Hike & Draw Creative Workshop in the Mendips

What is Hike + Draw? Hike & Draw is a chance to come together with a group who value creativity and the magic found in nature’s nooks and crannies. We follow a gentle circular route, pausing often for sketch-booking and moments of observation along the way.

There’s time to get curious about flora, fungi, geology, and the stories held in the land, with no pressure to “make good art” -  just to notice, explore, and respond. Events are seasonally focused, helping us root into the time of year and notice what’s shifting and emerging around us. Hike & Draw is about slowing down, unwinding, and regulating nervous systems through movement, connection, and creativity. Think of it as self-care, with fresh air, a pencil in hand, and some good chatter.

Event Snapshot * Starting point - The Swan Inn * Distance (10.4km and 6.5 miles) * Total time including stops - 5 hours * Hike Difficulty level - Intermediate * Terrain description - Gravel paths, muddy trails, steep steps, woodland paths. * Ascent / elevation gain -1067 ft

Route & Seasonal Focus Rowberrow → Dolebury Warren → Beacon Batch A slow, creative walk welcoming the shift from winter into spring.

Join us for a scenic Mendip Hills hike taking in Rowberrow Warren, Dolebury Warren and the summit of Beacon Batch. We’ll begin at the Swan Inn Car Park in Roberrow, easing into the walk as we head towards the rolling hills of Black Down. The route trails through peaceful mixed woodland, open heathland and rolling limestone paths, gradually climbing towards Beacon Batch, the highest point in the Mendips at 1066ft. In spring the landscape becomes vibrant with wildflowers and fresh greenery, with expansive views stretching across the Somerset Levels, Blagdon Lake and, on clear days, the Bristol Channel to Wales. This hike offers a rewarding mix of nature, history and big-sky views, passing Bronze Age burial mounds, vibrant gorse with the added chance to spot species like Roe deer and Peregrine Falcons. Expect a moderate challenge with steep sections that can be muddy and slippery underfoot.

Travel, Parking + Facilities * By car: There are plenty of parking spaces at The Swan Inn * Lift-share: Join up with your friends * Facilities: One pub at the start of the walk. Be prepared for a ‘wild wee’ if needed - just let someone in the group know and find a private spot.