Cheddar Gorge is Britain’s biggest gorge. It is a limestone gorge in the Mendip Hills, immediately northeast of the village of Cheddar, which is home to England’s largest inland limestone cliffs. While it is certainly no Grand Canyon, it is a very picturesque spot that includes some lovely walks.
The caves are also impressive and contain stalactites and stalagmites. They may be fairly touristy but the manner in which the caves are presented is not as tacky as Wookey Hole caves near Wells.
People have lived in these caves for thousands of years and the world-famous Cheddar Man – Britain’s oldest complete skeleton – was discovered in Gough’s Cave. The site features a museum and visitor centre with displays relating to the 9,000-year-old skeleton.
The northern portion of the gorge is owned and managed by the National Trust whilst the southern side is owned by the Marquess of Bath, who also owns Longleat Estate (which includes Longleat House and Longleat Safari Park) in nearby Wiltshire. Anyone who is familiar with both Longleat and National Trust properties will not be surprised to find that most of the commercial tourist attractions are clustered around the southern side of the gorge.
What to see at Cheddar Gorge and Caves
Cheddar Gorge and Caves comprise a number of related natural attractions and there are also a number of visitor activities that operate in the immediate vicinity. While you can enjoy many of the natural attractions without paying an entrance fee, you will need to pay to visit the caves and museum.
There are several water features in the vicinity of the gorge, which include Cheddar Reservoir and Cheddar Yeo, a relatively small river that forms part of Britain’s largest underground river system.
Cheddar Gorge
Cheddar Gorge is a stunning limestone gorge with 137m- (450 ft)-high cliffs. It is a beautiful natural attraction and the footpaths around the area allow visitors to escape the crowded tourist attractions in the valley and fully appreciate the area’s natural beauty.
The Cliff Top Gorge Walk encircles Cheddar Gorge and it offers lovely views of the gorge and the surrounding countryside including a panoramic view of Cheddar village. This is the perfect way to properly appreciate the natural beauty of the gorge, which isn’t always so evident when surrounded by tourist shops and other visitors in the valley below. Allow around 2½ hours to complete the 5.6km- (3½ mile)-circular walk.
If you don’t have time to complete the full Cliff Top Gorge Walk, then Jacob’s Ladder is a good alternative. This scenic viewpoint is accessible via a footpath and a 274-step stairway. There is an admission charge but there is a combo ticket to the caves that also includes admission to Jacob’s Ladder.
There are also organised rock climbing activities where an instructor can teach you the basics of rock climbing on a 15.2m (50 ft)-high outdoor climbing wall. Climbing activities at Cheddar Gorge last around 90 minutes.
Cheddar Caves
The show caves comprise the most popular attractions for which an admission fee is charged and these include Gough’s Cave and Cox’s Cave, both named after Richard Cox Gough who opened the caves to the public in the late 19th century.
The caves flood several times a year and in these instances, the full tour may not be available. Flooding usually lasts for around 48 hours so you can return a couple of days later if you’re spending a while in the area.
Gough’s Cave is the main show cave at Cheddar Gorge. The cave is 115m (377ft) deep and 3.4km (2 miles) long and it contains Britain’s largest underground river system as well as impressive stalactites and stalagmites.
More adventurous visitors can go on one of the adventure caving trips (not included in the basic admission fee), which involves climbing into the Mushroom Chamber, crawling through the Sand Chamber and descending 12m (40 ft) into the heart of the cave system. The adventure caving experience lasts around 90 minutes and there is a shorter Junior Caving experience tailored for younger children.
Cox’s Cave is smaller, although some people prefer it as it is a less crowded visitor experience. This cave features a new immersive multimedia experience and there are also displays showing how George Cox discovered the cave in 1837.
Although these caves are touristy, the visitor experience is generally better than the caves at Wookey Hole near Wells. In general, if you’re trying to choose between the caves at Cheddar or Wookey Hole, Cheddar’s caves are more geared towards adults, while the tacky presentation of Wookey Hole means that the Wookey Hole’s caves are aimed more at children.
Cheddar Man Museum of Prehistory
The Cheddar Man Museum of Prehistory showcases artefacts uncovered during archaeological excavations carried out around Cheddar Gorge.
Many of the most important artefacts that were discovered here, including Cheddar Man, are on display at London’s Natural History Museum so many of the items here are either replicas or less important artefacts. Some people find it interesting to visit the Cheddar Man exhibits in both museums, both to get a different perspective and also to see the contrast between the manner in which the displays are presented. The Natural History Museum presents the facts in an academic (but interesting) manner whilst this museum (which used to be called Cheddar Man and the Cannibals) presents the topic in a more sensationalist manner.
Visiting Cheddar Gorge and Caves
Cheddar Gorge is immediately northeast of Cheddar village, which is in the Mendip Hills around midway between Wells and Weston-super-Mare.
It is easiest to visit if you are driving but it is also possible to visit by public transport. There is plenty of parking available in the village and Cheddar is served by local bus routes 66, which links Axbridge with Bridgwater, and 668, which links Shipham with Glastonbury and Street. However, buses are infrequent and you will need to plan your visit around the bus timetables if you are visiting using public transport.
There is no charge to access the walking tracks around Cheddar Gorge but an entrance fee applies if you want to visit the caves, the museum or Jacob’s Ladder or if you want to take part in one of the activities such as rock climbing or the Black Cat Free Fall.
The main admission ticket includes entry to the following five attractions: Gough’s Cave, the Museum of Prehistory, Cox’s Cave, Jacob’s Ladder and the lookout tower and Beyond the View.
If you enjoyed your visit to the caves, you may also want to visit Wookey Hole caves near Wells.
A visit to Cheddar Gorge and Caves can take anywhere from two hours to a full day, depending on whether you are visiting the paid or free attractions and also whether you will be hiking the Cliff Top Gorge Walk.
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