20/12/2001: Cheddar Gorge
The cheese used to be stored in the caves to mature.
The gorge walls are about 120m high
Gough's Cave
"Cheddar Man" is a 9000 year old skeleton found in one of the caves.
They went to compare the DNA from the skeleton with the local school kids.
When the kids baulked at giving a sample (via cheek swap) the teacher - who only moved into the district five months before - said "It's easy, I'll show you how".
When the analysis was done, they
found that the teacher was a direct descendent of Cheddar Man!
Pictures from the caves
To cope with ECC regulations, they had to concrete the floor of the caves (damaging them forever)
and put permanent rope lights on all handrails! The old "Turn out the lights to see how dark the dark really is" is banned!
But, you are allowed to touch the cave formations - the only place I've seen this allowed.
Cox's Cave
Cox's cave has been fitted out with a story that you follow
(ie. You're chosen by the fairy queen to rescue the magic crystal from the evil wizard and his pet dragon)
On the way, we meet the wizard's ghouls
And end up at his family barbecue!
Once we moved into a motel room for the night, you couldn't even see the floor!
(The cupboard behind the dressing table is actually the bathroom!)
