Cheddar Gorge is a 20-minute drive from Gosswood Park and makes one of the best half-day trips from the site.

What to do

• Cheddar Gorge & Caves — walk the gorge road for the full effect of the limestone cliffs, then tour Gough's Cave if you've got a couple of hours.
• Cheese tasting — the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company does tours and tastings. Yes, it's the Cheddar.
• Cliff-top walk — if you've got sturdy shoes, the circular cliff-top walk is three miles of excellent views with almost no one on it.

Tips

• Go early. The gorge road gets busy by 11am in summer.
• Parking fills up too — there's a large National Trust car park at the top of the gorge that's usually quieter.
• Bring a jumper for the caves; they stay at 11°C year-round.

Stop for lunch in one of the village pubs on the way back, and you're home by tea-time.