Step Into the Wild: A Stunning Hike At Cheddar Gorge in Somerset
Step Into the Wild
A stunning Sunday hike at Cheddar Gorge in the Mendip Hills, Somerset. A deep limestone ravine with beautiful hiking trails and viewpoints.
Map of Cheddar Gorge
Starting the Month Right: Our Adventure to Cheddar Gorge
Matthew and I kicked off the year by saying we wanted to make more time for weekend day trips instead of slogging our guts out working all hours. This weekend, I suggested Cheddar Gorge - a place Iβd been wanting to visit for ages. The next morning, we packed up and set off early, bringing along Zion, our loyal but nutty old Weimaraner, for the journey.
Cheddar Gorge is an iconic natural landmark nestled in the stunning Mendip Hills. Known for its dramatic limestone cliffs and formed by meltwater floods during the Ice Age, itβs the largest gorge in the UK, stretching 3 miles (4.8km) in length and plunging to depths of up to 137 metres (449 feet). While I canβt recall if I visited as a child, I did have hazy memories of exploring its caves as we passed by - perhaps I had been to the underground caverns on a school trip before, which are a popular attraction to visit in the area.
The Gorge's History
The area around Cheddar Gorge is not just beautiful but also historically significant. It was once home to early humans, who used the caves for shelter. Goughβs Cave and Coxβs Cave, two of the most famous, are full of cool stalactites and stalagmites, and Goughβs Cave is especially famous for being the discovery site of Cheddar Man, Britainβs oldest complete human skeleton, which dates back over 9,000 years.
The gorge is also popular for rock climbing, and we saw plenty of climbing groups in action on the rockfaces. We didnβt have time to visit the caves this time and had Zion with us so Iβd like to go back and take a look inside one day.
And of course, no visit to Cheddar Gorge would be complete without sampling its famous Cheddar cheese, which has been made in the caves for centuries. The cool, humid conditions make it the perfect environment for maturing the cheese.
Parking and Getting Started
The B3135 Cliff Road winds through the gorge, and while we werenβt familiar with the area, we eventually found an empty parking spot next to the villageβs tea rooms and shops. Parking cost Β£6 for the whole day, which seemed pretty reasonable. It turns out you can park further up the road for free if you donβt mind being a bit further out.
After parking, we wandered a little way along the road before backtracking to find the entrance to Jacobβs Ladder, the steep set of steps that would lead us up to the clifftop walk. We paid for the two of us at the ticket office where the attendant told us that the hike would take about 2.5-3 hours and we should be prepared as it was a long steep hike with scrambling parts and uneven sections in places. As we seemed to be walking in the opposite direction to the majority of people, we later found out that you can in fact do the hike the other way round, and you can enter the trail for free from the National Trust land on the northern side of the village. Something they kept quiet from us, but now something weβll keep in mind for next time. I suppose they are only really charging for access via the Jacobβs Ladder steps which makes getting to the top a bit easier, and for accessing the lookout tower.
Jacobβs Ladder and the Clifftop Walk
The start of our walk with a climb up Jacobβs Ladder was a serious challenge - with 274 steps to ascend, it certainly gets your heart pumping and calves burning, but there are resting spots along the way to catch your breath. There was a guy behind me, who was carrying his three-year-old in a back carrier - he was clearly struggling just as much as I was but at least he had an excuse! The photo below only shows about a third of the steps, but once we reached the top, it was totally worth it. The views were breathtaking. From here, you can climb a lookout tower for even better views, it is said that the effort to get there feels symbolic - like the biblical story of Jacob's Ladder to heaven.
Once we reached the top, we continued along the Cheddar Gorge Clifftop Walk, a scenic route with sweeping views of the gorge and the Somerset Levels. The Mendip Hills are an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and we were completely blown away by the expansive panoramic views towards Cheddar Reservoir and the surrounding countryside.
Spectacular views across the gorge over to the Cheddar Reservoir and Somerset Levels.
