Binder1

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