Gorge-ous!

The leaflets that can be found in the tourist board displays that stand gathering dust in the entrance and exit of pretty much every B&B, cafe and country pub in the west country don’t do Cheddar Gorge any favours. I grabbed a clutch of them when we were leaving what must surely be one of the last Little Chef’s in the country (on the A37/39 junction at Farrington Gurney, should you too suddenly feel the urge for a gammon and pineapple grill); even though we were intent on heading to Cheddar Gorge anyway, a little bit of research surely couldn’t do any harm. And I’m not saying that the flyers for Mrs Tiggywinkle’s Olde Teashoppe, King Arthur’s Non-stop Cheese Buffet or the ‘Gorge Yourself on Cheddar!’ slogans are harmful, as such; it’s just that none of them seem to get close to doing this breathtakingly beautiful part of the world anywhere near enough justice.

Whether you take in the initial views of the Gorge itself from the top of the ravine or by driving along the road at the bottom of the basin that runs straight through it, you can’t fail to be awed by the surroundings. The basin road winds directly through this prehistoric canyon, with the giant, limestone cliffs looming up to 700 feet on either side. Depending on your personal relationship with the great outdoors, the whole experience is either intimidating and sinister or tranquil and serene; it’s a mini version of the Grand Canyon, right in the heart of the west country. You could, if you wanted to, park (or camp) right here, beginning and ending your Cheddar experience with a gentle walk, a guided hike or the full-on, adrenalin-charged rock climbing experience. But I had those darn leaflets, didn’t I? The theme park aspect of Cheddar Gorge loomed large.

Okay, I have to admit that whoever holds the reins of Cheddar as Major Tourist Attraction does a very good job of keeping the anticipated Alton Towers-style ‘facilities’ to a minimum. The village is very pretty, and even the famous Showcase Caves - a series of labyrinthian walkways right through the Gorge itself - doesn’t oversell itself too much; the massive Gough’s Cave, for example, which was discovered by explorer Richard Gough in 1890 and features cathedral-sized ‘taverns’; an active million year old river bed; the fantasy adventure walk ‘Crystal Quest’ (complete with wizards, princesses and fire-breathing dragons) and Jacob’s Ladder (save your energy for this one - 274 steps take you through a million years of history, from the bottom of the Gorge to the Lookout Tower right at the top). After all that (or even instead of?), might I suggest a comfortable seat on the Gorge Tour Bus which negotiates its way around Horseshoe Bend while a narrator gives you the history behind the spectacular scenery? Blimey, I’m beginning to sound like a Little Chef leaflet! Sorry. I’ll return to my usual grumbling self over the weekend ... and oooh, have I got news for you!!!!