It's our GORGEous return to Cheddar
7 people attending
18 places left
It's ODL's long-awaited (and well overdue) return to the Cheddar Gorge! Located in the heart of the Mendip Hills, the Gorge is just a short walk from our accommodation. We will in the Main Building, which is a large Victorian house, which consists of 8 bedrooms, most sleeping a maximum of four (4).
The area is rife with hiking and road-biking possibilities, including this short 7.5km Cheddar Gorge and Village loop; this 13km Rowberrow and Gorge loop; or this 10km Cheddar Gorge and Velvet Bottom loop. Road cycling routes include this 57km CBC Resevior loop, or this 61km Cheddar 7 loop.
Please see the "Food and Drink" section below for information about the Friday night buffet! Saturday morning we will depart the hostel early enough to stop by the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company shop, to grab some nibbles before heading out on our hike! Saturday dinner will have a few "cheese" elements (but I won't go too overboard...!) to highlight our location.
Sadly the hostel is not suitable for our furry friends; however if you are in the area and would like to join us on the hike, please message Chris on Telegram for details!
OutdoorLads Foundation
Fancy coming along but having a difficult time of it (for whatever reason), and/or finding it hard to justify the expense? Apply for a place on this event through the OutdoorLads Foundation! Nobody apart from staff members will know and we don't need lots of financial info from you either. To apply through the Foundation, you'll need to complete a very short form, which can be found along with more information here.
Photos: Photos provided www.unsplash.com and used by OutdoorLads with full permission.
IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement
You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.
What to bring
The standard YHA bedding is provided, but don't forget your own towel, and of course clothing, wash kit etc for the weekend. Creature comforts from home (pillow, teddy bear, etc.) are always a good idea!
Should you need any of the items below, remember that ODL members get a discount at Cotswold Outdoors and Snow + Rock
Boots: As we will be hiking in the Cheddar Gorge, full hiking boots are a better option than mid-ankle walking shoes. The weather in early September may be wet so waterproof boots are very highly recommended.
Socks: Merino wool socks provide the best moisture-wicking but almost any decent walking sock from an outdoor shop or even good quality cotton or wool socks will provide a number of affordable "quick-dry" options.
Walking Trousers: There are several styles of affordable walking trousers. It is always worth trying them on to make sure they fit comfortably, a webbing style belt is often useful, as well as zippable pockets and should be water-repellent.
Waterproof Trousers: As above, many outdoor shops all stock an excellent selection of waterproof trousers. It is recommended that you have a pair just in case the weather turns.
Base Layer: A breathable base layer should be chosen in order to let sweat escape from the body. This could be a cheaper sports top or you could go top of the range with a merino top. Cotton t-shirts are best avoided as they can become damp and uncomfortable as our bodies heat up when hiking.
Other Layers: On top of your base layer, you can have a variety of options such as a micro fleece, a fleece jacket or a rugby/sports top. Having one or two additional layers gives you flexibility when the weather is changeable – the more layers, the more flexible you can be in adapting to the weather.
Waterproof Jacket: Good waterproof jackets can range from £30 to over £300! At a minimum, the jacket should have fully taped seams, an adjustable hem, elastic cuffs and at least 1 inside pocket.
Hat: A good hat (that covers your ears) like a wool beany provides warmth and wicking properties.
Gloves: A lightweight pair of moisture wicking gloves should be sufficient.
Rucksack: For day walks a 20-30 litre capacity rucksack should be sufficient for carrying the essentials. Ideally it should have padded waist straps, several outside pockets and a rain cover.
Map & Compass: If you want to learn to be a leader or you just like to know where you are, then you can bring a map that covers the area - OS Map 141 is the best for the area. It is best to bring your map either in a map case or purchase maps which are waterproof.
Food & drink
All dietary requirements will be catered for, provided you have recorded your requirements accurately on your profile. Once everyone has signed up I will work on finalising the menu for the weekend!
Friday night buffet: Please bring one item for the buffet that can be shared easily. There will be cheese fondue, so perhaps a variety of breads, apples, pears, fresh broccoli, meatballs, large pastas (fusilli, rigatoni) or if you are feeling generous - filet mignon!!
Saturday breakfast is of course included in the cost of the event and will be something to sustain us throughout our gorge hiking! Of course all standard options will be available, in addition to a cooked breakfast of some sort.
Saturday lunch: Any pub on the proposed hikes are either at the start or the end, so lunch will most likely need tob e carried along.
Saturday dinner: This is, of course included in the cost of the weekend, and will be decided upon later
Sunday breakfast: Included in the event cost, but as we need to vacate by 10.00 breakfast may be something quick and simple to allow plenty of time to clean up.
Tea and coffee, included in the event cost, will be available throughout the weekend
Bring along any other drinks you want for the weekend. As we are in the village, there are plenty of shops to pop out to in we run out of anything.