Cheddar Caves & Gorge

We didn’t do the package tour with the caves and the museum and whatever else there is to distract from the reason we came: the gorge! Instead, we parked the car, walked up one end of the gorge and walked down the other. The views are breathtaking and the rock formations are awe-​inspiring. For three pounds (parking cost), we had a memorable afternoon. Not a bad deal…

Cheddar Gorge is an amazing sight especially early in the morning when the sun is just coming out of the horizon. We got there around 9 am and there were wild goats grazing on the side of the roads. The buildings are so quaint and beautiful. A river runs beside the road where you can even throw a coin and wish for luck. There are several restaurants in the area with great food and a cheese factory where they show you how cheese is made. We didn’t go to the caves anymore as we wanted to go to the city of Bath again. It’s definitely worth the trip.

Beeindruckende Szenerie, sehr schöné Felsen.
Wir haben jedoch keine der vielen (kostenpflichtigen) Höhlen angesehen. Sehr empfehlenswert.

I am reviewing the gorge and not the caves. (I’ve never been in them I am put off by the price.) I love Cheddar. The gorge is stunning and I’ve had wonderful days walking here and having picnics, taking in the sun from the top and having close encounters with the wildlife. It’s one of my favourite places to read in the sunshine. There’s also the walk to Velvet Bottom. And it tickles me that the ‘Rock of Ages’ from the hymn/​song is here too. As for the village it’s reminiscent of 1950’s. And I like that. And I am partial to a bit of crazy golfit’s a good way to see what your friends and family are made of ;) As for parking I prefer to park where I don’t have to pay and walk down and possibly spend the money on an ice-​cream instead. I am not fond of the cheese on sale here or the cider. I have been hearing about a very good cider farm near Glastonbury though!

We didn’t go into the caves of Cheddar. My partner and I paid the £5 each to go up Jacob’s ladder and do the cliff top walk. This is extortion as the walk is a public bridleway, and you are just paying to use the steps on the way up. The lookout tower probably has the worst views considering it is on top of a gorge.
The walk is very technical and lacks enjoyment as you’re constantly watching your feet. My partner and I are both mid-​20s and fit, we found the 3 mile walk took us 3 hours with breaks. There are some great views of the gorge along the way but you should ensure that you only go if it hasn’t rained recently, it was still incredibly muddy in mid August. If you’re going to do it, wear appropriate footwear and walk the route in reverse (it’s free this way round).
Cheddar feels like a tourist hovel, get out as soon as possible.

Wow!
The limestone cliffs here are quite breathtaking at over 450 feet high!
Stalactites and Stalagmites like you’ve never seen them before, exaggerated by lighting.
The story is, our ancestors were here 40,000 years ago, that’s a real long time! All sorts of strange creatures hide away here like rare bats, falcons and water voles!
They are open almost every day of the year except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day so if you’re every at a loose end it’s worth a visit, it’s worth planning rather than a spur of the moment thing as it costs £17 per adult — so you wana try and plan your day to get the most out of your trip as possible — your likely to spend anywhere between 4 and 6 hours there if you do everything on the list!
There are all sorts of events and school trips available so check out their website of your thinking of going.

I visited Cheddar Gorge as a child and remembered it being fantastic. I therefore wanted to take my husband and young son there.
We did enjoy our day but it wasn’t as amazing as I remembered. My little boy loved the Crystal Quest, depite him only being one. I will say though that the caves are not very accessible if you have a buggy and a small child — be prepared to carry them or take a sling.

Having grown up near Cheddar I might be missing its appeal but its is overcrowded during tourist season, has no decent pubs (a few ok ones) and the caves are better at Wookey Hole. The gorge is stunning, and made all the more interesting by the wild goats that roam around the gorge.
The whole experience is definitely spoiled by the huge numbers of tourists that visit and only stay around the gorge/​shops.
Far better to venture a little out of Cheddar to places like Priddy where there are some good pubs to visit.

Cheddar is a lovely place to go for a Sunday afternoon, it’s only small, but very pretty.
There is car parking in the centre, but usually they are full, best bet is to park on the hill on the way down, then walk the rest of the way. There are the caves to see, and you can climb up Jacobs ladder if you’re feeling energetic enough, failing that, there are a few pubs, but to eat, maybe best to drive just outside Cheddar to one of the country pubs.

You can witness the stunning epic gorge for free just by driving, cycling, or walking through it.
If you stop in Cheddar itself, then it might start costing you a bit of money. The best way to spend that money is to make sure you go into the caves. Some of the natural formations are absolutely unbelievable, and if you appreciate wonders of nature then the caves are an absolute must-​see. The presentation of them is very good– they’re beautifully lit, there’s enough information about each area, and there’s the odd bit of entertainment incorporated for the kids.
The tourist industry of Cheddar has grown up around this stunning landscape (both the outdoors and the caves). Some of it is decent but some of it’s pretty disappointing. Crazy golf, for example. OK I quite like crazy golf but it is really part of the authentic Cheddar experience?
There is only one kind of cheddar cheese that’s actually made in Cheddar (or so the label on that cheese says), and while it may be the genuine article, it’s not actually all that good. I can think of several other ‘false’ cheddars that are tastier with a better texture. However if you like cheese then ‘the original’ is worth a try.
There are several cider shops here as well. You’re in the right part of the world for cider, sure, but rather than buying the first one you see, see if you can have a tasting and hunt out some of the better quality stuff. The 5 litre plastic cartons of strong cider are just for alcoholic tourists.

