Rising high above the Somerset countryside just south of Bristol, this gorgeous limestone ridge dates back thousands of years. Punctuated by dry valleys, gorges and rocky outcrops with panoramic views across the nearby Chew Valley, the Mendip Hills are a special sight. They are also home to the incredible Cheddar Gorge which, at 450 feet (137m) high, is Britain’s biggest gorge and is where the country’s oldest human skeleton (around 10,000 years old) was found.

Now discover the UK’s most stunning natural wonders

England’s most beautiful places, ranked