Cheddar is a large village, with the largest gorge and caves in Britain. It has a population of around 5,000. The village gave its name to Cheddar cheese.
- Cheddar Gorge. The Gorge is the largest Gorge in Britain. It is made up of limestone. Around 500,000 people visit the Gorge and Caves each year. It was also named the second greatest wonder in Britain, in 2005.
There are several caves in Cheddar, but the two best known (and largest) are Gough's cave and Cox's cave. These caves are the inspirations for the caves behind Helm's Deep in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Two Towers. There are also several smaller caves that you can climb down into.
- Gough's Cave. This cave is 90 metres deep and 2.135 kilometres long. It contains the Cheddar Yeo, the largest underground river system in Britain. In 1903, Britain's oldest skeleton, dated to around 7150 BCE.
- Cox's Cave. A shimmering brilliantly coloured underground sanctuary with fantastic calcite sculptures, dancing fountains, mirror pools and music evocative of a more spiritual world. Decked out as a childs adventure cave. A striking contrast to Gough's Cave. Kids love to follow the Crystal Quest and meet the Lord of Darkness and his evil dragon.
Gough's Cave. This cave is 90 metres deep and 2.135 kilometres long. It contains the Cheddar Yeo, the largest underground river system in Britain. In 1903, Britain's oldest skeleton, dated to around 7150 BCE.
Cox's Cave. A shimmering brilliantly coloured underground sanctuary with fantastic calcite sculptures, dancing fountains, mirror pools and music evocative of a more spiritual world. Decked out as a childs adventure cave. A striking contrast to Gough's Cave. Kids love to follow the Crystal Quest and meet the Lord of Darkness and his evil dragon.
Cheddar Gorge. The Gorge is the largest Gorge in Britain. It is made up of limestone. Around 500,000 people visit the Gorge and Caves each year. It was also named the second greatest wonder in Britain, in 2005.
- Rock Climbing. There are around 350 official graded rock climbing routes on the 27 cliffs that make up the Cheddar Gorge.
- Clifftop walk. The gorge clifftop is fully accessible and makes a good 1.3 mile (2 km) walk; the views and air at the clifftop are well worth the steep gradient of the walking path that may be encountered here and there. The easiest way up is via "Jacobs Ladder" (in reality easy-to-walk steps with regular resting places) which is paid entry to walk up and free to walk down, at the top turn left and head uphill. At the far end the path eventually turns into a gentler downhill walk through bluebell woods (in the Spring anyhow!) and back to the main road. It's free to walk up from this end but hard to find the pathway! (The other, North, side of the gorge is also walkable. It comprises a more grassy embankment with more of a woods-and-fields character in comparison.)
Safety info: There are quite a few points where the cliff edge can be approached and these require care. That said, the top and its walking routes are extremely wide and feel very "safe", much like a hill walk anywhere else; there is no need to go anywhere near it at all or do anything more than enjoy a nice hill walk, unless you want to. Keep an eye out on kids and pets, though! - Museum. Museum of prehistoric humanity and cave findings. Interesting.
Rock Climbing. There are around 350 official graded rock climbing routes on the 27 cliffs that make up the Cheddar Gorge.
Clifftop walk. The gorge clifftop is fully accessible and makes a good 1.3 mile (2 km) walk; the views and air at the clifftop are well worth the steep gradient of the walking path that may be encountered here and there. The easiest way up is via "Jacobs Ladder" (in reality easy-to-walk steps with regular resting places) which is paid entry to walk up and free to walk down, at the top turn left and head uphill. At the far end the path eventually turns into a gentler downhill walk through bluebell woods (in the Spring anyhow!) and back to the main road. It's free to walk up from this end but hard to find the pathway! (The other, North, side of the gorge is also walkable. It comprises a more grassy embankment with more of a woods-and-fields character in comparison.)
Safety info: There are quite a few points where the cliff edge can be approached and these require care. That said, the top and its walking routes are extremely wide and feel very "safe", much like a hill walk anywhere else; there is no need to go anywhere near it at all or do anything more than enjoy a nice hill walk, unless you want to. Keep an eye out on kids and pets, though!
Museum. Museum of prehistoric humanity and cave findings. Interesting.
There is a variety of shops around the Gorge ranging from a teddy bear shop to Cider and ale shops. Some of the shops sell an eyecatching range of unusual meads, ciders and other drinks, as well as regional cheeses, and other specialist delicacies.
In Cheddar Village and at the bottom of the Gorge there are 6 pubs.
- The White Hart, The Bays, BS27 3QN, +44 1934 741261.
- The Riverside Inn, 7 Cliff St, BS27 3PT, +44 1934 742452.
- The Bath Arms.
- The Galleries.
- The King's Head.
- The Gardener's Arms.
The White Hart, The Bays, BS27 3QN, +44 1934 741261.
The Riverside Inn, 7 Cliff St, BS27 3PT, +44 1934 742452.
The Bath Arms.
The Galleries.
The King's Head.
The Gardener's Arms.
- Wells, nearby city with famous cathedral and more caves - including Wookey Hole which is different in character to the Cheddar caves.