I’ve been to Cheddar many times, to shop, walk or ride my mountain bike. There’s some nice terrain at the top of the gorge and some good shops and coffee shops down throu the gorge. Girlfriend particularly likes the pound shop.

cheddar gorge is a beautiful, scenic place that is a fantastic day trip for anyone! You experience the natural wonders of the caves, which is really quite something.

Cheddar Gorge is a great place to visit. It does seem expensive when you add the admission fees and parking costs up though. I managed to see Goughs Cave and the Cheddar Man exhibition only which made it a bit cheaper — I also didn’t have the time to see all of the attractions so didn’t want to payout for the ticket which entitles you to visit all of the attractions. I think this type of ticket was meant for the the over 60’s, but I was with my parents so was allowed to purchase this ticket with them.
The audio tour in Gough’s cave gives an insight into how the caves were discovered, and explored, and provides the geological explanations for the formations. The Cheddar Man exhibition is also informative and explains the stone age era which the Cheddar Man would have lived in — the Cheddar Man was a complete skelton found in one of the caves.
Gough’s Cave really was good, and I would recommend visiting it and perhaps visting all of the attractions if you have the time available.

This is just the best place to take a day trip too, the gorges are outstanding to see, very dark, and very creepy. Perfect if you wanted to scare little children, which of course you would never do hehe. A great place for everyone in the family to enjoy.

I love the gorge and Cheddar village. It’s great to walk up through, visiting all the shops on your way, and then continue to the gorge. The gorge has a very mystical feel to it and is great for photography.

I was surprised to see this as the number one landmark in Bristol, and while I agree that it is beautiful and incredibly scenic, there are some pretty impressive locations elsewhere.
Cheddar Gorge is a great location for families, friends and anyone interested in climbing and pot holing. I once went pot holing in the caves and had a fantastic time squeezing myself further and further underground.
There are plenty of cafes and creams teas to go round, and an interesting glass blowing display where all sorts of gifts can be bought for friends and family alike.
It’s particularly easy to get to via bus from Bristols main station, and I’d recommend getting a FirstDay ticket, which enables unlimited travel in the south west — it means you can get off and visit the wonders of Wells and Glastonbury along the way.
This is a great place with great history and fun trivia that’ll keep everyone interested and provide a great day out for everyone.

I didn’t go in the caves, i decided to get away from the coach loads of people and have a wander up Jacobs ladder and over the cliff tops. It is absolutely gorgeous (pardon the pun). Highly recommended. (But i think you have either got to be pretty fit, or stop for lots of breaks (i did the latter!), it is very steep. It was dry when i went, i’m sure it could get pretty slippery on a wet day.

I love Chedder Gorge. I went there a few times with my dad when i was younger so it always provokes happy memories. The surroundings are beautiful and the whole place is steeped in history and interest. I hope to be taking my own children there next year

go to chedder and go to the hand made sweet shop some of the best sweets i have ever had
and if you get time go and get some cheese the smoked cheese is amazing

There is loads to do here caves to explore, cliff top walk, open top bus and museum. it is quite expensive but the ticket is split into parts so you can come back if you do not have time to do everything in one day.
There are plenty of places to eat and slightly naff shops to look round as well.
Included in the price is a audioguide to Gough’s cave I always think these are such a bonus to days out.
It was busy when we went in July.
Cute goats on the cliff are fun to spot. Parking costs extra and you have to hunt down an uniformed parking man to pay.

I remember, MANY years ago, as a child, being brought to Cheddar Gorge, and — with the native savagery of the young — being most impressed by the neolithic skeleton of a caveman in the museum. On a recent visit however, I was old enough to appreciate the true glory of this unique piece of our history. The caverns are now beautifully lit, and the floors and stairways very much more up to spec than in previous time. This gives the wanderer a chance to appreciate the spectacular work of time, water, glaciers and limestone in producing the amazing organic, artistic flow-​stone sculptures in the caverns. Huge organ-​pipe stalactites drop from the ceiling, and the multicoloured hues of the stones in the cavern are a delight to the eye and mind, and take away, at least for a while, the every day world, in order for you to appreciate the true nature of time.
The keepers of the Gorge Caves have also diversified in their presentation of the natural wonders of Cheddar. More caves are opened up, some with features to appeal to the younger visitors (you may, if you’re lucky, bump into Gandalf, and, if you’re not, beware of Orcs and Balrogs) There is also a new feature, Jacob’s Ladder, that allows you, as you climb out of the Gorge, to move from prehistoric times, up to the present day. There is also an open-​topped bus tour that explains the geological work in the forming of the Gorge itself. If that gives you an appetite, there are a couple of appealing pubs, and the ubiquitous Cream Teas and Fudges to be sampled on your way back down to the Car Park. All prices are reasonable, although an early arrival is recommended, as parking space is limited, and Cheddar can get pretty busy. Add this one to your West Country Must-​Sees!