For some years Cycle Hire in Cheddar died, and yet it can be the nicest , dan greenest, way to see the area. Of course we freely loan a pair of sturdy bikes to guests, but these are only really good for flatter routes such as the Strawberry Line. 

But now a wonderful new option has arrived with Cheddar Bikes launching at the beginning of the year. They hire a good range of mountain bikes, but more exciting is the news that they hire e-bikes too. This means that the less-than-fit can cycle longer and up and down the Mendips, with now worries about running out of puff.

This now means you can get to Weston-Super-Mare (or the coast at Brean) and back on a single charge. You can cycle to and from Wells and visit the cathedral. Or across the Somerset Levels to Glastonbury. Going up the steep Gorge road is a doddle. And if you want to go off-road they have e-bikes for that too.

And if you are bringing your own bike but need some maintenance then they have a bicycle workshop to fix you up.

Lots of information and inspiring stuff to be found on their Facebook page and blog.

At this time of year a highlight on the village calendar, and great for cottage guests too, is the Cheddar Festive Night. Now well established and very popular for people from a good distance around, the main village road, up to the lower gorge is shut for the evening. Stalls and events all pop up. Decorations twinkle. IT feels that the Christmas season has well and truly started.

But this is not a usual year. The Festive Night was of course cancelled a long time ago. However the creative people at Cheddar Arts have been promoting an alternative to lift spirits. They call it Cheddar Winter Window Wanderland. Homes around Cheddar, and even some temporarily closed stores in the Lower Gorge, have been busy decorating their windows with tissue paper and silhouettes. And today, Sunday 6th, and for the next 14 evenings between 6pm and 9pm, people can wander the village (map and addresses supplied - over 200 participants) and marvel at the creativity of the many. All COVID safe, in our little groups outdoors.

And today is that start, and we signed up alongside so many others. We're looking forward over the next two weeks to wander around and see what everyone else has done. And here for you is our little offering. Firstly the house and cottage in their usual Christmas lights and then the main house window with our contribution. In our case a vague theme of ecological wonderment with seasonal twists. In the centre the pale blue orb that is our precious planet, with Father Christmas flying over. And, yes, that is a penguin too ... our younger daughter (now 30) has loved penguins since she could talk! We also appreciate the surreal situation, Escher-esque, of animals on the Earth looking at ... the Earth. Hmmm.

And for all of you coping with the trials of this tough year, we wish everyone a safe, peaceful and hopefully nurturing seasonal time, including all cottage guests, past and future.

Huw and Mary

No, sadly we're not talking about the end of the COVID crisis. We are talking about a real tunnel.

One of the lovely adventures to undertake whilst staying at Gorge View Cottage, or visiting Cheddar, is to cycle along the old Strawberry Line trackbed. From Cheddar is goes to Axbridge, and here is about the only stretch on road as you get routed through the centre of Axbridge (2.5 miles from Cheddar) through the medieval town square and past St John's Hunting Lodge. What follows is the only steep-ish bit, back up to the course of the old railway line. Thereafter, with the occasional well organised road crossings it is flat or a gentle gradient.

The next main stop is Winscombe (5 miles from Cheddar), on the north side of the Mendips at it is on this section that the tunnel comes in, as it cuts under the Mendip ridge. As you see from the photograph it is straight and you can always see the far exit. But at 165m long, in the middle it can seem very dark. Solar lighting put in seems flakey so best to take bike lights or a head torch.

If you still have energy (remembering you must return this way too) then the next main stop just 1.5 miles further on is Sandford. Here a stop is definitely recommended because as the route now jinks through the orchards of Thatchers Cider, you can stop at the recently renovated Railway Inn which as the Thatchers HQ "tap" serves a wide range of ciders, alongside great food. Or pop a tad further along the road to visit the Thatchers shop  - local produce and ... well, yes, ... more ciders to taste.

The really keen might want to go the whole way. That gets you the full 11 miles from the cottage to Yatton station, which is on the mainline, from Bristol to Exeter and beyond. The Strawberry Line Cafe at Yatton station is itself worth a stop, run as a community cafe and provides work experience and training to adults with learning difficulties.

