Cheddar Gorge
Explore one of the most beautiful natural monuments in Britain. It has groves from its amazing cliffs to its exceptional underground stalactite. Cheddar Gorge & Caves is an international centre for caving and rock climbing, which holds many exciting secrets about our prehistoric ancestors. So, what do you expect? Nature, wilderness, history, adventure experience everything in Somerset on a perfect day out.
In Cheddar Gorge, you will learn about the prehistoric findings of the caves in the prehistory museum by the archaeologists. This includes the discovery of the oldest complete skeleton from the Mesolithic Age more than 9,000 years ago, called ‘Cheddar Man’ in 1903. British Cheddar Man, the oldest complete skeleton, was discovered in Cheddar Gorge‘s Gough's Cave. It is estimated to be nine thousand years old. Other remains from here suggest that people have long lived here. The cellars below the gorge were thought to have been used to make cheese since prehistoric times. The milk from the cows grazing in the pasture around Cheddar is still made from Cheddar cheese here. Yes, our famous Cheddar cheese comes from here.
Cheddar Gorge is a great deep crack that crosses the Mendip Hills, which began to form during the last ice age about a million years ago. At the end of the latter Ice Age, water formed by melting glaciers and grafted into calcareous rocks over time to form the steep cliffs that you are witnessing today. The river Cheddar Yeo gradually went underground and built the famous caves of Cheddar.
Cheddar Gorge is well known for its feral goat stock, but it has much more fascinating wildlife to discover on this National Trust site. For example, Peregrine falcons are just one of the birds which you can see overhead when you’re lucky. Also, nesting in the throat is buzzards, ravens and jackdaws. All explorers are calling! This is the largest gorge of England at a depth of 400 ft and 3 miles and is just waiting to be discovered with spectacular pinnacles and beautiful cellars. It’s near Cheddar Gorge, King John’s Hunting lodge. Just drive to Axbridge‘s neighbourhood town and take a walk around the lodge’s local history museum. Discover a varied community of specific plant and animal life, many of them you will have an opportunity to spot on this exciting ring road. Cheddar Gorge is one of England’s most iconic sceneries.
Pink Cheddar On the edges of the cliffs grow the famous Pink Cheddar and other rare vegetations such as rock stonecrop. Look out at the rose rock and herbs such as thyme, wild basil and marjoram that have a pleasant scent in hot weather on the lower slopes.
Cheddar Gorge offers more than a usual getaway. Prehistoric amazing places, as well as today’s famous cheddar cheese, will provide you with a timeline journey through the history of humanity. Come and learn while having fun in Cheddar Gorge. Cheddar Man is waiting for you here.