~Cheddar Gorge and Wells~
10th June 2010
The third full day of the Bristol holiday. It was time for a visit to Cheddar Gorge. I'd read the leaflet produced by the owners of the caves and I was a little concerned about the way the visit would pan out and whether or not we would get value for money. The cliff top walk looked a good prospect.
Gorge Beck
Scroll down for photos and a description of the day
The Open Top Bus
We parked up in Cheddar and bought the only ticket on offer from "Cheddar Caves and Gorge" (part of Longleat Enterprises!) - the £17 Adult Caves and Gorge Explorer Ticket. The weather was overcast, cool and breezy and the short ride on top of the bus was essential to see most of the gorge.
Cheddar Gorge
My first thought was what a shame it is that a road goes up the gorge. Towering cliffs on either side, a herd of wild goats roam on the left-side.
Looking Up
The Steepest Cliff
After the short bus journey up and down the gorge, we went into Gough's Cave. Richard Gough was the man who discovered the largest cave in the gorge and allowed the cave to be named after him.
Gough's Cave
The cave is well lit and all the floor areas have been concreted over, making the exploration safe for all.
Cheese Store
Cheddar cheese is stored in the cave. Visitors can carry an audio guide which talks you round the cave, however the exagerrated west country drone and the pace of the guided walk caused us to switch the devices off.
Tufa
Stalagwotsits
Some go up, some come down, some are mites, some are tites. There's lots of these in the cave.
Cave Dweller
This chap explains all about the life and times of the early cave dwellers. The ticket allows for a visit into a museum, another cave and a climb up to an observation tower.
Cedar
In the lower parts of the gorge, there is a mill pond and some fine old trees. One viewer may care to notice that a shop (on the left) carries her name.
The Steps
Cheddar
The main village of Cheddar is away from the gorge and Cheddar Reservoir is clearly seen. We are stood on the tower and the views were hindered by the grey clouds all around.
Cheddar Gorge from The Tower
Well, was that £17 (each) well spent? We opted not to do the cliff top circuit, mainly due to the gloomy outlook in each direction and so made our way back down the steps. A decision was made to head to Wells and have a bit to eat there and see what this little city had to offer.
Wells Cathedral
We had a walk through Wells and a bite to eat and then came across this fine building. Wells is so named after the five springs which are found just behind the cathedral. Work started on the present cathedral c.1180 and much of what is seen today was complete within 60 years. Building work continued around the cathedral and the last bit, the South Cloister was completed in 1508.
The Nave from The West End
This is the first view that greets the visitor. Photographs can only be taken upon purchase of a permit for £3; entry to the cathedral is by donation at a recommended rate of £5.50 per person. Try to imagine the early days, with no glass in the windows, no seats, no heating. Note the Scissor Arches - see later.
Looking Up
The design of the cathedral is Gothic, with pointy tops to all the arches, as oppose to the earlier Roman stlye with rounded tops.
The West Window
This window has been replaced quite often down the years as gales blowing in from the West across the Somerset levels have caused considerable damage.
The Scissor Arches
There are three sets of Scissor Arches. These were designed by and built under the guidance of the architect, William Joy, in 1338 as a consequence of the supporting pillar on one side beginning to sink under the weight of the tower. We are told that there has been no further subsidence since that time.
The Organ
The Quire
The Clock
For more information on all aspects of the cathedral including this remarkable clock, try the official website, Wells Cathedral.
We took a guided tour and our thanks go to Robin who told us so much more than we could have learnt by just walking round. I strongly recommend a visit to this remarkable historic building.
Houses - Look! No Cars
A day of two halves. Give me Malham and Gordale Scar any day ahead of the Cheddar Gorge - spoilt by a road running straight through and greedy commercialisation. Wells is a great place to visit.
Day Trippers: Karen and me.
Time taken: Most of the day.
Points of Interest: Cheddar Gorge and Wells.
Weather and conditions: Dull, overcast and a little breezy.
Greetings Count: High, again. I miss the early starts and long Lakeland valleys!
Richard's Refreshment Review: I'm going to give this a miss today. There are lots of cafes in Wells and I fear we picked one of the poorer ones. But the staff worked hard and I'm not a proper critic and they can't answer back, so we'll leave it at that. Stick to the main street.
All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2010 ©
Take me back to the start ....