Recreation, Access & Tourism

Discover how the dramatic landscape of Burrington and Black Down has inspired artists, poets and writers.

Discover how over thousands of years streams flowing over the impermeable sandstone rocks of Black Down onto the permeable limestone rocks of Burrington Combe have worn away cracks in the rocks to produce a series of sink holes known as swallets as well as creating caves. Many of these caves were homes to nomadic humans as well as animals over 10,000 years ago. Caves that are sited on the Ham include Foxes Hole, Lionel’s Hole, Milliar’s Cave, and Plumley’s Hole.

A walk exploring Burrington Ham, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) which features specialised limestone grassland and wild flowers, together with dramatic rocky outcrops, the impressive earthworks of Burrington Camp, and evidence of lead and calamine (zinc) extraction.

A walk explorting how in World War II (1939-45), Black Down became a key site in the defence of Bristol.

Discover how,using lights and fires, Black Down was made to resemble a poorly blacked-out Bristol at night to divert bombs away from the city.

Discover how In World War II (1939-45), Black Down became a key site in the defence of Bristol.
The decoy town at Black Down was one of the first, may have been the largest, of a network of sites across the country designed to divert bombing away from major cities.

Visitor guide and map to many churches of interest in the area.

Burrington Camp is a multiphase hill-slope enclosure of late prehistoric date.

Discover how the earliest scientifically dated cemetery in Britain, 10,200 and 10,400 years old, was found at Aveline's Hole

Two trails exploring the many habitats available around the margins of Chew Valley Lake giving visitors an opportunity to see and enjoy the many wild flowers, insects, animals and the beautiful views.