Browse top-rated cottages near Cheddar Gorge for your next getaway in the Mendip Hills.
Cheddar Gorge is one of the most interesting sites in Somerset, with caverns, a herd of wild goats and prehistoric remains.
The ravine and caves make up a small part of the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, landscapes which are just over 12 miles from Weston Super Mare and 20 miles from Bristol. While hikes and tours are the main attractions, adventurous types can dive deeper into the gorge with rock climbing and caving activities.
If that doesn’t quite take your fancy, Cheddar Gorge also has a Museum of Prehistory with the UK’s oldest complete skeleton, a cave once used as an ancient elders’ meeting place and a three-mile clifftop walk over the ravine. The gorge is also home to the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company, which has a tasting bar, shop and VIP tours for those who want to try the traditional, handmade cheddar cheese hailing from the town. However, it’s not just the UK’s largest gorge which will entertain you when you stay at one of the following cottages in Somerset and the Cotswolds. You could track down outdoor escapades in the Exmoor National Park, take a donkey ride in Weston Super Mare and glide along the Strawberry Line cycling path from Yatton to Cheddar. The Mendip Hills AONB is also adjacent to the Somerset Levels for more easy-going bike rides or hikes.
8 Self-Catering Holiday Rentals near Cheddar Gorge:
1. Whileaway Lodge (Cheddar, Somerset)
2. Batcombe Hollow (Cheddar, Somerset)
3. The Nave, Cathedral View (Wells, Somerset)
4. The Willows (Cheddar, Somerset)
5. The Cowshed (Brent Knoll, Somerset)
6. Cheddar Pink (Cheddar, Somerset)
7. The Beam (Wells, Somerset)
8. Burrington (Cheddar, Somerset)
Whileaway Lodge
Location: Cheddar, Somerset
Best for: A pet-friendly lodge five minutes’ drive from Cheddar Gorge and the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company
A five-minute drive or half an hour’s cycle from Cheddar Gorge, Whileaway Lodge is part of a series of glossy eco-lodges based at Strawberryfield Park. The lodge is tempting from the off-set – there’s a hot tub set out on the decking and views of green slopes from the property’s four-person rattan table set. Sleeping four adults and two pets for an additional charge, Whileaway Lodge has really captured the essence of rural Somerset, all while being in a prime spot for visiting Cheddar Gorge.
Strawberryfield Park has a small communal orchard and a parkland where guests can wander and admire the scenery. In your lodge, there’s a barbecue on the decking for yet more views of the countryside, while you prod freshly-seasoned skewers and juicy burgers. Pick up some cheddar cheese for your burger buns from the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company, only a five minutes’ drive away. With the caves so close by and the Mendip Hills AONB literally on your doorstep, the lodge couldn’t be any more convenient for outdoorsy getaways with your immediate family or friends.
Facilities: Whileaway Lodge isn’t an old-fashioned log cabin in the slightest. Kitted out with a glossy kitchen and sliding doors leading to a neat decking area, it’s quite high-fashion. There’s an open-plan living and kitchen area, which includes a 40-inch TV unit and a Blu-Ray player, as well as little luxuries like a cafetiere for those who can’t start a day without a large mug of coffee. Between the hot tub, the barbecue, sunloungers and mood lighting, evenings are just as entertaining at Whileaway Lodge. There are also two ensuite bedrooms, each with its own dressing table and flatscreen TV, and there are two private parking spaces.
Batcombe Hollow
Location: Cheddar, Somerset
Best for: A two-person romantic getaway in a Cheddar lodge
Visiting Cheddar Gorge with your loved one? Batcombe Hollow is an eco-lodge designed for romantic breaks, surrounded by 14 acres of green slopes and conveniently located a five minutes’ drive away from the caves at Cheddar Gorge. It’s part of a small village called Strawberryfield Park, which consists of lodge-style holiday cottages designed for families and couples. As a result, Batcombe Hollow is ideal for a peaceful break for two, with a hot tub and sunloungers on the private decking and a roomy, modern lodge to relax in.
Whether you spend the day kitesurfing and slurping on ice cream in Weston Super Mare or walking between the moorlands and oak woodlands in the Exmoor National Park, you can count on a thoroughly comfortable base to return to. You might want to explore the immediate countryside in the surrounding area too since the lodge is so conveniently located in Cheddar. There are numerous tea rooms within a short drive of the holiday cottage if you’d like a simple coffee date in between the hikes.
