Cheddar, UK, is famous for its cheese, its gorge and its caves. In the gorge, you’ll find the cheese and in the caves…you’ll also find the cheese. Basically, the cheese is everywhere. This is not a bad thing.
Cheddar Gorge was formed 225 million years ago, during the Triassic Period and slices through the Somerset countryside. The two caves within the gorge open to the public are Gough’s Cave and Cox’s Cave, named after their respective discoverers.
Both caves are fascinating and your ticket price covers entry to both as well as access to Jacobs Ladder (a crap-load of stairs up to the top of the southside of the gorge) and the museum, so it’s not a bad day out.
Gough’s cave and Cheddar Man
Gough’s cave is the bigger of the two caves and was discovered in 1903. It stretches around 400m and has a variety of large rock chambers and formations.
This is where you’ll find the cheese, (Cheddar cheese obviously) quietly maturing in stable conditions and purchasable from the shop.
It’s also where you’ll find replica remains of a human male called Cheddar Man. He’s Britain’s oldest complete human skeleton, dated to approximately 7150 BC.
Cox’s Cave
Cox’s Cave was discovered in 1837. It’s a lot smaller than Gough’s Cave but has a lot of beautiful and intricate rock formations. A fascinating multimedia experience has been installed here to explain the history of the cave and highlight the nature of the interior. It’s short but highly enjoyable, and you walk-through in small groups, so you get a full experience.
Both caves were apparently the inspiration for the glittering caves of Aglarond situated in the White Mountains behind Helm’s Deep in J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Two Towers, and I can certainly see why. The caves would make a decent setting for any fantasy work, but I can see something supernatural set there too, or even an intriguing murder mystery. Or anything related to cheese.
What do you think? Have you ever visited Cheddar Gorge or the caves? Do you like cheese? Let me know in the comments.
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