Cheddar Gorge, Somerset

Cheddar Gorge is England’s largest gorge: nearly 400 feet (137 metres) deep and 3 miles long, cut through Carboniferous limestone by glacial meltwater at the end of the last ice age. It is also one of the most archaeologically significant sites in Britain. Gough’s Cave, at the gorge’s western end, is where Cheddar Man was found in 1903 – a 9,000-year-old Mesolithic human skeleton, the oldest complete skeleton ever discovered in Britain. DNA analysis in 2018 revealed he had dark skin and blue eyes, which generated more public attention than any archaeological discovery in the UK in years.

Cheddar cheese, the style not the trademark, originates here: the caves provided the constant temperature and humidity required for the original maturing process, a practice dating to at least the 12th century.

Visiting

The main visitor complex at cheddargorge.co.uk is open daily 10am to 5pm (6pm on summer weekends). The Day Ticket covers six attractions: Gough’s Cave, Cox’s Cave (with stalactite and stalagmite formations and an audio-visual presentation on cave formation), Jacob’s Ladder (a 274-step clifftop climb), the Cliff-Top Walk (a 3-mile circular route along the gorge rim), the Museum of Prehistory, and a cinematic experience called Beyond the View. Book in advance online; summer periods can be busy.

The gorge road itself, the main B3135 running through the bottom of the gorge, is free to drive or walk. The cliffs are most impressive from below, and the upper section toward Gorge Cheddar village reveals the full scale. Even without buying the cave ticket, walking through the gorge bottom is worth doing.

Rock Climbing

The limestone cliffs have established climbing routes across a range of grades. The gorge is one of the notable sport climbing venues in the southwest of England; local guidebooks and gear shops in Cheddar village have current route information.

Where to Eat

Cheddar village at the gorge’s foot has several cafes and restaurants. The Cheese Company and local delicatessens sell the actual cave-aged Cheddar produced in the traditional way – worth buying rather than supermarket versions. A proper portion of real aged Cheddar from the place it was invented is the right souvenir.

Getting There

Cheddar is about 20 minutes south of Bristol by car. The nearest train station is Bristol Temple Meads (then bus); there is no direct rail connection. A car is the most practical approach. Parking is available at the complex. The gorge can also be combined with Wookey Hole (another cave system, 6 miles northeast) and the Somerset Levels for a full day in the area.