Facilities: Prepare some popcorn in advance of mother nature’s daily star show, provided there are no clouds. With a fully equipped kitchen including a wine cooler, cafetiere and coffee machine, pour a glass of red or a mug of hot brew to take onto the decking. If your evening isn’t being spent in the hot tub surrounded by LED lighting, you might want to perch yourself in the living room, where there’s a large Bang & Olufsen TV with a Blu-Ray player and an Apple TV. When it’s time to rinse and refresh before bed, there’s the choice of a walk-in rainfall shower or a freestanding bathtub lit by LED spotlights.
The Nave, Cathedral View
Location: Wells, Somerset
Best for: A pet-friendly shepherd’s hut with views of Wells Cathedral
The Nave, Cathedral View is a shepherd’s hut with a view. Based on a working farm on the outskirts of Wells, the holiday cottage has views of the cathedral turret and a short green stretch of farmland between the hut and the town. Even better, The Nave is just 20 minutes’ drive from Cheddar Gorge, including its clifftop walk, Pulpit Rock, Gough’s Cave and The Wave hiking trail. The cherry on top? It is pet friendly too. The cottage is fully-fenced, meaning that any canines can stretch their paws around the backyard without you having to worry.
This is a full, rural Somerset experience, with a characterful shepherd’s hut as your base. The picket-fence backyard has its very own firepit, which can be transformed into a grill. It might sound similar to camping the old-school way, if it wasn’t for the private hot tub tucked behind a timber fence and the wooden chairs set up in front of the fire pit. There’s a further table set on the decking, meaning you can spend as much of your time outdoors as you wish – and as much time as you like exploring Well’s cobbles and Cheddar Gorge’s caves.
Facilities: If you’ve been searching for a cosy, unique getaway, The Nave should not disappoint. Unlike a typical holiday cottage, the shepherd’s hut has a romantic arched roof and a cosy set-up, with a sofa, Smart TV and a Bluetooth speaker should you want to fall asleep to a relaxing soundtrack in your garden-facing double bed. Despite being pint-sized, the cottage even has a compact kitchen with all the basic equipment, such as a combined microwave, induction hob, toaster and kettle. At the back of the hut, stroll into the walk-in shower in the bathroom. You might want to wash the scent of smoke from your hair, after settling in around the barbecue or firepit. Logs are provided for the hot tub, with extra wood available on site if you can’t resist extra soaks.
The Willows
Location: Cheddar, Somerset
Best for: A pet-friendly eco-lodge on the outskirts of the Mendip Hills
Based in the spectacularly rural Strawberryfield Park, The Willows isn’t short on creature comforts. The eco-lodge has a private hot tub overlooking the lush Somerset slopes and a bright, modern interior that’s ideal for an effortless escape for a family of four. The lodge has two bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a compact decking for either alfresco dining or hot tub sessions. As a pet-friendly property, your dog is sure to appreciate the location in Cheddar just as much as you, as there are dog-friendly trails around Cheddar Reservoir and Cheddar Gorge.
With a set of eco-lodges, Strawberryfield Park is an excellent place to bring the children if you’re looking for a peaceful destination near Cheddar Gorge. There’s a private orchard where they can let off steam and a Cider Barn selling local farm produce should you need some fresh ingredients to rustle up in the kitchen. Simultaneously, Strawberryfield Park has gained a reputation for its great location near the gorge, half an hour’s drive from Weston Super Mare and 45 minutes’ drive from Bristol.
Facilities: Slide open the patio doors and descend upon your outdoor furniture. The hot tub is built into the wooden terrace and is tempting night and day. If you’ve spent enough time out in the open air already, sink into one of the two-seater sofas placed in front of the TV. There’s a music system should you wish to put on your holiday playlist or an open-plan kitchen and dining area for those who are ready for a family cook-off. Conveniently, the two bedrooms have their own ensuite bathrooms.
The Cowshed
Location: Brent Knoll, Somerset
Best for: Self-catering holiday accommodation in the form of a barn conversion in Brent Knoll
Located in Brent Knoll and only three miles from Burnham-on-Sea, The Cowshed could have been plucked from a postcard. Once a farm barn, the conversion now has wide, stable-like doors and a sloping tiled roof. There’s an open courtyard with stylish rattan furniture and an open barn-style shelter with an electric hot tub. The garden is just as inviting as the inside of the cottage, which has characteristically tall ceilings, exposed beams, roof lights and a farmhouse table.
When you’re ready to round up the children or other group members to visit Cheddar Gorge, it’s an easy 20-minute drive away. Couple it up with a visit to Weston Super Mare, whose amusements are only a 20 minutes’ drive to the north of the cottage. In other words, if you’re looking for a break by the sea with plenty of opportunities for hiking and soaking in the hot tub, this cottage is the place to be.
