Cheddar Gorge clifftops
Round the rim of England's biggest gorge, up one side and back down the other.
- Distance
- 9.6 km
- Ascent
- 390 m
- Time
- 3–4 h
- Grade
- Moderate
- Route
- Circular
- High point
- 251 m
Drag along the profile to see where you are on the map.
Offline navigation is coming in the TRXO app. Hear when it launches.
Route mapped on from OpenStreetMap paths, with heights from EU-DEM terrain data; not yet checked on the ground by TRXO. Added to TRXO on . For planning only: always navigate with an up-to-date map such as OS Explorer or Harvey. How we make our routes.
About this walk
Cheddar Gorge clifftops is a moderate 9.6 km circular walk with 390 m of ascent, taking 3 to 4 hours. It starts at Cheddar (grid reference ST 464 538).
Cheddar Gorge cuts deep into the Mendip Hills, with limestone cliffs up to about 120 m high. A path climbs from the village up the south side of the gorge and follows the clifftops, with dizzying views down to the road far below.
The route crosses the gorge at its head near Black Rock and returns along the north side through woods and grassland. Feral goats and Soay sheep graze the cliffs.
Route
-
1
The south side
Climb from the village onto the clifftops on the south side of the gorge.
-
2
Black Rock
Follow the rim to the head of the gorge and cross near Black Rock.
-
3
The north side
Return along the north side back down to Cheddar.
Summit
Questions about this walk
- How long does Cheddar Gorge clifftops take?
- Most walkers take 3–4 hours for the 9.6 km route, which has 390 m of ascent. That allows for short stops; give yourself longer in winter, in poor weather or with a group.
- Where does the walk start, and where can I park?
- It starts at Cheddar (grid reference ST 464 538). Pay car parks in Cheddar village and the lower gorge.
- Can I get there by public transport?
- Buses to Cheddar from Wells and Weston-super-Mare. Check times on Traveline.
- How hard is it?
- It's graded moderate. Steep, rocky paths near unfenced cliff edges, and woodland tracks.
- Can I take my dog?
- Yes, dogs are welcome on this walk. Before you go: Keep well back from the cliff edge, which can crumble without warning, and keep dogs on a lead.
Walked this? Tell the next walker
No reviews, condition reports, walkers' photos or trip reports for this walk yet. Yours would be the first.
.jpg){kind=link}