Cheddar Village and Cheddar Gorge today provides both shopping and leisure opportunities for all ages. Cheddar Village, Somerset UK linked by Cheddar Gorge to the Mendip Hills is an ideal centre for a holiday. Not only are there many things to do and see in the surrounding area but also many things of interest both in the village and nearby.
Cheddar Village Shops, Leisure, Caves, town, cheese, walking, mendips to mention a few activities......
For the active visitor the Cheddar village has a leisure centre, riding stables, fishing, golf driving range, and sailing activities are available nearby. Potholing and caving can be arranged and this takes the visitor well into the Mendip Cave System.
Cheddar Gorge is great for walking and exploring the Mendips. For the Walker and rambler, there are numerous signposted paths and nature trails beginning in the Gorge and climbing to the tops of the cliffs giving splendid views of the Mendips and the surrounding countryside. Over 360 botanical species have been identified in the gorge and surrounding countryside.The rare Cheddar Pink is confined to the limestone rocks of the locality. It has single fragrant pink flowers which appear in early summer. Walking through the Gorge the visitor will find many things of interest. Underneath the cliffs will be found many small gift shops interspersed with craft workshops, other exhibitions and small restaurants where one may have a cup of coffee, strawberry teas, or a full meal served in a family atmosphere.
Walking on towards Cheddar village the visitor will see a lake and waterfall and may follow the course of the River Yeo to the Garden of Fragrance, especially created for the blind.
Cheddar Village accomodation, hotels, guest houses, bed & breakfast, camping, caravaning.......
Cheddar village itself is a mixture of the old and new, with many old cottages and later Victorian houses. It has many small shops, a post office and a small library. Seven pubs are scattered throughout the village and gorge which, together with excellent Cheddar Accommodation including Hotels, Bed & Breakfast, Apartments, Guest Houses, and campsites provides many places to eat in Cheddar Village including pubs and restuarants with a wide selection of food and beverage for the hungry visitor.
Walking through some of the older streets, 13th century names, Lynch, Hannay and Hythe will be seen together with examples of 18th and 19th century cottages, particularly in Venns Gate and Baits Lane. At the other end of the village the parish Church itself is worth a visit, having been built between 1340 and 1480. It has a particularly fine perpendicular 100ft tower, while close by are the medieval Church Farm buildings. At the other end of Church Street stands a 15th century preaching cross.
Cheddar Cheese is still made in Cheddar along with it's own visitor centre.......
The Cheddar Cheese visitor centre is located in Cheddar Gorge and whole process takes around 8 hours from start to finish. You can watch the process during the various stages as the cheese is transformed from our rich, local milk into award winning authentic Cheddar Cheese. The viewing gallery allows you to watch the cheesemakers practice their skills, and information is displayed to help you follow the process. From Easter until the end of October a guide is on hand to help, explain, and answer questions.
Cheddar Gorge and Cheddar Caves.....
As well being famous for Cheddar Cheese, Cheddar is also home to the famous Cheddar Gorge, and the Cheddar Caves. Cheddar's distinguishing feature is the natural phenomenon of Britain's largest gorge, while The Cheddar Yeo in Gough's Cave is Britain's biggest underground river, and the Gorge Cliffs are Britain's highest inland limestone cliffs.
Cheddar Gorge is a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of the calcareous grassland, Karst limestone butresses and Horseshoe Bats. Peregrin falcons nest on the cliff face and soay sheep keep the scrub in check. Gough's Cave is an internationally famous archeological site because of its Late Upper Paleolithic finds (12-13,000 years old) and contained Britian's oldest complete skeleton (9,000 years old). It lies within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is a candidate for Special Area for Conservation status.
Cheddar Caves has been a major tourist attraction for over 200 years,
with plenty to do above and below ground.
Outstanding Natural Beauty, where you'll find many rare species.
The Cathedral-like Caves and Britain's biggest Gorge are
million-year-old Ice Age river beds.
Cheddar Village has a long and ancient history, having been important Roman and Saxon Centres. As early as 1130 AD, the beauty of Cheddar Gorge was recognised as one of the "Four wonders of England". Historically, Cheddar's source of wealth was farming and cheese making for which it was famous as early as 1170 AD. In the 17th/18th Centuries, the many watermills ground corn and made paper, and, from the Victorian period large scale production of clothing.
Popular tourism in Cheddar began with the opening of Cheddar Valley Railway in 1869/1870, which provided workers from towns with the opportunity to enjoy a days outing for the first-time as a Bank Holiday.
The railway also allowed people to live within sight of a high-profile beauty spot, Cheddar Gorge, but work further away (the start of the commuting trend). Cheddar Village and Cheddar Gorge in SOmerset today provides both Cheddar shopping and leisure opportunities for all ages. Sources (English Nature, Bristol Water).
Visit Cheddar Village, Cheddar Gorge, Cheddar Caves, or any of the Somerset attractions and receive a warm welcome..........
