Bishop Sutton: Nature and Local History

Nature, architecture and mining history offer different ways to explore Bishop Sutton. When planning your trip, you can choose to focus on paths and wildlife watching, or on historic buildings and former coal mining.

Nature: grassland, woodland and wildlife watching

Burledge Hill is a species-rich meadow on the north-eastern edge of the Mendip Hills, with views stretching across Chew Valley Lake. A public footpath runs through the nature reserve. The grassland is home to cowslips, lady’s mantle, saw-wort and devil’s-bit scabious. In summer, there are many butterflies; in the scrub, you can hear willow warblers, garden warblers and whitethroats singing.

Landscape designations are also part of the picture: three fields at Burledge Hill are designated as Sites of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCIs), and Burledge Hill lies within the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Folly Farm offers a different natural setting. There are various walking routes through grassland and woodland, and public footpaths provide access throughout the nature reserve. In the woodland, an extensive badger sett can be seen from a path accessible to everyone. Folly Farm’s wildflower meadows are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Nearby Chew Valley Lake is used for fishing. So, alongside meadows and woodland, a lake-based activity is another distinct option for your trip.

Church architecture and historic buildings

Holy Trinity in Bishop Sutton is a Grade II listed building. A plaque from the Incorporated Church Building Society dates the church to 1848. It is built of squared, coursed Lias stone with ashlar details. The building comprises a nave, chancel, western bell tower, north aisle and south porch. Visitors are welcome to attend services.

Other buildings reveal different periods of architectural history: The Elms has an early 18th-century core. Sutton Court, by contrast, was built as a fortified manor house in the early 14th century. Its north façade features a central, three-storey 14th-century pele tower.

Coal mining and geological history

Coal mining was Bishop Sutton’s most important industry; the mines had been operating since the 18th century. The “old pit” ceased operations in the 19th century. The “new pit” that followed it closed in 1929. This sequence distinguishes two stages in the local mining history rather than treating them as one continuous period of operation.

Sutton Hill Quarry is also connected with the history of geology. John Strachey (1671–1743), who lived at nearby Sutton Court in Bishop Sutton, produced the first-ever published cross-section of sedimentary strata in 1719.

Planning your visit

Lyde Acres is a small market garden that uses no-dig methods and grows seasonal vegetables. Lyde Acres offers farm tours throughout the season; visitor activities may vary seasonally.

At Dormers, at least one route is accessible to wheelchair users. This information applies to one route and does not imply that the entire site is accessible.

For Burledge Hill, the X91 bus between Bristol and Ubley stops at the Post Office in Bishop Sutton; from there, the route to the nature reserve follows Sutton Hill Road. Bus information may change, so check the timetable before you travel.

Discover more destinations: Chew Magna, Radstock, Bathampton, Temple Cloud, Ubley, Batheaston, Wellow, Keynsham.

For the wider travel overview: Bath And North East Somerset.