Nearest train station: Frome
Mells is a gorgeous little village just outide of Frome, nearby the Mendip Hills in eastern Somerset.
The area is surrounded by lush fields and stunning rolling countryside and is an area we love to frequent if we’re visiting friends in nearby Bristol.
The Mells River, which flows through the Mendip Hills before joining the River Frome (at, surprise surprise, Frome) offers a nice opportunity for a relaxing swim with easy entry via a river bank and grassy area in the heart of the village of Mells.
There are plenty of potential entry points into the water (including via a river walk) but there is a convenient area to enter by the main crossroads of the village by the Mells Village Shop. Take care however, as the current can be pretty quick at times.
How to Get to the Mells River
We’ve provided detailed instructions on how to get to this beautiful Somerset wild swimming spot by various means of transport below, as well as general travel information nearby.
By car
Enter the postcode BA11 3PF into your sat nav, which will take you the Mells Village Shop. There should be street parking available in the the village, though if not, there is a car park by the recreation ground just off Selwood Street.
The river is the main feature running through the village and shouldn’t be hard to miss. The grassy area we described earlier lies off Top Lane.
By public transport
The nearest train station is Frome. From here, the 184 bus (which runs through the town) can be got on at the Market Place stop and stops right outside the village shop, taking around 15 minutes.
By bike
This area of Somerset has plenty of idyllic villages to pass through by bike, so if you’re planning on mixing up your swimming at Mells with a trip to the nearby Mendip Hills or eastward towards Frome, you’re spoilt for choice.
There is actually a cycle route which forms part of the National Cycle Route 24 known as Colliers Way which takes you through the villages in the area between Bath and Frome.
What else is nearby Mells?
Explore the surrounding villages of Vobster, Radstock, enjoy a lavish stay in the nearby Babington House, or check out the bustling market town of Frome, which has its own wild swimming spot nearby in Farleigh Hungerford.