Shepherd's huts near Cheddar

The Somerset village of Cheddar is best known among the culinary crowd for its eponymous cheese, but nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts know it for the spectacular Cheddar Gorge and the Cheddar Caves. Cheddar has a couple of places to camp—a well-equipped caravan park as well as a campsite with cabin accommodation—and its location at the foot of the Mendip Hills AONB affords additional camping options. While campers can enjoy the peace and quiet of this rural area, Cheddar is also conveniently close to the small cities of Bridgwater and Taunton, as well as the larger centres of Bath and Bristol.

You don’t have to use too much imagination to think of the most popular things to do in Cheddar.

• Firstly, there’s saying “cheese” at the gorge, and then there’s gorging yourself on cheese! A ticket to visit the Cheddar Gorge tourist attraction includes entrance to a three-mile cliff-top walk around the top of the gorge; the Museum of Prehistory; and Gough’s Cave, where Cheddar Man, the oldest complete skeleton in Britain was discovered. The soaring Cheddar Gorge walls reach 400 feet in places, and the show caves are just a taste of what lies beneath the Mendips, making climbing and caving popular activities here.
• In the village of Cheddar, at the lower end of the gorge, the Cheddar Gorge Company shares information about the cheese-making process for Britain’s best-loved cheese.
• Walking, cycling, and horse riding are good ways to enjoy the landscape and terrain.
• Another show cave and more family-friendly attractions can be found at nearby Wookey Hole.
• Further afield, Wells, Glastonbury, Longleat Safari Park, and Bath are all within an hour’s drive and easily visited on days out during a camping holiday in Cheddar.