Cheddar GorgeFriday started off a little gloomy, but brightened up on the way to Cheddar and by the time we got there was very hot and sunny indeed.
It was
busy! All the nearer car parks were full - we ended up at Budgens supermarket car park, a bit of a walk but that was OK (until we had to walk
back, anyway). The
Explorer Tickets are still the best value: an open-top bus ride, up the Gorge (given the weather they were only using the top of the bus, doubling the wait time but it was nevertheless the best idea) with a guide explaining the history of the Gorge.
The first photo is of the south-western side of the Gorge (the left-hand side as you head up): the second is of the rock formations called the Three Sisters. They're high and precipitous: Carol did a great job with the pic but it's one of those places you have to
be there, head back and looking straight up, to really appreciate it.
The bus drops everyone off at Gough's Cave, the main attraction. As you probably remember, I really
do not like being underground - I'm always far too aware of the vast weight of rock over my head when I'm in caves - but I can handle Gough's, there's so much there to distract me.
The third photo is of the cave Gough called the Cathedral (not St Paul's Cathedral, that's an earlier chamber). He described it as where three underground rivers met and over millions of years created a 'frozen river' effect. It's very beautiful, and very colourful, and the chamber itself is really lofty. The whole cave complex was cool - pleasantly so given the heat outside - but humid, not as comfortable as it could have been.
Can anyone else see the lioncub in this photo (the fourth in this post) of sparkling calcite deposits on the rock wall?
We checked out the Cheddar Man and the Cannibals exhibition (it was OK) then went to Cox's Cave, a much smaller and much more claustrophobic place, but possibly prettier - this beautiful 'grotto' is one of its joys.
At the end of Cox's Cave is the Crystal Quest (Elves, Dragons and Goblins) which Kai enjoyed last time we were here but this year pronounced was
lame. No surprise there - he's growing up and become a lot more fussy.
We skipped the steps and Gorge walk (tired by this time, legs aching from yesterday, and time was trundling onwards) so meandered our way back to the car via the gift shops (me looking in vain for the grumpy fairy figurine I should have bought last time we visited) and a cafe that sold unusual flavoured scoop ice-cream - I had Turkish Delight in a sugar cone, bliss.....
Watched the last of
Ultimate Force season 3 - great stuff!
#
Joules *Dances with Haddock* Taylor
pontificated this at 10:43 pm
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