Priddy Mineries

You won't find Priddy Mineries on many tourist maps, which is precisely why it's worth the drive from Wells. This is a series of flooded quarries on the Mendip plateau - former lead and calamine mines that have gradually filled with water over centuries, creating an unexpected landscape of deep blue pools surrounded by worked limestone. It's oddly beautiful in a no-nonsense sort of way. The lakes themselves are fairly static, so don't expect dramatic reflections or wild nature reserves. What you get instead is a quiet, slightly eerie sense of industrial history written into the land. Walking around the rim, you notice the scarred earth, the steep banks, the way vegetation has gradually colonised what was once raw extraction. Perfect for a circuit walk from the nearby village, though the terrain can be boggy depending on rainfall. History types will find the whole thing absorbing - this was serious medieval mining operation that shaped the Mendips economy for centuries. It's free to access and you can park near the village, making it an easy add-on to a day exploring Wells Cathedral or Cheddar Gorge. Allow an hour for a decent walk around the main pools. The Mendips are genuinely striking at this altitude, and the mineries fit into that landscape rather than dominating it. If you're based at Wells Touring Park or Cheddar Camping and Caravanning Club Site nearby, this is a solid morning activity - though it won't hold young children for long without the addition of a proper nature trail or visitor centre.