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Cheddar Caves & Gorge
Contact Info
Cheddar Caves & GorgeCheddar Caves & Gorge
Cheddar
Somerset
BS27 3QF
Tel: 01934 742343
Fax: 01934 744637
Email: info@cheddarcaves.co.uk
Cheddar Gorge, a place of wild and rugged beauty, is a karst limestone and calcareous grassland nature reserve and home to many rare plants and animals, including endangered Greater Horseshoe bats. Cheddar Caves, inhabited by our ancestors up to 40,000 years ago, were discovered by Messrs Gough & Cox, enterprising Victorian showmen, and are world famous for their spectacular stalactite and stalagmite decorations, whose beautiful colours are mirrored in pools of water. Easy-to-use audio-guides in English, French and German tell the story of the caves’ formation and discovery. These caves also fired the imagination of JRR Tolkien, author of the trilogy “Lord of the Rings”, on his honeymoon visit in 1916. “The Crystal Quest”, our own dark-walk fantasy adventure, creates a similar world of elven magic and bold adventure underground – because everyone knows that dragons live in caves…..
Our new museum of pre-history, “Cheddar Man & the Cannibals”, explores 40,000 years of British pre-history, with demonstrations of Stone Age survival skills and beautiful cave art. But can you face the truth about why our Homo-sapiens ancestors, throughout the world for most of pre-history, were cannibals? From April to September, an open-top double-decker bus takes you on a sightseeing tour through Cheddar Gorge, beneath rocky pinnacles rising sheer above you, the home of the Peregrine falcons. There are 274 steps to reach a lookout tower for stunning views of this limestone countryside, then a 3-mile cliff-top walk right around Britain’s biggest gorge, climbing 400 ft above the road, through this internationally important nature reserve.
All these attractions are included in your “Caves & Gorge Explorer Ticket”; so allow at least 4 hours to fit everything in.
For more adventurous thrill-seekers, who are looking for high adrenaline action, try our Rock Sport Outdoor Pursuits. Adventure Caving Expeditions or Climbing & Abseiling 1 ½ hour sessions, with all equipment provided, led by qualified sports instructors, take place daily on our well-equipped, well-maintained sites registered with the National Adventure Activities Licensing Authority. Minimum age 11 years and minimum height 4’8”. We recommend that you book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Opening Times
Opening - 2008 1 Jan 2008 - 23 Dec 2008
| Day | Opening Times |
|---|---|
| Monday | 10:30 - 17:00 |
| Tuesday | 10:30 - 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 10:30 - 17:00 |
| Thursday | 10:30 - 17:00 |
| Friday | 10:30 - 17:00 |
| Saturday | 10:30 - 17:00 |
| Sunday | 10:30 - 17:00 |
| Bank Holiday | 10:00 - 17:30 |
* Open Every Day 10.30am - 5.00pm
July, August and Bank Holidays open 10am - 5.30pm
Tickets Information
| Ticket Type | Ticket Tariff* |
|---|---|
| Explorer - Family | from £39.50 |
| Explorer - Adult | from £15.00 |
| RockSport - Adult | from £15.00 |
| Explorer - Child | from £9.50 |
| RockSport - Child | from £9.50 |
| Senior Citizens | from £8.50 |
| Disabled | from £7.50 |
Road Directions
Nearest motorway is M5. Leave motorway at junction 22 and at roundabout take 3rd exit (A38 north) signposted Cheddar Caves. Follow brown signs to A38 junction with A371, turning right onto A371 follow road to Cheddar outskirts and, at BP petrol station, turn onto B3135 to Cheddar Gorge. From Bristol take A38. From Bath take A39 then B3135.
Public Transport Directions
Nearest railway station is Weston super Mare. 126-bus service leaves every hour at 2 minutes past the hour and takes approximately 50 minutes to Cheddar. 126 service also operates from Wells, leaving every hour at 40 minutes past the hour, taking approximately 25 minutes to Cheddar (Mon – Sat). Less frequent service on Sundays.
Facilities
- Out of Hours Visits
Provider Preferences
- In countryside
- Indoor Attraction
- Outdoor Attraction
- Smoking Some Areas
- Village Location
Accessibility
- All Areas Accessible to Disabled Visitors
- Facilities for Hearing Impaired Visitors - Explorer audio guides, guide books, video and pictorial displays.
- Facilities for Visually Impaired Visitors - Braille guidebook, guided tours for blind parties.
- Guide Dogs Permitted
- Parking Areas for Disabled Visitors
- Ramp/Level Access
- Toilets for Disabled Visitors
Parking & Transport
- Coach Parking
- On site parking
- Parking (charge) - For cars
Catering
- On-Site café/restaurant - Cafe bar seats 100. Tea, coffee, lunches, afternoon tea, snacks.
- Picnic Site
Payment Methods
- American Express accepted
- Approx length of visit - 4 - 5 hours
- Blue Badge Guides admitted free
- Delta accepted
- Diners Club accepted
- Groups Accepted - Essential to prebook.Pre-booking is preferred for large groups.
- JCB accepted
- Maestro accepted
- MasterCard accepted
- Max group size - 200
- Min group size - 12
- Open by appointment outside normal opening times
- Solo accepted
- Special group rates
- TIC Staff Admitted Free
- Visa accepted
Establishment Features
- Audio Commentary in Foreign Languages
- Conference facilities
- Dogs Accepted
- Event Venue
- Open all year
- Printed Material in Foreign Languages
- Toilets
Specialist Features
- Marketed towards families
- Marketed towards senior citizens
- Marketed towards student/youth
Audio Commentary in Foreign Languages
- French audio guide
- German audio guide
Printed Material in Foreign Languages
- French printed material
- German printed material
- Spanish printed material
Tours and Demonstrations
- Demonstrations Given
- Educational Visits Accepted
- Guided Tours Available for Groups