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Take a trip Exotic Britai n Discover stunning somerset Save yourself a flight to Nevada and pay a visit to Britain’s very own version of the Grand Canyon in the beautiful West Country At almost 400ft deep and three miles long, Cheddar Gorge is one of Britain’s most spectacular landmarks. Carved out by glacial meltwater during the last Ice Age, these sharp grey limestone cliffs form England’s deepest natural canyon, soaring a staggering 450ft over the Somerset countryside. If you’ve a head for heights, you can climb Jacob’s Ladder – a flight of 274 steps carved into the rocky cliff. And if the exertion doesn’t take your breath away, the panoramic views from the Lookout Tower certainly will. To the south, you’ll see the flat, lush water meadows of the Somerset Levels. To the north, a windswept plateau runs for more than 22 miles. There are places to rest along the way, but if you don’t fancy the walk up there’s a tour bus that’ll take you at least some of the way up the hill. For more stunning scenery, take a stroll along the three-mile clifftop walk. Elevated more than 900ft above sea level, you can see for miles out across the Mendip Hills. As an Area of Special Scientific Interest, this region also boasts a rare and diverse habitat full of flora and fauna – from greater horseshoe bats and dormice, to violet oil beetles and great crested newts. Peregrine falcons nest on the steep cliffs and goats and Soay sheep also roam freely, grazing among pretty clusters of Cheddar pink flowers. 100 YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT
Prehistoric passageways As if this scenery wasn’t enough to win you over, you can find a world of wonder down below. Beneath the towering giants lies a network of subterranean caves and caverns, riddled with impressive displays of stalactites and stalagmites waiting to be explored. Excavated in the late 19th Century, Gough’s Cave is the larger of the two caves open to the public. Formed more than half a million years ago, audio guides bring the cave to life telling the fascinating tale of its Ice Age creation, Stone Age occupation and Victorian exploration. Highlights include the Black Cat of Cheddar – a shadow cast by the light that looks like a cat wearing a bow-tie. And this is where Cheddar Man was found – the oldest complete skeleton discovered in Britain, dating back to the Mesolithic Age more than 9,000 years ago. Set deep within the magical and mysterious chambers of Cox’s Cave – with its spectacular calcite sculptures, mirror pools and fountains – the ‘Dreamhunters’ exhibit offers a multimedia experience like no other. State-of-the-art projectors and sound systems tell the story of early human life, as bright blues, purples and reds illuminate the different limestone formations. Did you know? JRR Tolkien spent his honeymoon here in 1916 and found much to inspire him for The Lord of the Rings trilogy Handy contacts n Cheddar Gorge – 01934 742343 www.cheddargorge.co.uk n Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company – 01934 742810 www.cheddaronline.co.uk n Visit Somerset – 01749 835416 www.visitsomerset.co.uk compiled By gabrielle albert. PICs: alamy stock photo Did you know? Henry II considered Cheddar ‘the best cheese in Britain’ and his account records from 1170 show that he bought around 10,238lb of it! Say cheese Along with its caves, Cheddar is also famous as the home of the nation’s favourite cheese, produced here since the 12th Century. And the Cheddar Gorge Cheese company is the area’s only cheesemaker left. Watch the whole creamy, gooey transformation process from a viewing gallery, sample the produce at the taster bar, then buy some tangy, whiffy souvenirs at the shop. If you want to witness the cheesemaking in action, time your visit before 2.45pm. Discover how our ancestors lived through a 40,000-year struggle for survival during the last Ice Age at the fascinating Museum of Prehistory at Cheddar Gorge. Many artefacts of historical importance that shed light on our ancestors and how they lived have been found in Cheddar Gorge and its caves. At the museum, you can find interactive displays illustrating how mankind Discover the tales behind the finding of the oldest known skeleton Cheddar Man, above, whose remains are kept at the Natural History Museum Mesolithic marvels survived, thrived and developed – plus examples of weapons, tools and objects they would have used in everyday life. You’ll also get the chance to find out more about the iconic Cheddar Man. Like to get creative? The museum runs hands-on cave art painting and demonstrations for both the young, and the young at heart, to get involved in. YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT 101
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