I believe if I lived in the area, Cheddar Gorge would be a place I was well familiar with - I've only had the chance to drive through it (so far), and was envious of the people specifically hiking, climbing, and exploring on their own terms. What an absolutely stunning natural wonder. The limestone gorge in the Mendip Hills is three miles, and has a max depth of nearly 400+ feet; formed over the last 1.2 million years by floods during the ice ages, it's home to caves (heads-up: the two largest have been turned into tourist attractions you have to pay to enter), Britain's oldest skeleton, and - y'know - cheese. Besides the fascinating history, the breathtaking glory of the geological formation (those sheer cliffs are impressive, and at times otherworldly when they block out the sun), and the interesting flora (like the abundance of herbs that grow naturally here, and the famous ground based flower "Cheddar pink") ... there are sheep. The ancient, chocolate colored Soay Sheep that wander the hills and steep edges of the gorge - eating vegetarian, doing their magnificent sheep thing, sometimes walking in a geometrically perfect line - that I'm completely, entirely smitten with. A very, very cool place indeed. read more

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Great experience loads of stuff fire me and brothers and sisters took lots of great photos 4stars

How could I rate the place where cheddar was born only 3 stars you ask? It's pretty touristy and prices do add up. If you are just passing through and don't have the time to spend a whole day here, paying the £19.95 attraction fee may be steep if you are only doing a few of the 6 offered. You also have to have patience to do some hiking and walking. The cave is pretty neat to learn about the history and see how the MATURE cheddar is aged. We also got to sample some of the cheese from a local shop. Their local Costa Coffee sold grilled cheese sandwiches as well, very tasty! We came on a Monday and half of the shops were closed. I was a bit bummed because some of the shops would have been fun to dine at or look around in for little gifts. read more

Enter Jacob's Latter for a beautiful 3 mile hike through the edge of the Gorge cliffs. It's 5.50 quid to enter and another 5 to park. Nnnnnnnnope. Alternatively you can opt to NOT pay, and just do the walk in reverse (by entering through the public access across the street from Cafe Gorge ( I attached a picture). You can ALSO drive all the way up the road and enter the public hike from there-- where there is free parking and free access. Bunch of wankers charging fees to tourists who don't know any better. read more

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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. read more

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I don't know - this was my second time there. Parking is a real bitch and the prices for food are a bit steep if you can find it. Check out the coffee shops for a spot of tea and cakes - always fun The prices for touring a cave are astronomical for what is in there to see. Didn't do that this time - wasn't worth it. Head over to Bath or Wells for a nice afternoon. read more

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. read more

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Magnificent natural canyon. 500 foot sheer cliffs. A place of outstanding natural beauty

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. read more

I swapped my tesco clubcard vouchers for the cheddar gorge tickets which I found out are £18.50 each!! Parking on the road outside of the cheddar caves was £5 all day. With the entry ticket you get to visit two caves, museum,go up Jacobs ladder and a bus tour of the gorge! Think there are other sites but my boyfriend took the ticket with him. In the first cave you get to use an audio guide to listen to while you walk round the different parts of the cave. The second cave uses lights to guide you through the history of the caves etc. We went up Jacobs ladder, which I found out was 276 steps!! Going up ... Nearly killed me!! So unfit!!! Lol I didn't bother going up the viewing tower, more steps!!!! But we walked round the hillside which seemed to go on forever that I thought we were lost!! Lol it is best to wear sensible shoes, walking shoes, trainers etc and not high heels or flip flops as its rocky and slippery. The tour bus was open top, bit lucky we didn't have rain, so we got to see the gorge. The tour guide was clear and engaging. Funnily she saw my photo on Instagram and commented!! It's worth a visit, give yourself the whole day to fit it all in including visiting the pub or cafes and shops. There is a costa coffee shop by the ticket office. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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! read more

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 read more

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 read more

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

A lovely day out, The Cheddar gorge is great, steep sides walking down to the village. I've seen people climbing them, looks pretty scary to me to be honest. The caves are very interesting, you'll find out all about stalegmites and stalegtites, nice little shops to browse around, and the strawberry growers are very close by, so you can go pick your own, and have them with gorgeous cheddar cream for tea. read more

I love Cheddar Gorge but you should definately know that if your in a wheel chair or have a very young baby in a buggy, getting around is probably not the easiest of tasks. There are a lot of steep hills. Although to drive through the gorge is breath taking and you can often spot the odd rock climber! And if you love cheese, then this place is definatley worth a visit with an array of cheese shops for you to shop at your leisure. I haven't been in the caves since I was little but I do remember being pretty scared when the image of a witch flew across the wall!!! read more

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. read more

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. read more

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... read more

great place to go if raining! went here a few months ago with my neighbor, and we had a awesome time :) the caves are just stunning and i recommend this place to anyone. read more

really fun day out and very interesting. nice family village and a great day out. i came here loads of times and i really do enjoy it.

Enjoyed this more than I ever thought I would. really unique experience and would definately recommend it for adult and kids alike.

Cheddar Caves and Gorge in Somerset is a fab place to visit with lots to do and see. Each attraction has lots of info placed on boards and info points so that you can find out more about the history of the place. Goughs Cave is a particular favourite of mine and is truly spectacular. There are also walks around the spectacular scenery which means that you get to see more of the views and outstanding beauty of the place. The only downsides are that you have to pay for parking which is a bit of a shock to most and also that the tickets are rather pricey. I still think its definitely worth a visit though. read more

this is a lovely place to visit, very touristic but not overpacked. few caves to visit which is very interesting and you get to listen to the story via recorders. You can also travel on the bus to the top where you get amazing views of the gorge and caves. there is also a nature trail which is a challenge if your unfit but a great day out read more

Worth a visit, but whether you'd go back?

We went to cheddar gorge and drove through it, we refused to get out of the car as we would have to pay for parking in most places these parking facilities would have been free. There is only one road which was very busy. My tip is to stop about 1/2 mile before cheddar, where you can park for free and enjoy beautiful views. read more

the walk up and over the gorge is great but only if you're feeling fit and healthy. the views from the top are fantastic. the 'village' that has built up alongside the road at the foot of the gorge is a real flashback to the 70s! Tickets for the caves are expensive but if you plan to come back, reasonably good value. parking on hot summer days can be a real problem so get there early read more