Cheddar Gorge trail
At almost 400ft (122m) deep and 3 miles (4.8km) long, Cheddar Gorge is England’s largest gorge. Explore one of the country's most spectacular sights along this trail, where you'll discover weathered crags and pinnacles, alongside a wide variety of plants and wildlife that call this landscape home.
Safety at Cheddar Gorge
Please do not stand under the cliffs as small rocks may fall at any time. Use only the footpaths signed for the gorge walk at the top and bottom of Cheddar Gorge. It is dangerous to depart from these footpaths.
Total steps: 10
Total steps: 10
Start point
Cheddar Visitor Information Centre, grid ref: ST 46636 53911
Step 1
Take the stony road (Cufic Lane) diagonally opposite the Visitor Information Centre in the lower Gorge area; the gatepost has markings for the Cheddar Gorge walk.
Step 2
Continue up Cufic Lane ignoring the steps on the right, and stay on the lane up past the houses. At the top of the lane, turn right to follow the public footpath and Gorge Walk waymarking arrows. Take a sharp right, turning back on yourself, up the path and through a gate. Follow this path up through the woodland for 10–15 minutes, then pass through another gate. Exit the wooded area through a gate and turn sharp right through a gap in the stone wall, keeping straight ahead on the path toward the clifftop viewpoint. Join a wide grassy path leading diagonally across the field towards the stone wall at the top of the cliffs. Keep the stone wall to your right as you ascend – you will see some wooden marker posts en-route.
Step 3
Follow the path to the top, through the kissing gate marked with the Gorge walk sign. Look back from this point for magnificent views of Cheddar, Glastonbury Tor, the Somerset levels and Bridgwater Bay. The following section is rocky in places and can become very muddy in wet weather. Follow the obvious path along the side of the Gorge before descending via a long set of steps to a deep valley.
Step 4
At the bottom of the steps head through the wooden kissing gate (marked with a Gorge walk sign) and continue straight ahead. After heading through the gate, the path leads through a wooded area and descends to meet the 'Black Rock' stony path. This stretch can become muddy.
Step 5
Where the path joins the stony track turn immediately right through a farm type gate and onto another gate to join the main Gorge road.
Step 6
Carefully cross the road, and slightly diagonally to your right join the path which rises to the other side of the Gorge (signposted Draycott and West Mendip Way). This path is steep, rocky and uneven as it rises through the woods.
Step 7
At the top the path levels out and passes through a gate to join a wide grassy path. Keep to the right; do not follow the West Mendip Way sign which branches off left. Follow the path through a set of high gates with a wooded area to your right. Rise to the brow of the hill before gradually descending. Keep the wire fence to your left and do not approach the sheer side of the Gorge over to your right. Keep to the obvious wide grassy path for your decent. This section can become exposed in windy weather so ensure you wear suitable layers.
Step 8
Follow the rocky path downwards through the woods passing through another tall gate with Pavey’s lookout tower in front of you. Please note Pavey’s lookout tower and Jacob’s Ladder steps are only open to Cheddar Gorge and Caves Explorer Ticket holders.
Step 9
Before the tower follow the path heading left and downhill through the woods (no signs) to join Lynch Lane. As you join Lynch Lane turn right and then at the end right again to walk down the narrow Lippiatt road.
Step 10
At the bottom of The Lippiatt at the junction with the main Gorge road turn right to follow the pavement back to the Visitor Information Centre.
End point
Visitor Information Centre, grid ref: ST468543
Trail map
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