At the heart of the Mendips' one of Somerset's most famous attractions is Cheddar Gorge. Carved into the limestone hillside, the Gorge has a number of popular attractions and the village is home to the popular Cheddar Cheese. First made during the sixteenth century this firm cheese varies in colour and taste the strongest flavour coming from the most mature cheese. A visit to the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company is one very good way to find out all about the cheese and its history.

Cheddar is an ideal location to base yourself in if touring around Somerset and nearby. Cheddar is conveniently located for visits to Bath, Wells and nearby Wookey Hole Caves, Bristol and Longleat and it's safarri park. You'll find a number of very high quality hotels, bed and breakfasts and self catering holiday cottages in Cheddar offersing warm friendly service and advice on the best days out in the area.

The steep and very windy road through the Gorge offers a dramatic view of the famous rock formations. To see this from the inside you can take a visit to the world famous Cheddar Showcaves which are open to visitors (please check opening times). There are two fascinating cave systems to explore, the smallest is Cox's Cave packed with stalactites and stalagmites - the larger Gough's Cave has a 9,000 year old skeleton of 'Cheddar Man' on show.

If your perfect break is to spend time outdoors in beautiful countryside you'll find Cheddar has it all, beautiful country walks, bird watching , horseriding, caving and even sailing on nearby lakes are just some of the many outdoor activities available in Cheddar and the surrounding Mendip countryside.

Use the map of Cheddar below to zoom in or out to view directions or click the satellite button for an aerial view. For a larger version of this Cheddar map Click Here.