Cheddar Gorge is a very popular climbing destination in the UK. This virtual tour image shows some people roped up and climbing some of the routes found in the south side of the Narrows which, as the name suggests, is the narrowest point of Cheddar Gorge. The highest cliffs can be seen on the other side of the gorge in this image. 360 panorama taken in April 2011.

Cheddar Gorge - Climbing - Cheddar visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Cheddar Gorge - Climbing' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Somerset.

Cheddar Gorge in Somerset is the longest gorge in England. The cliffs around the gorge rise to 137m above the floor of the Gorge and attract a large number of climbers. There are also various caves in the limestone hills suitable for caving. In all, about 350 officially graded climbing routes ascend the 27 cliffs of Cheddar Gorge. Each officially named route is included in the British Mountaineering Council guidebook. Climbing on the northern side is available most of the year, but climbing on various parts, especially the highest parts, of the southern side are restricted during the peak tourist season.

Cheddar Gorge - Climbing Restrictions

Access to the cliffs on the southern side of Cheddar Gorge for climbing is managed by Cheddar Gorge & Cave group. Various date restrictions apply to accessing certain routes as laid out on their climbing page, which also states that:

'Climbing Access is granted freely by Cheddar Caves & Gorge for non-profit Recreational Climbing on a volenti non fit injuria basis to climbers who are current members of the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) or the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS), or members of their affiliated clubs, who thus have Third Party Liability Insurance against injury or damage to third parties or their property provided for them by the BMC/MCofS, and to those climbers who are not BMC/MCofS members but who have lodged their name, address and a copy of their Third Party Liability Insurance with Cheddar Caves & Gorge office, situated above Gough's Cave. Volenti non fit injuria is a Common Law doctrine, which states "to a willing person, no injury is done". Climbing is a dangerous sport willingly undertaken by climbers and thus climbers are assumed to consent to the risk of being injured themselves while climbing.'

Cheddar Gorge - Other Attractions

For those not interested in climbing, Cheddar Gorge has plenty more to offer. Many of the paid tourist attractions are covered by a single ticket, including the Cheddar Man Museum, Gough's showcaves, Crystal Caves, Cheddar Gorge open-bus tours and access up Jacob's Ladder steps to a panoramic viewing tower on top of the cliffs.

Above Cheddar Gorge, on both the north and south side, are numerous walking and hiking trails, with dramatic panoramic views over the gorge and surrounding area.

Cheddar Tourist Information Centre
The Gorge,
Cheddar,
Somerset BS27 3QE
Phone: +44 (0)1934 744071

Car: Cheddar Gorge is about a mile from Cheddar on the B3135. It is 20 miles south of Bristol, 13 miles east of Weston-super-Mare and 25 miles west of Bath.
Train: Weston-super-Mare Rail Station
Flight: Bristol International Airport