Directions
Mendip View is conveniently situated off the A371 and offers easy access to the A38 and the M5. Bristol Airport is around 10 miles away and the village bus service links Cheddar with Axbridge, Weston-super-Mare and WellsLeisure
A feast for your senses
Cheddar Cheese has been produced here since the 12th Century and to this day, is still stored in the Cheddar Caves to mature.
Cheddar and the surrounding countryside have plenty to tempt everyone’s tastes, from cosy tearooms and welcoming restaurants to traditional pubs and takeaways.
Home-cooked food, real ale and local ciders are available at the Bath Arms Hotel for example, whilst the quaint Lion Rock Tearooms, based at the foot of the famous Lion Rock, serve traditional cream teas and has been voted one of the best tearooms in the UK.
Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy a visit to The Sweet Kitchen and of course, you can buy Cheddar cheese straight from The Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company where you can see the cheese being made in the dairy.
For a real treat, book a table at the Michelin-starred Pony and Trap in Chew Magna, around 16 miles away.
Somerset is home to numerous fairs and food festivals. The Wells Food Festival features a wide range of events and attractions including gourmet meals and over 100 producers and street vendors in the Artisan Market where a diverse mix of local food and drinks are showcased.
Treasures on your doorstep
The Cheddar Valley Railway opened in 1870 and was known as the Strawberry Line, as it passed many of the village’s strawberry-growing fields. ‘Strawberry Special’ trains then ferried the fruit all over the country until 1965.
There’s so much going on in Cheddar that you’re sure to feel at home very quickly – from the fun annual Duck Race, the Cheddar Arts and Fringe Festivals to the free Walking Festival that takes place over the August Bank Holiday. There really is something for everyone.
Cheddar’s unique location means you can try a whole range of different activities, from rock-climbing, caving and gliding. The Cheddar Reservoir is a short stroll from Strawberry Felds and it is here that you could try your hand at fishing or sailing too.
As well as Cheddar Gorge, other local attractions include Wookey Hole Caves,
Glastonbury Tor and the seaside at Weston-super-Mare.
Education
As well as being an idyllic place for families of all ages to live, Cheddar is the perfect place to learn as there are three schools on your doorstep that cater for all age groups.
Cheddar First School is 15 minutes walk away and Fairlands Middle School is around five minutes away by car. The highly regarded Kings of Wessex Academy is less than a mile away and boasts superb drama and IT facilities together with an on-site Leisure Centre. All three schools have been rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted.
In the independent sector, there are a number of excellent schools to choose from. Sidcot School in Winscombe is a co-ed boarding and day school offering a Quaker education to 13-18 year olds. The historic Wells Cathedral School is among the oldest schools in Europe - it is also the only Specialist Music School set within a day and boarding school.
Millfield School in Street is now the largest co-educational boarding school in the UK and boasts a distinguished list of alumni including Olympic athletes, politicians, broadcasters, academics and high-profile business leaders.
Many students from Cheddar travel to Bridgwater, Strode and Weston College and there are a number of well-respected Universities in both Bath and Bristol for older students in search of further education locally.Shopping
Life in charming Cheddar
As long ago as 1130, the beauty of Cheddar Gorge was described as ‘one of the Four Wonders of England’.
Famed the world over for its dramatic landscape and, of course, its cheese, the thriving village of Cheddar has all the modern-day facilities you could need.
Dotted around the 15th Century Market Cross and surrounded by ancient buildings, you’ll find a variety of independent shops, a Medical Centre, dentist, banks, Post Office and a Building Society, together with two supermarkets, a butcher and a host of quaint cafes, pubs and restaurants.
Those in need of more serious retail therapy, will find plenty on offer in the ancient city of Wells just nine miles away and in Bristol, around 18 miles away. Less than an hour’s drive away, Catherine Hill in Frome has an enviable reputation for its range of quirky independent shops, vintage boutiques and monthly artisans market.
The more sporty members of the family will appreciate the fact that the Kings Fitness and Leisure Centre has a heated indoor swimming pool and offers a superb choice of activities for everyone. There are a range of village sports clubs and societies to get involved with too, from cricket, rugby and football to running, hockey, cycling, singing and sailing. There’s even a skatepark on your doorstep at Cheddar Reservoir.