Mendip Activity Centre – Somerset

Located in the heart of the Mendip Hills National Landscape (near Churchill, Somerset), the Mendip Activity Centre is the largest outdoor activity provider in the South West, spanning 250 acres of ancient woodland and limestone quarries.

What You Can Do
The centre offers over 30 adventurous activities for all skill levels:
Snowsports: Home to a 165-metre floodlit dry ski slope and dedicated tobogganing runs.
Land Adventures: Rock climbing and abseiling in Sandford Quarry, plus caving, archery, air rifle shooting, axe throwing, and one of the UK’s largest disc golf courses.
Water Sports: Kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding at their private watersports site in Hewish.
Relaxation: The Alpine Lounge café overlooks the ski slope, serving pizzas, paninis, and coffee.

How Long to Spend
Most visitors spend half a day to a full day at the centre.
Individual Sessions: Most instructor-led activities (like caving, assault courses, or canoeing) last approximately 2 hours.
Short Experiences: Beginner “Try” sessions for skiing or snowboarding typically last between 45 and 90 minutes.
Extended Stays: Families often stay overnight at the Mendip Basecamp campsite during the summer.

Who Should Go & When
Who: It is designed for everyone, including families (children aged 4+ for tobogganing, 6+ or 8+ for most other activities), school groups, and corporate teams.
When: The centre is open year-round, 7 days a week.
Summer: Best for camping at Basecamp and watersports.
Winter: Popular for “Twilight Tobogganing” and snowsports lessons.

What Makes It Unique
Unlike many multi-activity centres, Mendip uses real geographical features for its adventures, such as climbing on actual limestone rock faces in a historic quarry and caving in natural Somerset caverns. It also hosts unique seasonal events like Disco Tobogganing and Mendip Mini Fests (music festivals for campers).

Membership, Offers & Booking Tips
Booking Tip: Advance booking is highly recommended, especially for weekends and school holidays, as sessions have limited capacity.
Snowsports Passes: Frequent visitors can purchase Annual Passes or Slope Passes for recreational skiing and snowboarding.
Group Discounts: Specialized packages are available for birthday parties, stag/hen dos, and schools.
Seasonal Specialities: Look for “Early Bird” or themed session bookings (e.g., Easter Egg Hunts or Halloween “Zombie” target sports) for unique value.