Loxton lies on the western slope of the Lox-Yeo Valley between Crook Peak and Loxton Hill. Its landscape, archaeology and nature offer different starting points for exploration. There is an important restriction to bear in mind at Loxton Cave: access is not generally open to the public.
Location and landscape
The landscape of the parish of Loxton includes narrow, winding lanes, patches of woodland, numerous stone walls, carefully trimmed hedgerows and fields where cattle and sheep graze. The landscape is shaped not only by its pastures but also by its lanes, woodland and hedgerows. The surrounding area is also home to a wide variety of wildlife and wildflowers, set against the backdrop of the Mendip slopes.
This landscape combines farmland with natural habitats. Those interested in nature around Loxton can look out for both the variety of wildlife and wildflowers and the open slopes that form the backdrop to the area.
Archaeological traces
The largest of a group of three closely spaced round barrows is located at Shiplate Slait. The barrow sits on a Carboniferous limestone plateau overlooking the Somerset Levels. Here, the form of an archaeological monument meets a far-reaching view: the barrow is part of a small group, yet it is the largest of them.
The medieval deserted settlement of Christon offers a different perspective on the past. Its lynchets and associated field system are among the best-preserved examples in the area. This brings not only individual monuments into focus, but also the surviving patterns of field division. For those exploring with an interest in history, this distinction is illuminating: a round barrow can be viewed as an individual monument, while the lynchets and field system form a larger structure.
Nature and the hills’ former use
The western slopes and Una Combe of Loxton Hill are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for their unimproved limestone grassland. The designation applies to these named areas. If you are planning a visit, check the latest access guidance with the relevant authority before making plans based on it.
Old mine workings on the hills are evidence of past mining in the Loxton area. Calamine, lead and copper were probably sought or mined there, followed later by yellow ochre. The mineral history is a tentative attribution; the surviving workings themselves are a reminder of the hills’ former use. Together with the limestone grassland and its wildlife and plants, they illustrate different aspects of this landscape.
Plan a visit to Loxton Cave
The entrances to Loxton Cave are gated. Subject to certain conditions, access is available to member clubs of the CSCS that have the appropriate key. It cannot therefore be planned as a cave visit open to the general public. Visitors to the cave can park in the old quarry at the top of Hillview Road.
The access information was last updated on 23 April 2025; arrangements may change. So check the latest access and parking guidance before making plans. This allows you to distinguish the cave as a visitor destination from the landscape and history topics for which no such access condition is specified.
Discover more destinations: Winscombe, Portbury, Nailsea, Yatton, Dundry, Burrington, Congresbury, Wrington.
For the broader travel overview: North Somerset.
