Cheddar Gorge Cliff Top Walk – Complete Guide & Map

Head for a spectacular outdoor adventure with the Cheddar Gorge Cliff Top Walk, a stunningly beautiful trail that will take your breath away. The route brings you around the top of the towering limestone gorge, giving you spectacular views of the Mendip Hills. Here, you’ll get to experience the unique geology of the area, the flowers and wildlife of its verdant meadows, and the cool breeze that brushes your face as you ascend the highest point of the gorge at the 274-meter above sea level. In this article, you’ll find out a complete walking guide of the Cliff Top walk and some of the highlights you can look forward to. So, lace up your hiking boots and let’s explore this breathtaking trail together.

Quite a long drive from London but doable in the day, the Cheddar Gorge Cliff Top walk might not come to mind to city hikers looking for an adventure. And this is a shame because this walk is one of a kind! So shake up your bucket list and add the Cheddar Gorge Cliff Top walk somewhere near the top because that is the place it deserves.

Disclaimer: The route describes below is the official Cheddar Gorge Cliff Top Walk. Some London-based hiking groups may offer to do the same or similar walks. To find out more about those groups, click here.

Logistics of the Cheddar Gorge Cliff Top Walk

Highlights of the Cheddar Gorge Cliff Top Walk

What is Cheddar Gorge?

Cheddar Gorge is the largest gorge in the UK. Stretching over 3 miles (4.8 km), the gorge can be as deep as 400 feet (122 m).

But what is a gorge?

It is a narrow valley between two steep hills made of permeable limestone. The Cheddar Gorge was carved by water freezing and melting over a period of 1.2 million years. The water flowing on the top of a limestone plateau carved away the rocks from the top of the plateau but also from the side, deepening the bed of the river.

During warmer periods, the water would flow through the permeable limestone of the surrounding cliffs, creating the caves, which we talk about later in this article.

Video: Learn how gorges are formed over time

Nowadays, the river has dried out, leaving space for the B3135 to run along the gorge, offering a perfect route for cyclists looking for some steep ascent. The river can now be found in the lower part of Gough’s Cave.

The gorge is classed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest with the south part managed by Longleat Estate and the north part by the National Trust. The area attracts up to 500,000 visitors each year who come to enjoy the breathtaking vistas from the clifftop walk and the recreational activities such as the caves, the museum, the climbing walls and of course … the Cheddar cheese!

Cheddar Gorge Cliff Top Walk

So now we have covered the basics about Cheddar Gorge, let’s get to the walk!

Cheddar Village

Welcome to Cheddar, the village that gave its name to the worldwide renowned cheese. This large village in Somerset is located on the north side of Cheddar Gorge. This site provides a wealth of information to scientists and geologists thanks to its abundant wildlife and historic discoveries.

The oldest remains found in the area are dated 14,000 years ago showing the rich history of the site. Cheddar was under Roman domination. The site was also important to the Saxon as demonstrated by the remains of a Saxon palace excavated in 1960.

During the middle ages to the Victorian Area, Cheddar was a poor village with an economy mainly based on mining. It is only with the opening of the railway in 1869, that Cheddar was given a second chance at life. The opening of the caves to the public combined with the arrival of the train turned the village into a popular tourist spot.

Lookout Tower

We start our walk by the Cliff Top trail which is on the south side of the gorge. The north side trail is called Black Rock.

Start by ascending to the top of the cliff. The path is a mix of sand and rocks which can be slippery. The rocks also present a hazard so you need to watch out where you put your feet. This part of the walk is quite steep, so it is better to start with the Cliff Top trail, whilst the Black Rock trail has stairs which make the ascent easier.

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On your way up, you find an iron tower with a roof. The structure is called the Lookout Tower. The current tower is a replacement of the old wooden one which was built in 1908. It consists of 48 stairs with a landing. At the top, you can admire the views over the Mendip Hills area and you can see as far as the Cheddar Reservoir.

You can also access the Lookout Tower via the Jacob’s Ladder, a 274 steps climb on the steep side of the cliff. The name comes from the Bible story of Jacob dreaming of a ladder between earth and heaven.

Castle Rock

As you continue your ascent to the highest point of the Cliff Top Walk, you cannot help but be surprised by little clay figures disposed on top of wooden tables. Those little sculptures are displayed all along the trail. The project was inspired by British artist Anthony Gormley to represent diversity. All the participants were asked to make a representation of themselves in clay.

