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A Country Village
You’ll find a warm welcome in the village pubs, cafés and restaurants of Cheddar. Accommodation ranges from comfortable hotels and B&Bs through to glamping and ‘away from it all’ camping. There are quirky shops in the gorge and other outlets in the village centre for souvenir hunters and regular shopping.
History & Geology
The discovery of Britain’s oldest complete skeleton in one of Cheddar’s caves confirms it was inhabited more than 9,000 years ago. Plenty of evidence of the changes in the village since then can be found in its museum, on its streets and in the exhibition at the Cheddar Visitor Information Centre.
Natural Beauty
The whole of the gorge is a Site of Special Scientific Interest: managed for nature by the National Trust, Somerset Wildlife Trust and Cheddar Caves - part of Lord Bath’s Longleat estate. Cheddar Gorge is one of Britain's natural wildlife wonders and a gateway to the Mendip Hills National Landscape (an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).
If the astounding views from the top of the gorge across amazing countryside are not enough, the limestone grassland supports some of the country’s most scarce plants and insects. Soay Sheep and Cheviot Goats can also be seen, roaming freely in the gorge to help control the vegetation.
The Surrounding Area
Winding its way through the stunning Cheddar Gorge, the B3135 is the gateway to the Mendip Hills to the north. Walkers, runners and mountain bikers can find a multitude of other routes in and around the gorge, enabling them to enjoy the idyllic countryside and superb views.
Wells, England’s smallest cathedral city is a few miles to the south east of Cheddar, and the ancient town of Glastonbury lies to the south with its ruined abbey and its famous Tor, visible from miles around. In between lie the amazing and scientifically important Somerset levels, wetlands interspersed with hills such as the Isle of Wedmore.
Just to the west of Cheddar is the little medieval market town of Axbridge beyond which is the A38, giving easy access to Bristol in the north and the Somerset coast to the west.