Cheddar Gorge

At almost 400 feet deep and three miles long, Cheddar Gorge is England's largest gorge, a cleft of weathered limestone crags cut through the Mendip Hills by Ice Age meltwater before the Cheddar Yeo river went underground to form the caves. The National Trust owns the north side, but not the caves or any of the car parks. Peregrine falcons nest on the cliffs, feral goats and Soay sheep graze the slopes, and the rare Cheddar pink grows on the cliff edges. Cheddar Man, Britain's oldest complete skeleton at an estimated 9,000 years old, was found in a cave here. The Trust's 4-mile Cheddar Gorge trail climbs both sides from the village, while the 1-mile Black Rock limekiln walk is flat and easy. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a lead because of the steep cliffs. Reviewers praise the views and warn that the main circuit is steep and rocky in places. One tip from regular visitors: there is no Trust parking, so use the pay and display car parks in the village or the spaces along the gorge road.