British Walking Federation

CHEDDAR  GORGE WALK ORGANISED BY THE BWF NATIONAL COMMITTEE

CONTACT : Roger Baker, 12 Burwood Grove, Hayling Island, Hampshire PO11 9DS   
Tel: 02392 462005     E-mail: trails@bwf-ivv.org.uk

DISTANCE:  10km
ENTRY FEE:  £1.00 per walker  (Cheques payable to BWF)
AWARD:  Cloth Badge at £2.00 each
DIRECTIONS FROM NEAREST TOWN:   Bristol - Take A38 south from Bristol and Turn Left onto A371 towards Wells and Cheddar. At Cheddar, Turn Left on B3135 sign posted "Cheddar Gorge and Caves". Continue along this road to reach mini roundabout with "The Riverside Inn" opposite. Turn Right and immediately Turn Left into Cliff Street car park (Pay and Display).
START VENUE:  Cliff Street Car Park, Cheddar     Map182 GR ST462533
COACH & CAR PARKING:  Cliff Street car park (Pay and Display).
PUBLIC TRANSPORT:  Cheddar is served by Badgerline buses running from Weston to Wells.
REFRESHMENTS:  At the start and on the route.

ROUTE DESCRIPTION (updated 10-05-2008)

Leave car park and Turn Right on road. Continue ahead at mini roundabout, passing The Riverside Inn on Right Hand side. Continue on this road as it makes its way up through the lower end of Cheddar gorge. Follow road passing "Jacobs Ladder" and continue to pass hotel and water features on left. At end of water feature, turn left immediately in front of "Cheddar Toy and Model Museum" and pass through wooden gates onto track (note public footpath sign on gate post). Continue on track until it changes to a tarmac surface, passing cottage on left. In 200m at open field on left and in front of black metal gates turn right onto Footpath.

Q1 – What is the name of the cottage and house

Follow path round cottage and after approximately 100m at path junction by electricity pole, turn sharp right following the path which climbs back up the hill to the right. Follow this path uphill for approximately 900m following "Gorge walk" arrows. Go through kissing gate in stone wall and bear left. Continue to follow footpath uphill. (Don't forget to stop at intervals to admire the views behind you over the Somerset countryside).

Cross stile and continue ahead for 10m turn right, following direction of yellow arrow. Follow path uphill for approximately 600m following line of an overgrown wall on right, ignoring all turnings on right. Continue ahead until you reach a flagstone stile at the corner of a wall National Trust sign Piney Sleight.  Cross stile straight on to wall corner and follow path ½ Left to gate/stile, over stile by gate and follow path on left hand side of field keeping stone wall and water trough on left to wall corner.  Follow path and continue ahead through 7 bar metal gate to reach left hand corner of field and flagstone stile to the Left of the farmhouse garden. Cross stile and continue ahead following at top of garden to flagstone stile in wall.  Cross stile and turn ½ right to gateway

Q2 – What is the name of the farm

Turn Left on farm track.  Follow track to cross cattle grid and immediately turn right onto West Mendip Way, (broken signpost), following right hand edge of field crossing stile half way along field to eventually reach gate and stile, next to West Mendip Way signpost. Cross stile and follow main path as it bears left into Long Wood keeping wall on Left. Continue ahead on main path which descends through the trees to reach kissing gate next to gate. Go through and follow path ahead in the same direction as before. Follow the main path through Black Rock Nature Reserve for approximately 850m ignoring all turnings. At gate continue ahead over stile on track to reach road. Cross road with extreme care bearing slightly right and take rocky footpath uphill. Follow main footpath as it climbs steeply through the woods for approximately 500m to reach gate and West Mendip Way signpost.

Q3 - What is written below the arrow for the direction in which you are traveling?

Go through gate and continue along path for approximately 100m to reach fork in paths. Bear Right on Bridleway following arrow for "Cheddar Show Caves Gorge Walk”. Follow path to reach high metal kissing gate in fence, go through and continue ahead through gap in fence, follow main path to Left alongside wire fence to reach high ground above Cheddar Gorge.  Continue ahead downhill, after pausing to view the reservoir, countryside, and on a clear day the Bristol Channel, on main path to eventually reach high metal kissing gate in fence.  Go through to reach 'Pavey's Lookout Tower'. Bear Left in front of tower on Footpath and follow path downhill through trees to reach tarmac drive. Turn right.

Q4 – What is the name of the cottage on the right

Follow road downhill to junction. Turn right continuing downhill to reach main road. Turn left crossing the river and follow road to roundabout and car park on left. 

When you have completed this trail please use the  Permanent Trail Entry Form

The organisers are not liable for accidents, thefts and/or damage to property.  Every effort will be made by the organisers to make this a safe, enjoyable and memorable event.

This trail is registered until 31 December 2009.