CHEDDAR, SOMERSET / CIRCULAR
Cheddar Gorge Circular Walk: Clifftops and Public Return
Walk above Cheddar Gorge on a circuit using both sides of the gorge, with a public footpath return and clear advice about the ticketed steps.
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At a glance
Why this walking route is worth doing
Cheddar is at its best when you leave the shops below and see the shape of the gorge from above. The climb earns a view of the opposing cliffs, with open grassland and limestone underfoot. This is a proper hill walk, even though it begins in a busy visitor village.
The circuit here starts further up the gorge than the older lower-village visitor-centre route. It combines the northern and southern paths with a public lane return. Save cave visits and shopping for afterwards rather than rushing the clifftops to meet a timed ticket.
Our mapped circuit is about 5.5 km. The National Trust’s promoted Cheddar Gorge Trail is 6.4 km from a different, lower start. This line uses the public Lynch Lane/Lippiatt return rather than requiring the ticketed Jacob’s Ladder descent. Follow current public-path signs; entry to the caves and other paid attractions is separate.
Where to stay
Cheddar: The most convenient base for village meals and an early walking start.
Wells: Useful for combining the gorge with a cathedral-city break; plan the drive or bus separately.
The accommodation map is centred on Cheddar. Compare your own dates, cancellation terms and the journey to the actual trailhead. Check breakfast times, parking, dog charges and somewhere to dry wet kit before booking. Booking through some links may earn Days Out Now a commission, at no extra cost to you.
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Mapped and ready
See the real route before you set off
Open the interactive map before setting off and save an offline map for the walk.
Useful overnight bases
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Cheddar
Cheddar, England
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Wells, England
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Step-by-step directions
Follow the route
Climb the northern side
Join the signed northern gorge walking approach from the upper visitor-information area. Gain height on the established path rather than an informal slope. Check your position where woodland gives way to more open ground.
Continue towards Black Rock
Follow the northern rim network towards Black Rock and the gorge-road crossing. The broad view is the reason to take your time here, but keep photographs away from the edge.
Walk the southern clifftop
Cross the road carefully and continue on the mapped southern circuit. Follow the path through its changes of surface and gradient. The line stays on the walking network rather than entering caves or paid attractions.
Use the public return
Complete the circuit using the Lynch Lane/Lippiatt public connection. Do not substitute the ticketed Jacob’s Ladder steps. Return to the mapped start, then make your own connection to parking.
Things to do on another day
Compare the provider’s current activities for a longer stay. Check the meeting point, duration and travel time; keep a demanding walk as its own outing.
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Before you go
Practical information
Route checked against mapped paths on 2 October 2026. This circular measures approximately 5.5 km along the supplied OpenStreetMap line. It does not include travel from your accommodation, optional detours or time spent at attractions. Walking time is a planning estimate, with room for short stops.
Download the file before leaving and use it with a detailed offline walking map. The KML is independently assembled from OpenStreetMap paths, rather than a recorded walk or a route copied from another travel publisher. It has been checked for continuous mapped segments; this is not an on-foot condition survey. Current closures, landowner notices and signed diversions take priority.
Route data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0.
Parking
Choose a designated Cheddar village/gorge car park and read its current charges. Walk to the upper visitor-information area; the KML starts on the public walking approach, not at an allocated parking bay.
Tickets and booking
No cave or Jacob’s Ladder admission is included in this public-path plan. Pay parking charges and any separately chosen attraction ticket. Do not assume an attraction ticket is needed to walk every public path.
Seasonal considerations
Choose good visibility and manageable wind. The Trust advises against the gorge trail in fog or high winds. Wet limestone and muddy descents need slower footing.
Toilets and refreshments
Use village toilets, cafés and shops before climbing. There are no dependable services along the clifftop sections. The National Trust asks for dogs to be kept on short leads.
Terrain
Steep ascents, rough limestone, grass and woodland paths, with a road crossing in the Black Rock area. The lane return still needs care around vehicles.
Accessibility
Do not assume this complete route is step-free. Uneven surfaces, gradients and any steps require an individual access assessment; a flat-looking map is insufficient.
Dogs
Check the land manager’s current dog rules. Keep dogs controlled around livestock, wildlife and other walkers; a lead is essential where signs require it. Arrange care instead if entry rules exclude dogs.
Public transport
Check current services to Cheddar and the walk from the village stop to the upper start. No direct railway start is included. Allow extra time uphill before joining the circuit.
Road conditions, tolls or permits
Use the exact start coordinates to locate the walking entrance. Follow current local parking, access-road and signed restriction information.
Safety
Keep well back from cliff edges. Cross the gorge road where the trail rejoins it, checking both directions. Avoid stopping beneath unstable cliff faces and do not follow an attraction entrance as a public shortcut.
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Useful answers
Cheddar Gorge Circular Walk: Clifftops and Public Return FAQs
Why is this shorter than the National Trust trail?
It starts in the upper gorge rather than at the Trust’s older lower-village start, and follows its own public-path connection.
Do I need a cave ticket?
Not for the public-path circuit described here. Caves and ticketed steps are separate attractions.
Does it use Jacob’s Ladder?
No. The return uses the public Lynch Lane/Lippiatt connection.
Can I walk it in fog?
Choose another outing: exposed edges and junctions are poor places to navigate in low visibility.
Can dogs come?
The Trust’s guidance asks for short leads. Follow local signs and keep dogs away from edges and livestock.
Can I use the KML in a walking app?
Import it into an app that supports KML, or into your own map project. Check that the whole route is visible after importing. Download the underlying map for offline use too: a line without terrain, paths and place names is a poor navigation aid.
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