Walking Sue Gearing

A “gorgeous” start to the year

WE are privileged to have here on Mendip one of the deepest and most beautiful gorges in the country at Cheddar, but I wonder how many of us actually go there very often. So, I decided to take you up there for this January circle so you can capture the amazing views in relative peace. It is a short walk, but quite a challenging one as the first half is steadily uphill on a path which is often rocky. But then, after we have reached the top of the Gorge, we head across open top Mendip, through two nature reserves and then downhill, picking up the West Mendip Way. There are three stiles and mostly the tracks are dry.

PARK: In Cheddar up Lippiatt Lane in a £5 a day car park run. As you begin to approach the Gorge itself from Cheddar village, cross a bridge and turn right opposite the Tourist Info and Ticket Office. Stay left and go up the narrow Lippiatt. The parking area is on the left with a box by the entrance for payment. Or find somewhere else to park in the village and walk up the Lippiatt to the first turn left.

START: Turn right out of the car park and after a short stretch turn up the first lane on the right, Lynch Lane. If parking in Cheddar village go up the Lippiatt and take the first left, Lynch Lane. After a few yards turn steeply up left on a rocky path following the Gorge Walk. Go under two ancient yew trees and join a track by Pavey’s Tower, sometimes known as the Lookout Tower.

1. TOWER

Built by the eccentric entrepeneur, Rowland Pavey, it opened in 1908 and was originally a wooden structure. Later it was completely restored and was built of steel as you see today. Pavey, a local mill owner, also owned nearby Jacobs Ladder, too. The views from the Lookout’s 14metre height are spectacular – looking across the windswept plateau on the Gorge’s north side and far across the Levels to the south, even as far as Exmoor.

Follow the track up and immediately pass the top of Jacob’s Ladder. Go through a gate ahead and now take this stony track uphill. Pass a first rocky outcrop on the left and a few boulders but continue a few more yards to Pulpit Rock a more significant outcrop.

2. PULPIT ROCK

It commands a prominent position on the edge of the cliffs.

You are on your way again, following the edge of this magnificent Gorge which will come into full view before too long. On the way up you’ll pass a number of information boards to help set the scene of this very special place. You may well see sure-footed grazing goats too that help to keep the vegetation under control. Take your time to stop and take in the views from the top of this 400ft deep gorge. There are different paths that follow the gorge, but take care if you go close to the edge.

3. THE PINNACLES

Arrive near the top at the Pinnacles, a very dramatic rock formation crowning the

With Sue Gearing

3.4 miles, about 2.5 hours walking. Map: OS Explorer 141, Cheddar Gorge & Mendip Hills West. Grid Ref: 464 534, Sat Nav: BS27 3QP

edge of the gorge. For the best view follow the path which goes round the edge to the Pinnacles itself.

There is a famous story concerning the young Saxon King, Edmund, who nearly lost his life on these precipitous cliffs and it could well have been here at the Pinnacles. Edmund had a palace in Cheddar – believed to be where the Kings of Wessex school now is. Edmund had given into jealous pressure to dismiss a priest called Dunstan from his court. Many in Edmund’s court were envious of how much notice the young king took of this priest. So it was that Dunstan was sent back to the abbey at Glastonbury. Whilst out hunting along the top of the cliffs one day, Edmund’s hounds pursued a stag to the gorge edge, it tried to leap away but fell to its death rapidly followed by the pack of hounds. Edmund’s horse was likewise taken up by the chase and its reins broke so the young king had no way of stopping. He is said to have cried out in sorrow at the way he had treated Dunstan. At the very last moment the horse veered away from the sharp drop and the king’s life was saved. In gratitude he went straight to Glastonbury and restored Dunstan to life in the court.

Soon arrive at a wooden gate and stile, turn right away from the gorge edge. Reach a large metal gate which leads onto a stony track.

4. TRACK

Follow this, going across the top of

Mendip for about 0.6 miles. There is a gate on the way, and then, as you drop down, pass a fenced dewpond over right and almost immediately go through a gate ahead. Now change direction. Fork right across the grass and after a few yards meet a wide grassy track coming up between two small trees.

5. BRISTOL GATE

Turn right on this and follow it up to a Bristol Gate (a large field gate with a smaller pedestrian gate built in). Once through, go down to the left and follow the edge round until you find a gate on the left. Head across the open limestone grassland to a wooden kissing gate. Then continue the same line across the next field, part of Middledown Nature Reserve, passing to the right of a small pond and building. Take the left of two gates on the far side. In this field go ahead – don’t go up – and continue across. Over left on the rocky side you can see a disused limekiln. Eventually reach the far hedge and carry on with the hedge on your left to a stile.

6. BUBWITH ACRES

This leads you over into another nature reserve – Bubwith Acres.

Here in spring and summer you can enjoy a great variety of wild flowers. There are views again across the Levels and across Cheddar and the Reservoir.

The grassy track takes you gently on and down. Come to another Bubwith Acres information board and leave the reserve through a kissing gate.

7. MENDIP WAY

You have joined the Mendip Way. Follow it all the way downhill for just over half a mile back to Lynch Lane. Reach the Lippiatt and return to where you started.