A Cheesy Quest in the West Country

As you are well aware, I like to have adventures. And one of my recent adventures was definitely a "cheesy" one.

In the car we got and off we drove to the West Country, which, despite the epic rain is gorgeous country - and home to Cheddar Gorge.  

Now, you may guess by the name, but Cheddar Gorge is in fact, home of Cheddar Cheese. Oh yes, that famous cheese, loved the world over, originates from a small, sleepy (and now rather touristy)  village in Somerset.

The village itself isn't just known for it's cheese- but also the famed Cheddar Gorge and Caves, which despite the adornment of a large Costa Coffee, felt to me more like Switzerland, with cobblestones, rushing waterfalls and rivers, and enough mountain goats on the hillside to make me burst into song a'la Sound of Music. 

For the sum of £18.50 you can explore the caves, and take an open top bus through the gorge. The caves themselves were discovered by cousins (I think!) Gough and Cox. 

Gough's Cave is an epic winding cavern of stalagmites, dripping water, still pools and also where they found the remains of Cheddar Man - Britain's oldest skeleton. What I find more impressive was that they actually mature Cheddar Cheese IN the caves, giving the place a slightly moudly smell. (You can taste some of the Cave Matured Cheddar at many of the cheese shops in town) 

 Cox's Cave is slightly lower brow, and home the Crystal Quest, an animatronic journey through time to find a crystal. 

Throw in some cliff top walks, a lookout and some moderately spectacular views and you do have, a genuinely lovely little place. 

But no trip to Cheddar would be complete without, of course, sampling the wares famous the world over. The Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company proudly claims to be home to the only Cheddar made in Cheddar, and has enough samples out to satisfy avid cheese lovers - if you can get to them through the hoardes of American tourists.

I recommend finishing your trip to Cheddar Gorge with afternoon tea at The Wishing Well Teashop - It's quaint, the cakes are good and it feels sufficiently Ye Olde English.