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Cheddar Gorge

Wessex Attractions: Cheddar Gorge

Carved into the limestone of the Mendip Hills, Cheddar Gorge is one of the great natural wonders of Wessex, as well as being the home of Cheddar Man, still the oldest complete human skeleton found in the British Isles at the time of writing. Dating back to the mesolithic era, DNA analysis shows genetic links to people still living in the area. He probably had green eyes and dark skin, and was lactose intolerant. The Cheddar Man Museum of Prehistory contains more information about mesolithic settlement in the area.

The south side of the Gorge is owned by the Longleat estate, while the north side is owned by the National Trust. Conflict between the two emerged in 2013 when Ceawlin Thynne, who manages Longleat, proposed a 600-metre cable car to take visitors up the side of the Gorge. The National Trust believed that this would be a blight on the natural landscape. The matter currently remains unresolved.

Cheddar Gorge is home to flocks of feral goats and sheep, as well as dormice and horseshoe bats. Birdlife includes grasshopper warblers, ravens and several raptor species, while there is also an endemic plant species, the Cheddar pink.

The spectacular landscape was used as one of the settings (along with nearby Wookey Hole) for the HTV fantasy series Into the Labyrinth, as well as providing the inspiration for Helm’s Deep in Lord of the Rings.

Cheddar Gorge is served by buses 66, 126 and 668, the nearest bus stop being Tweentown. The postcode for satnav purposes is BS27 3QF.

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