The Strawberry Line (National Cycle Route 26) takes its name from the strawberries that were taken to London by train in vast quantities back in the very early 1900s. The rolling stock was especially gentle sprung to protect the fruit. This all came to an end with the Beeching cuts of 1962. There are plans to one day extend it through to Wells and Shepton Mallett, and spurs to Clevedon and to Wrington. Slow work but it will be magical when done.
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Guests at Gorge View Cottage are welcome to borrow a couple of reasonable 21-gear bikes, one for ladies and one for gentlemen. We have helmets and can provide lights if needed. If you are not cyclists then the other option is to bus out (First Bus route 126 towards Weston-Super-Mare) and walk back. The bus can drop you at Axbridge, Winscombe or the Railway Inn in Sandford. Cheddar Walking walk #4 describes this, from Winscombe to Cheddar.

With the UK lockdown still in force over this Bank Holiday (i.e. National Holiday) long-weekend, there have been concerns people will be tempted to flout the requirements and come to beauty spots and beaches to enjoy themselves despite the constraints. And so last weekend and this, police have closed the road through Cheddar Gorge to all traffic, save local walkers and cyclists.

And so when I went out for a short cycle ride as part of my daily (allowed) exercise, I thought to cycle up the gorge. Now it is all uphill and steep in parts. I am no super-fit person, and certainly not a MAMIL (middle-aged man in Lycra). I did it slowly and used the cunning excuse of stopping to take a photo as I went (and catch my breath). And the reason I wanted to take some photos is that I have never seen the gorge this quiet on a sunny spring day. No cars, and no people (save the odd cyclist passing by). Just very loud birdsong, some very content wild goats and stunning views. So I thought to put them here for everyone to see.

It can be easy to forget just how lucky we are to be just a minute or two, literally from some spectacular and beautiful scenery.

Take care and stay safe.

A little story not mentioning the "C" word.

Our garden seems to have a very full and noisy cohort of birds of all kinds - and we love them: robins, blackbirds, magpies, squabbling sparrows, long-tail sparrows, wagtails, a woodpecker or two, starlings (getting rarer), rooks, finches, tits, tiny wrens, fat wood pigeons, collared doves, the odd visiting sparrowhawk from the gorge.

But some of our favourites are only here in summer and Mary gets really excited when she hears or see the first swifts arrive for their summer residency. I say "residency" but from what we understand swifts do not normally land but fly constantly, 24/7, grabbing micro sleeps whilst short gliding, eating and even mating on the wing. Some have been known to fly for 10 months without landing. Wow. They come up from Africa where they over-winter; these small beautiful birds battling the winds, crossing the Sahara, the Mediterranean sea and then up usually via Spain and France. They can travel 800km in a day and at speeds of up to 100+kph, and maybe cover 200,000km in a year. Once here the mature birds are here to mate, and they do then land to build nests and lay, incubate and hatch their young. The classic nest would have been high on vertical cliffs (and so Cheddar Gorge). But they have adapted to nest under the eaves of houses, and our next door neighbour's house seems has nests every year (apparently they mate for years and return to the same nest).

But never so far in our house. We're not sure why. And so we have taken the initiative to install a couple of swift boxes, suitable high up and now we wait. The swift specialists (lots online) recommend playing swift calls to help attract them and make them take notice. And so, Huw and put little speakers under the new boxes fed from a little timer-switched digital box that plays swift song mornings and evenings through late spring and early summer. And now we wait to see if these holiday homes will eventually get used.

We're not expectant. When we first moved here we put up bird boxes throughout the garden, and some bat boxes. One bat box on the cottage did eventually get used, but all the others remain empty. We guess the natural habitat is rich enough. Who wants new-build when you can have traditional?

But whatever, we're happy to be doing a little to support these wonderfully entertaining birds. In summer as we sit out of an evening they swoop fast and low over us, and squeak and zoom low around the house and garden. In pairs or small groups, but also higher up in big clusters of many tens of birds. I know it is rather anthropomorphic, but they do seem to have fun and exuberance.

The first have now arrived in 2020, but the many are still to come. Definitely something to look forward to and to lift spirits in these unusual and concerning times.

We hope everyone is staying safe and well.

As the few of you following this blog might now know, we've essentially closed Gorge View Cottage as part of the national clamp down on non-essential movement. People were cancelling anyway. It is all necessary.

But the result is that we have an empty cottage, and as Mary said, it is a "resource", how can we put it to some use in these difficult times. We were already aware that in some big UK cities some hotel owners had closed hotels but then made rooms available for hospital workers. We also had an example of a friend or a friend we loosely know, a junior doctor in London, who was going home to her shared flat after a long shift, only to have a message to NOT come home - her flatmate had COVID-like symptoms. In order to stay safe, in order to continue working, she had to make instant adjustments and is now in an AirBnB (paying we think), living alone.

