Crook Peak

A walk on the westernmost and most mountainous of the six main peaks in the Mendip Hills, a summit topped by limestone exposures, overlooking the Somerset Levels and the Bristol Channel coastline.

How to get there

Along Webbington Road, near Compton Bishop.

Walk

1 The path heads northwest from the car park, passing a thin belt of trees and up to a junction on the crest of a ridge. From here the summit is a little over half a mile away, climbing with a steady though not too steep gradient.

2 From the peak, the onwards path slopes down a little to a five-way junction; three of the routes descend, and the other continues over the high ground, alongside a recently-restored section of dry stone wall, up to the minor, grassy highpoint of Compton Hill.

3 Follow the path around the head of a valley to Barton Hill, then up a little more to the summit of Wavering Down, the far side of which has views of Cheddar Reservoir and the hills around Cheddar Gorge.

4 Follow the route and descend the steeper slopes to the south, meeting another path that angles to the southwest, aiming for a patch of woodland. On the far side of the trees, the path crosses two fields and meets a country lane at the edge of Compton Bishop, from where the parking area is a short walk away. Take a look on either side of the path at two short caves - Sandy Cave on the east side, a relatively small opening near the top of the ridge, and Denny's Hole to the west, which a larger, deeper cavern with a slippery mud slope at its entrance.

Grid Reference: ST 392 550