CHEDDAR,ENGLAND

AND WE'RE SINGING LOUDER THAN BOMBS CAN FALL!

     I went to Cheddar last weekend for a short camping trip with my uni friends. It is a large village situated in the south-west of England, just 9 miles away from the Welsh border. It was my first ever camping experience, so I didn't know what to expect, but I can honestly say Cheddar was a pleasant surprise.

     We stayed at the Petruth Paddocks camping site, which covers two large fields. It is the perfect place to stay if you DO NOT want to be isolated from the world during your stay. There are multiple drinking water stations, cubical toilets and showers, as well as a 'phone charging' point in reception. The staff is very friendly. A massive advantage of Petruth Paddocks is the allowance of on-site fires, which will keep you warm during cold nights.

     Be ready (I definitely wasn't) for heavy rain, and a leaked tent. Spend that extra time setting the tent up properly to avoid a wet surprise.

     Cheddar reservoir is a perfect place for an evening chill out by the water. It is only about 10 min walk from the village centre. It covers quite a large area, and the sunset view is beautiful.

     A must see when visiting Cheddar is the Cheddar Gorge. The entrance fee for an adult is £18.95, it covers 6 different attractions and is valid for ten years, so don't worry if you're tight on time, you can always come back! You first get a short bus tour around the limestone gorge in the Mendip Hills.

     You then go on to exploring the Cheddar Gorge caves, which were found by Richard Cox Gough in the late 19th century. It is an interesting place to see, full of facts and history. Before entering, ensure you grab an audio set (available in English, French and German), which deeply explains the history.

     Don't forget to get on top of the Lookout Tower. You will first need to climb 274 steps but it is all worth it, as you get a 360 degrees view on Cheddar.

     All the cheese lovers, this is the place where the cheddar cheese was invented! There is a a shop near the Cheddar Gorge where you can try all the different flavours of the cheese and of course purchase it for around £4. Overall I really liked Cheddar, it is a charming village and I wouldn't mind going there again.