The cheese may be more famous than the town, but Cheddar remains a one-of-a-kind camping spot.
The Somerset village of Cheddar is best known among the culinary crowd for its eponymous cheese, but nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts know it for the spectacular Cheddar Gorge and the Cheddar Caves. Cheddar has a couple of places to camp—a well-equipped caravan park as well as a campsite with cabin accommodation—and its location at the foot of the Mendip Hills AONB affords additional camping options. While campers can enjoy the peace and quiet of this rural area, Cheddar is also conveniently close to the small cities of Bridgwater and Taunton, as well as the larger centres of Bath and Bristol.
You don’t have to use too much imagination to think of the most popular things to do in Cheddar.
Unless you’re visiting Cheddar for its cheese, you’re likely coming to check out the Cheddar Gorge or the Cheddar Caves, the star attractions just outside town. The caves are a family-friendly subterranean network of caverns full of prehistoric rock formations, while the limestone Cheddar Gorge is a magnet for walkers, climbers, cavers, and sightseers—some hiking routes are steep but provide great views through the gorge and across the Somerset landscape. It’s no surprise that camping is a popular way to stay nearby.
Cheddar is right on the edge of the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), a range of limestone hills in Somerset’s northeast. Hidden within the hills are deep gorges, rocky outcrops, and the pretty lakes of the Chew Valley. Cheddar is a good camping base for checking out the AONB, or there are camping, glamping, and caravan sites dotted around the Mendip Hills, although wild camping isn’t allowed.
Southwest of Cheddar lies England’s first AONB, Quantock Hills, a relatively small area of heath, woodlands, parklands, and agricultural land. Campers staying in Cheddar can easily visit the Quantock Hills on a day trip for hiking, cycling, and wildlife-viewing adventures. There are also many campsites at the base of the hills that allow visitors to access the AONB on foot or by bike.
Summer is the best time to visit Cheddar, when the weather is generally warm and pleasant and the days long—ideal for tent or caravan camping and outdoor adventures. Campers visiting outside of summer should be prepared with cold-weather and waterproof gear, or stay in cabins rather than unheated tents or caravans.