Cheddar can be explored through several distinct interests: the dramatic limestone landscape of Cheddar Gorge, caves and prehistory, outdoor activities, and cheese-making traditions and village life. If you are planning a stay, these differences can help you decide which side of the area you want to focus on.
Cheddar Gorge and the Landscape
Cheddar Gorge is a dramatic limestone landscape formed by natural processes over millions of years. It is almost 400 feet deep and 3 miles long, and is part of the Mendip Hills National Landscape. Together, these details describe the gorge’s long geological formation and its scale. Its inclusion in the National Landscape also places it within a broader landscape context.
Caves and Prehistory
Gough's Cave is over 500,000 years old and the largest of the operator’s show caves. Cheddar Man is the oldest complete human skeleton ever found in Britain. The Museum of Prehistory tells the story of human survival during the last Ice Age over a period of more than 40,000 years. Flint tools and objects from the everyday lives of early people are on display there. This offers several different ways to explore prehistory: an exceptionally ancient cave, a significant archaeological find, and tangible objects from daily life.
Cox's Cave offers an immersive multimedia experience about the formation and development of the caves. This gives the cave a different focus from the finds and everyday objects in the Museum of Prehistory: here, the emphasis is on cave formation. Presentation details may change; check the latest information before your visit.
Outdoor Activities
On an Adventure Caving trip, participants explore underground cave spaces in Cheddar. Booking arrangements may change, so check them before planning your visit. Rock Climbing in Cheddar Gorge offers routes ranging from very easy to quite difficult; there is also a 50-foot-high outdoor climbing wall. Route availability and operating conditions may change, so check the latest information before your visit. Visitors can also climb the 274 steps of Jacob's Ladder.
Compare Routes
The Cheddar Gorge Trail is a moderate, 4-mile (6 km) route along paths; path conditions may vary. The Strawberry Line is part of the National Cycle Network (Route 26), is 8 miles (12.8 km) long, and connects Cheddar with Kings Wood; it continues on to Wavering Down and Crook Peak. This makes the Strawberry Line twice as long as the Cheddar Gorge Trail and specifically designated as a cycle route, while the trail is described as moderate in difficulty. Conditions on the Strawberry Line may also vary. The length, classification and conditions give you concrete points of comparison when choosing between the two routes.
Cheese-Making Traditions and Visitor Information
Cheddar cheese has been made in Cheddar since the 12th century. A weekly Country Market takes place in the village hall every Tuesday from 10 to 11:30 a.m., with local produce, craft stalls and refreshments. Check the market dates before your trip if you would like to plan your visit around it.
The nearby Cheddar Visitor Information Centre has maps, walking guides and information about activities in the surrounding area. Services may change, so check the latest information if you are planning to make use of the centre.
Discover more destinations: Chiselborough, Hatch Beauchamp, Tolland, Holcombe, Ilchester, Martock, Exford, Ashcott.
For the wider travel overview: Somerset.
