Road · United Kingdom
Cheddar Gorge from Cheddar
A mountainous 4 km road cycling route from Cheddar, with 178 m of climbing over the Cheddar climb. Most of it (3 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane. Mixed surface: 82% is mapped as paved and 15% as gravel or unpaved and 3% has no surface data.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 3.9 km
- Elevation gain
- 178 m
- Riding time
- 17 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike with sturdy tyres, or gravel bike
- Surface
- Mixed surface
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- May to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Cheddar
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 178 m
- 4 km
Route description
- Cheddar
- Cheddar climb
Starting in Cheddar at 12 m elevation, the route climbs steadily over 3.5 km beginning at 0.4 km. The climb gains 174 m at an average gradient of 5%, with a maximum gradient of 9.6%, reaching a high point of 190 m at the 3.9 km mark.
The road surface is mostly paved (82%) with 15% gravel or unpaved and 3% unmapped sections. The majority of the route (3 km) is on main roads without cycle lanes, and 0.8 km is on a path. The climbing is sustained, with 87% of the route ascending and some sections over 5% gradient for 1.7 km.
Cheddar offers several café options at the start, including Village Café and Bakery and Coffee At The Hub, plus a supermarket (Sainsbury's) near the start. A café called Lion Rock Tearooms is 1.2 km into the ride, 7 m off route. Toilets are available at 0.9 km, 36 m off route. The longest stretch without café, shop or water is 2.7 km from 1.2 km to the finish. A viewpoint at Castle Rock lies 2.1 km in, just off the route.
Why ride this route?
- Climbs the Cheddar climb (3.5 km at 5 %).
Highlights
- Climb of 3.5 km gaining 174 m
- Cheddar village start with multiple cafés
- Lion Rock Tearooms café at 1.2 km
- Castle Rock viewpoint near 2.1 km
Along the route
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheddar climb | 0.4 km | 3.5 km · 174 m · 5 % · max 9.6 % | 3.5 km · 174 m · 5 % | 190 m |
Cheddar climb · full ascent, starts at 0.4 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 77% is on main roads without a cycle lane. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 77% main road · 20% path · 3% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 3 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Surface
- Mixed surface: 82% is mapped as paved and 15% as gravel or unpaved and 3% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 87% climbing · 3% descending · 10% flat
- Steep sections
- 1.7 km over 5% · 0.4 km over 8% · steepest 500 m averages 9% at 1.7 km
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 33 cafés and restaurants, 3 shops, 1 petrol station and 2 public toilets.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmSainsbury's · supermarket · 140 m off route
- 0.4 kmCheddar Motors · petrol station · 230 m off route
- 0.9 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 1.2 kmLion Rock Tearooms · café · on the route
Worth a stop
- 2.1 km — Castle Rock (viewpoint)
Stay after this ride
- Gordon's B&B · guest house · 2.8 km from the finish
- Owley Woods Glamping · campsite · 2.0 km from the finish
- Cheddar Bridge Touring Park · campsite · 3.2 km from the finish
- YHA Cheddar Youth Hostel · hostel · 3.3 km from the finish
- Petruth Paddocks · campsite · 3.5 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- Village Café and Bakery (20 m), Parsons (80 m), Spice Cottage (100 m)
- Shops
- Sainsbury's (150 m)
Know before you go
- 3 km on main roads without cycle lane
- Longest 2.7 km without café, shop or water
- 15% gravel or unpaved road
