Cheddar Gorge and Achy Legs

Today we stayed local and spent the day at Cheddar Gorge.  We have been for walks here before through the village but never entered the caves until today.  It was fantastic, the children loved it. 

We went into Goughs Cave first, it was described as "the splendour of Britain's most beautiful stalactite cavern where Cheddar Man, Britain's oldest skeleton, was found" and after visiting I agree.  I was amazing.  We were lucky as we were there as the caves opened and so it was very quiet walking around.  We all had audio guides and choose to listen to the children's guide on our trip round.  Both Tom and Lottie loved it, we saw lots of different rock formations and stalactites and stalagmites.  The children completed an Easter Egg hunt and were given a choice of prize at the end.  They both picked the notebook.

After lunch at Costa Coffee we went into the smaller and narrower cave, Coxs Cave.  This also had some amazing stalactites and mirror pools. 

After the second ice cream of the year, we climbed the 274 steps up the side of Cheddar Gorge and then the 48 more to the top of the Lookout Tower.  Our legs were aching by now (especially having climbed the 558 steps at the castle yesterday).  The views were amazing and the sun was shining, we could see for miles.

We decided to continue along the cliff top walk.  Hubby said its only a 3-mile walk!  We didn't factor in the fact we were 900feet above sea level and it was rocky underfoot and an incredibly steep climb up and then down and then up the other side and then down again!  The views were breath taking walking along the skyline, the children loved exploring and with a few stops to eat chocolate Easter eggs and rest our legs we did the entire walk.  The children, especially Lottie were super stars and didn't complain once about aching legs and being tired.  Some of it was hard going especially all the steps, and my legs certainly were aching!!!!

We definitely earned a treat at the old fashioned sweet shop in the village and we caught the open topped tour bus back to the car!  We had a great day and I am looking forward to putting my feet up with a Friday night glass of wine now!