Now the cottage is a perfect place to live in short-term isolation, so we thought let's offer it, for free, to front-line NHS workers who needed to self-isolate for the recommended 7-days. Maybe like our distant friend they need to stay away from home because people at home are showing symptoms. Or maybe they have symptom's, cannot go to work, but equally don't want to take it home where isolation might then be the longer 14-days (as recommended for a household), or maybe some of their family are particularly vulnerable to the virus.

However, having made that decision the challenge was how to we get this message to the people who need to know. Googling around there was no clear point of contact. So eventually we put this up on the local area Facebook help page: "Corona & Cheddar Valley Community". Well some almost instant positive feedback, and one person wanting to take up the option for a week from Saturday (tomorrow). So some partial success. It even, within some hours, had the local radio station following up and asking for an on-air quick interview.

Yet we are still looking for better ways to communicate to the target groups. Some on the FB page have posted on to the local hospital. Maybe this might work? Equally though we are just one tiny place; there could be many needing this option; and there are possibly hundreds of self-catering places in Somerset alone that are currently empty. Not all will lend themselves to isolation: there might be too many shared areas; or the owners might be in a vulnerable category. But even so there might be many more who would like to help.

We don't have a solution. But hopefully as Social Media can help snowball these things, just maybe hospital HR support might notice us and connect us, or someone with tech skills to help create a platform, or someone who can help better communicate this. As and when we get any further development we'll be sure to update you all.

Thats's all for now but stay well and stay safe.

I didn't expect to be back in a blog within 24 hours. But we have just learned that the government have now required all pubs, cafes, restaurants and our social venues (so we presume tourist attractions like Cheddar Caves) to close forthwith. That significantly reduces some of the attractions of staying in the cottage, and we are also now thinking it is the responsible thing to do to not encourage people to travel when there is no need: staying at the cottage is not "essential".

As a result we are halting taking bookings: initially from March through April, but we'll review this. Those guests who have booked will be contacted and have the option to either cancel for a full refund, or postpone to a date later in the year, or even next year, with no penalty.

This is of course sad, because for those not looking for the shops and pubs, and Wells Cathedral and the Caves, there are the beautiful Mendip Hills and some brilliant walks. Not only good for physical and mental well-being, sustaining for the soul, but also some thing which is fundamentally an activity that meets "social distancing" requirements. The hills and the walks are something that is "normal", familiar, solid and takes in a landscape that is (tens of) thousands of years old (or more - I am not a geologist). The cottage is well isolated and we're cleaning it to exacting standards. For a few this could be just what is needed. But, still, we feel closing bookings for now is the right thing.

For anyone interested in staying, do follow the website and any further blogs, or indeed just get in touch.

Meanwhile, to all, we wish you well in coping with the strange, demanding and uncertain times. Stay well.

​Huw & Mary

Dateline: 19 March 2020

These are indeed extraordinary times. A global pandemic that is affecting people and countries around the world. Every day seems to see new developments in policy and guidance. We felt it important to update on where we stand at Gorge View Cottage. But to reassure: we are open for business.




Cleaning and hygiene
We are being scrupulous in the cleaning and turnaround of the cottage. We are firstly steam cleaning everywhere, followed by a cleaning of surfaces etc using a sanitising cleaner. And we finally clean door handles, the key and fob, and the TV control with Isopropyl alcohol. The cottage is only cleaned by Huw and/or Mary. We wash hands thoroughly every time before entering the cottage to clean, or carry on cleaning, and after leaving the cottage. We are fastidious about not touching our faces between entering and leaving. When you arrive we will be our usual welcoming and friendly selves but will be avoiding shaking hands or getting too close. And to be clear, neither of us has any symptoms that might suggest we have the virus, and we are certainly being careful ourselves with social distancing.

Shared space?
The cottage itself is wholly detached and independent. There are no shared spaces, it is entirely for you. In this respect we think it is a great place to continue any personal social distancing.