Facilities: When you’re relaxing outside in this rural setting, set up a spread of snacks on the glass-top table and warm the cockles by the firepit. Indoors, stick on the Bluetooth system or the smart TV, and lay back on the L-shaped sofa. The kitchen is kindly well-equipped with a large range of equipment, including a Quooker tap which pours icy, sparkling or boiling water and a Nespresso coffee machine. Across the three bedrooms and two bathrooms, there are wet room-style showers and cosy furnishings set around exposed timbers and rustic wood floors.
Cheddar Pink
Location: Cheddar, Somerset
Best for: A luxurious Cheddar lodge with a splash of colour
Heading on a girl’s holiday in Cheddar? Looking for somewhere stylish, modern and set up with sunloungers and a hot tub? Cheddar Pink is an excellent place to pamper yourself. Surrounded by the Somerset countryside, the lodge has subtle pink-toned walls, décor and furnishings. This splash of colour makes Cheddar Pink stand out from the eco-lodge collection at Strawberryfield Park, which is based within walking distance of Cheddar Gorge.
Source a pint of Somerset cider from the cider barn that’s based on Strawberryfield Park and pair it with some freshly-seared skewers or grilled meats prepared in the fully-equipped kitchen. With the choice of your luxurious terrace, the Cheddar landscapes and beach days in Weston Super Mare, the lodge and its location are set to impress.
Facilities: If you’re saving the hot tub for the evening, it won’t be plunged into darkness; there are LED lights across the decking. That’s just one high-end feature at this Strawberryfield Park cottage, as the two ensuite bathrooms have a Villeroy and Boch suite including a rainfall shower. The living room has a Bang and Olufsen TV, complete with Apple TV and a Blu-Ray player. The kitchen’s advanced too, with a built-in warming tray in the oven, a gas hob, wine cooler and a cafetiere too.
The Beam
Location: Wells, Somerset
Best for: A modern cottage for couples near Wookey Hole and Wells
If you’re looking to get both Cheddar Gorge and Wookey Hole under your belt, The Beam will get you started. With a woodburning stove and a hot tub to its name, the cottage isn’t at all short on mod cons. It’s also in a very good location in the south of the Mendip Hills, around half an hour’s walk from Wookey Hole, 15 minutes’ drive from Cheddar Gorge and 40 minutes’ drive from Bath. Couples are likely to love the getaway, as it’s surrounded by wild meadows and farm fields for romantic walks, and it’s only a short walk from Wells’ restaurants if they fancy a candle-lit dinner or a gourmet lunch.
Back in the days, The Beam was a simple barn in a secluded Somerset spot. Nowadays, however, the cottage is still surrounded by miles-long countryside, but it also has a matte, modern interior with a grey colour scheme and a sumptuous patio garden space with a hot tub and bistro table for late-night drinks and relaxation.
Facilities: If you’re not planning on eating out one evening, have a night in. When it comes to cooking in the cottage, there’s the choice of a kitchen on the ground floor and a gas barbecue in the back garden. Stand-outs in the kitchen include a Nespresso coffee machine and wine cooler, which together will sort out your morning and evening beverages. Between the kingsize in the bedroom, the walk-in shower in the bathroom and the Bluetooth speaker and Netflix TV in the living area, you should be very cosy in the cottage.
Burrington
Location: Cheddar, Somerset
Best for: A two-bedroom cottage with a hot tub near Cheddar Gorge
Based in Strawberryfield Park, a quiet collection of cottages with an on-site cider and ale bar, Burrington is all about peaceful getaways. That could mean quiet walks in the countryside, evenings bubbling in your private hot tub or an afternoon tucking into fresh local produce at a nearby restaurant. The cottage is only a five minutes’ drive from Cheddar Gorge, making it even more convenient for a Cheddar Gorge getaway.
With two bedrooms and two bathrooms, families of four will have plenty of space to spread out in the cottage. The bright and airy ground floor has easy access to the wooden patio, where LED lighting provides a peaceful atmosphere in the evening. With a hot tub, a table for four, sunloungers and a sofa, there’s plenty of room to spread out outside.
Facilities: Top-of-the-range facilities are spread out around Burrington. Stroll through the front door into the living and dining area, and you’ll find a Bang & Olufsen Smart TV. In the kitchen, there are NEFF appliances. Pair that with a walk-in dressing room, rainfall showers in the ensuites and a hot tub, and you have a well-rounded, high-quality cottage getaway for the immediate family.
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Some of the images in this blog post have been provided by Sykes Cottages.