You soon arrive at the viewpoint of Castle Rock. You can leave the footpath to get closer to the edge, where you can get impressive views over the gorge below as well as Cheddar Village and Reservoir. This is also a good spot for selfies.

During your walk, it is not unusual to encounter goats. They are been introduced in the area by the Longleat Estate to replace the sheep that were once roaming these slopes. The goats help maintain the biodiversity of the area and the propagation of vegetation.

Soon after Castle Rock, you reach the highest point of this walk at 254 m above sea level. From there, you start your descent through a forested area towards the second cliff: Black Rock.

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Black Rock

When you see the road and a car park at the bottom of the cliff, you think you are done with climbing. But not at all! You just completed the first cliff of this walk, and there is one more to do.

The ascent might feel steeper but it is much shorter than the first cliff. And this time you have steps, which some might find more easier to use than going up on the slippery sandy path next to it.

Once at the top, you are rewarded with a breathtaking view of the gorge and the giant walls of Castle Rock. Have a rest at the top to catch your breath and enjoy the view. You then have a levelled walk on top of the cliff.

As you get closer to the start of the descent, you notice a gate in a stone wall. Push the gate and enter the area close to the edge to take impressive pictures of the gorge with the road below.

Retrace your steps back to the main path. It is now time to go down the cliff to get to the village. The descent through a forested area is as steep as the climb but at least you are in the shade!

Happy discovery!

Cheddar Gorge Cliff Top Walk Map

Do you want to do the same walk? Download the GPS map of the walk for free by clicking on the button below. Learn how to upload the map onto your GPS app by following my step-by-step guide here.

What To Do After The Walk?

Do you want more? Well, you are in the perfect spot to continue your discovery journey. Let’s take a closer look at what you can do after the clifftop walk is over.

Visit Cox’s Cave

Also called the Dreamhunters Cave, Cox’s Cave is the smallest of the two caves you can visit in Cheddar. Mill owner George Cox discovered the cave in 1837 (hence the name), and opened it a year later to the public. Whilst visitors could only see the cave as it is back then, we now can enjoy a multimedia experience with lights, videos and sound.

Each grotto tells a story about the primitive age and how our ancestors survived and adapted to the world to strive as humankind. From hunting technics to building shelters, learn about prehistoric times as you walk deeper into the caves.

Gough’s Cave

This is the largest and most spectacular of the two caves. If you only have time to visit one, then Gough’s Cave it is!

Found and excavated by former sea captain Richard Cox Gough over the course of 6 years, the cave has been the source of many discoveries. Human remains dating from the Magdalenian period (23,000 to 14,000 years ago) include skulls turned into drinking bowls and rope-making tools made of reindeer antlers. The oldest complete human skeleton ever discovered in Britain was found in Gough’s Cave in 1903 and named Cheddar Man. A replica can be seen when you visit the cave whilst the original is at London’s Natural History Museum.

You can visit the first 820 m of the cave, where you learn more about how it was formed, and the discoveries such as the Diamond Chamber or the astonishing St Paul’s Chamber. You won’t miss a thing thanks to the audioguide!

The rest of the cave is only accessible by diving up and down river passages. Discover what is under the surface and book a cave diving experience!

Looking for more caves to visit? Check out the King’s Arthur Cave walking guide.

Other Things to Do

After two full-on cave visits, it is time for something a little bit more chill. Here are a few ideas of what you can do before heading back to London (or wherever you came from).

• Be brave and try the Cheddar ice cream. Apparently, it marries well with a scoop of mango ice cream.
• Learn how to make cheddar cheese and enjoy cheese tasting at the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company, the only cheddar-making company in Cheddar
• Browse around the local shops where you can buy Christmas decorations all year round, teddy bears, hand-made wood crafts and carvings and so much more
• Sit down for an afternoon tea or a refreshing beer at the local tea houses and pubs

Have a lovely time in Cheddar!

Final Thoughts on the Cheddar Gorge Cliff Top Walk

The Cheddar Gorge Cliff Top Walk is a must-see destination for any outdoor enthusiast. So, lace up your boots and set out for a unique exploration that will leave you breathless, energized, and inspired. Your journey will be filled with many unexpected discoveries, and at the end, you’ll be rewarded with a newfound appreciation for nature and its beauty. So don’t wait – get out there and explore!

And you, what is your favourite clifftop walk? Let me know in the comments below.

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