Food and supplies
Of course the cottage has everything you need to self-cater. You might want to bring all you own food and be completely self-contained. In Cheddar, within easy walking distance, there are convenience stores, specialist food stores, a Deli, and a Tesco Local and the main Sainsbury's store. As of today the Sainsbury's was generally well stocked and working normally, although of course they are asking that people limit shopping and don't mass-buy. The pubs are open at the moment, but naturally quiet which helps ensure social distancing if you should choose to go. Likewise the restaurants, but useful most restaurants do takeaway and some deliver. For Pizza, Chinese, Thai, Indian or Fish and Chips there are plenty of options, and all just two or three minutes away.
We also have a brilliant local grocery delivery company we've recommended and used for years: Somerset Local Food Direct. They deliver orders in Cheddar each week on Thursday or Friday - so you can order ahead online (before the Tuesday morning deadline) and have the food delivered to the cottage. They supply fresh vegetables and fruit, meats, dairy, grocery and deli goods, bakery items, ready meals and larder stock. Its pretty extensive and a lot of it is organic. If this is before you arrive we'll handle it and ensure it is stocked in the the cottage and if appropriate in the fridge/freezer, for your arrival. Currently they re finding they're getting a lot of extra traffic but seem to be coping: supplies are fine but manpower to deliver is stretching them and we and others locally are on hand to help.

What to do?
The obvious thing in these times is the walking. There are many lovely walks in and around Cheddar and we have maps and self-guide walking sheets for many of them. You can keep fit, stay socially distanced from anyone you pass, and enjoy this beautiful part of the world. Check out Cheddar Walking website for some ideas - walks ranging from 1/2 mile to 20 miles and everything in-between. Some on the flat, some up the hills. And we have the bikes if you should want to cycle off along the Strawberry Line old railway track and path.
The other options such as Cheddar caves are currently open but we suggest you check this and other visitor attractions online to be sure.

Stay safe, stay well
We hope this addresses some obvious questions, but if you are booked with us, or are thinking of booking, and have other questions then do please get in touch.

Huw and Mary

Apart from the good fortune of being here in the lower Cheddar Gorge, we are also lucky to be near some outstanding locations. One of those is Wells, England's smallest city and, yes, it therefore has a remarkable and beautiful cathedral. It also has some exceptional old buildings and architecture around the town, a lovely market place, which twice a week holds great markets, and a good array of independent shops. There is also the Bishop's Palace, where the Bishop of Bath and Wells is based (Bath can only boast an Abbey). And all of this in a very compact and easily walkable centre, with the backdrop of the Mendip Hills in the distance.

As the name suggests the city is founded around three wells near the cathedral which provide copious water ultimately sourced from the limestone Mendip Hills. The excess is often allowed to flow down the especially wide gutters of the main street keeping them clean and clear - just watch where you step or you get a wet foot.

So it was not a surprise, but certainly something to be proud of, that this gem of a "city", just 11,000 in population, has just topped the Which? (independent consumer organisation) list of best smaller short-break towns and cities in Britain.

If you stay at Gorge View Cottage, then Well's is just a 9-mile, 20-minute run in a car along the main road at the foot of the Mendip range. A more interesting route is to go up the gorge and over the top of the Mendips via the lovely village of Priddy, down past Ebbor Gorge (a lovely traffic-free walk), via Wookey Hole (more caves) to Wells. Better still there is the First Bus 126 service, and for those feeling like a great walk, you can bus to Well's, explore it a little and then walk back along the very well marked West Mendip Way (about 12 miles).

The last blog mentioned how Cheddar now has a tradition of closing to traffic the main route up from the village to the lower gorge and caves with local groups, societies and business all join in the festive fun.

This is a very home spun affair, but these days it is becoming very popular for all bigger towns and cities to have a Christmas Market (or sometimes styled a German or Bavarian market) in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

One the very best of these that we know of is the Bath Christmas Market. Now in it eighteenth year there are no oomp-pah bands, bratwurst or such-like, but just a huge selection of local craft, design and food stalls. They are all laid out in and around the wonderful backdrop of Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths. We now try and go every year, enjoying the mid-afternoon to early-evening time when the light fades and the Christmas lights start really twinkling. A great chance to start buying Christmas presents.

You can get to Bath by train from Weston-Super-Mare, or Yatton (all via Bristol) or use a couple of bus-routes. But if driving don't attempt to drive in to the centre ... Bath is bad for traffic at the best of times. Much better to use the excellent Park & Drive facilities, or as we do, park on the edge of Bath and cycle in on the Avon tow-path (part of the Bristol and Bath cycle route (lights needed after dark).

This lovely market runs from Thursday 28th November until Sunday 15th December.

​Check out more here.