley · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

BirdsWildlifeDogs
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome116 ha

Getting here

51.28011, -2.80248

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🐦90+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Pied Wagtail and Coot
  • 🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
  • 📍Open access throughout summer — no booking required

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome

Best for

6 activities

Bird watching

Birds — Pied Wagtail, Coot, Black-headed Gull +87 more · last seen 2026; Reservoir — wildfowl and wading birds

Free

Wildlife

Birds — Pied Wagtail, Coot, Black-headed Gull +87 more · last seen 2026; Reservoir — wildfowl and wading birds

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed with public access

Free

Waterside walks

Reservoir — waterside public access

Varies

Insect spotting

Insects — Migrant Hawker, Common Darter, Carabus granulatus +1 more · last seen 2025

Free

Picnic day out

Reservoir — waterside day out

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

5 signed routes nearby · 24 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Samaritans Way South WestWalking route166 km
Named routeLength 166 kmRegional walking route
West Mendip WayWalking route48 km
Named routeRef WMWLength 48 kmRegional walking route
The Butcombe TrailWalking route74 km
Named routeRef BUTLength 74 kmRegional walking route
The Mendip TrailWalking route
Named routeRef MTRegional walking route
Limestone LinkWalking route58 km
Named routeRef LLLength 58 kmRegional walking route
Portmeade Drovepublic footpath · 1.2 km
Public pathpublic footpathLength 1.2 kmSurface grassPath type: track
Holwell Lanepublic footpath · 15 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 15 mPath type: footway
Stubbingham Drovepublic footpath · 940 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 940 mSurface grassPath type: track
🚴

Cycling

29 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
National Cycle Network Route 26 (Proposed)Cycling route
Named routeRef 26National Cycle Network
Strawberry LineCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Route 26Cycling route
Named routeRef 26National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route113 m
Named routeRef 26Length 113 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route686 m
Named routeRef 26Length 686 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route81 m
Named routeRef 26Length 81 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
🐴

Horse riding

2 public paths nearby

Public paths
Stubbingham Drovebyway open to all traffic · 147 m
Public pathbyway open to all trafficLength 147 mSurface grassPath type: track
Middle Moor Lanebyway open to all traffic · 1.1 km
Public pathbyway open to all trafficLength 1.1 kmPath type: service

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Cheddar Reservoir from the top of Chelms Combe quarry

📷 Deanna Earley · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Cheddar Reservoir from the top of Chelms Combe quarry

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Weather for this location

Next 14 days

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱All Weather PitchUrban park1.8 km→🌱Hannah More ParkUrban park1.7 km→✦Roman settlement site, Anglo-Saxon and Norman royal palace, and St Columbanus' ChapelHistoric site1.8 km→💧Cheddar Reservoir SSSIReservoir0 m→⛪St John's ChurchReligious grounds1.3 km→⛪St Andrew's ChurchReligious grounds2 km→