Cheddar

The world's most famous cheese takes its name from this Somerset village, but visitors soon discover there's far more to Cheddar than dairy products. Those towering limestone cliffs create one of Britain's most dramatic gorges, where the River Yeo carved through rock over millennia to leave vertical walls rising 450 feet above the winding road.

Cheddar Gorge dominates everything here. The narrow B3135 snakes between those imposing cliffs, past cave entrances that have fascinated explorers for centuries. Jacob's Ladder - all 274 steps of it - rewards the climb with proper spectacular views across the Somerset Levels. Most tourists stick to the main drag, but locals know the quieter paths that thread through the hills above offer even better vantage points.

The village itself keeps things refreshingly low-key. None of the twee gift shop overload you might expect from such a famous spot. Instead, you'll find working cheese shops where proper farmhouse cheddar still gets aged in the traditional caves, and pubs that serve hearty meals to hikers tackling the Mendip Way.

Getting here takes a bit of planning - the nearest railway station is Weston-super-Mare, about 20 minutes by car. But that relative isolation helps preserve the area's unspoilt character. The surrounding Mendip Hills offer miles of walking territory, with ancient sites like Axbridge's medieval market square just a short drive away.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense for exploring this corner of Somerset. You're ideally placed for day trips to Glastonbury or the coast at Burnham-on-Sea, while having the gorge practically on your doorstep for early morning walks before the crowds arrive.