Cheddar Gorge Views from the Clifftop Walk
The southern side of the gorge, owned by Longleat Estate, was really muddy and slippery in places due to the large number of visitors and recent rainfall, which made it a bit slow going. In contrast, the northern side, managed by the National Trust, was a world apart. The trails were much better maintained, with graveled paths and the steps were in good condition, making the climb feel less challenging. Good footwear is an absolute must; not only for the potential to slip and fall but I watched several people in new trainers near the Black Rock end of the trail grimacing and struggling in the mud, trying to decide whether to give up or keep going! As we were going in the opposite direction to the crowd and had been through the worst of it, I mentioned to one couple, who were having a sense of humour failure, that it was muddy all the way to the top if they did decide to carry on. They looked down at the state of my walking shoes absolutely caked in mud and I wondered whether they took any notice of me but probably not! Shortly afterwards, another woman we saw had fallen over and was covered in mud all over her leggings so it definitely was a bit tricky in places.
An Unexpected Rescue
As we had made our way along the trail earlier, we saw a yellow helicopter land at the top of the cliff as there had clearly been a medical emergency of some kind. Perhaps another fall with a more serious outcome this time. The Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance was quick to respond, and it made me appreciate how essential these services are, especially in an area with so many climbers, and especially walkers who donβt always come prepared. There were plenty of nervous parents telling their children to keep away from the edge and a missing dog poster so we kept Zion firmly on his lead. It's such a long way down with sheer drop offs at points.
Continuing the Walk
We continued down the trail, as we descended the steep, rocky hillside toward Black Rock Nature Reserve. From here, you can visit the Black Rock Quarry, or you can continue on the well-maintained National Trust path, as we did. This side of the trail was much more manageable although it was still a bit of a workout to get back up to the top again as this is the steeper of the two sides. The climb made us pause for breath a few times, but it was worth it for the views again.
The gorge itself is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), full of wildlife. This part of the walk also features Limestone Grassland and is where you might find patches of Cheddar Pink, rock-rose, and wild thyme, you may also come across wild goats and Soay sheep which are both vital for keeping the ecosystem balanced. If youβre lucky, you might even spot Peregrine falcons nesting on the cliffs. Peregrine falcons are typically present at Cheddar Gorge year-round, but their breeding season usually peaks between March and July. We didnβt catch sight of them and we were too early in the year to see the Cheddar pink wildflowers during our visit, but we did spot a few goats and a baby kid roaming the cliffs or sunbathing in the spring sunshine.
Weimaraners and Wrapping Up the Day
After finishing our walk, we made our way down through a woodland trail full of Beech and Oak trees and Hazel coppice. To our surprise, it turned into a bit of a Weimaraner gathering, as we crossed paths with several of the breed. There's always a special camaraderie among Weimaraner owners, as we swap stories of the notorious "Weim Crimes" our dogs have committed - everything from counter-surfing to devouring a Christmas turkey or even a birthday cake in Zionβs case. The list is endless! Being highly intelligent, Weimaraners will do their best to outsmart you whenever they can and are exceptional opportunists! People are always amazed to learn that he is now 9 years old - he still looks young, is full of energy, and mostly still behaves like the headstrong dog heβs always been. Heβs getting quite tolerant of the younger dogs harassing him these days though - even when he got bitten by a feisty little grey coloured Dachshund on the trail on the way down, he didnβt seem to mind. The Dachshund looked like a mini Zion whoβd been put in the tumble drier too long! By the time we started the journey home, though, he was utterly wiped out and ready to crash for the drive back. Bless his old bones.
Back in Cheddar village, there are lots of different pubs, cafes and tearooms where you can treat yourselves to a well-deserved rest and maybe enjoy a pub meal along with a pint of local Somerset cider. We didnβt have time to stop on this visit but passed The White Hart pub with beer tables out the front and people devouring yummy looking roast dinners - oh, if only there had been time as we were pretty hungry by this point! We settled on having a roast once back at home instead and we had definitely earned it. The village also has souvenir and gift shops if you want to pick up a memento of your adventure.
We ended our trip with a drive through the gorge, which was pretty epic and made me feel very tiny and insignificant indeed. If youβre looking for a stunning natural escape with plenty of history, adventure, and gorgeous views, Cheddar Gorge is an absolute must-see. Just donβt expect to be able to feel your legs the next day! We will definitely return another day.
Useful Information
OS Map: Explorer Map 141
Distance: 3.35 miles (5.39 km)
What3Words Starting Point: ///entrust.spindles.nurtures
Terrain and Access: Challenging. Narrow, rocky paths with steep gradients, rugged steps on southern side. Gravelled paths and well maintained trails on the northern side. Muddy in places.
Parking: Β£6.00 all day as of March 2025. Designated accessible parking available.
Food and Drink: The White Hart, Cheddar
