I'm going on holiday to Cheddar, Somerset. Is there anywhere you WOULDN'T recommend I visit? (I'm pregnant)

[twistyturnycurlywhirly]

I'm only 5 months pregnant, but to be honest, it feels more like I'm 7-8 months. Are there places e.g. Cheddar Gorge that are going to be unmanageable for the tired and swollen of feet? Any places you'd avoid that are too much of a climb?

Don’t waste your money on Woolley hole...pregnant or otherwise.

Wookey

Oh really, why?

Jacobs Ladder in the gorge itself is quite a climb!

You're in a lovely area.. personally I'd go and chill in a cafe in Wells or Glastonbury... sit on the dunes at Berrow... (if sunny.. is v windy there all year round!) The Gorge itself will be packed with tourists and there really isn't much to see , just the usual gift shops

We managed to catch Glastonbury at Samhain one year when the streets were filled with revellers. It was all a bit Wicker Man for my tastes. Great if you like the smell of pachouli and crystal shops, mind.

Cheddar itself tbh Completely over touristed, tacky and ruined. The gorge as a natural feature is impressive if you can see it around the tour buses (go early morning or late). Other than that just head into Wells and Glastonbury. Some lovely rural spots too I'd imagine.

Ok thanks everyone. What about further afield in Somerset?

I loved the caves in cheddar gorge. You may get tired walking but it will be nice and cool.

Cheddar gets pretty rammed in the summer...it's attractive enough in a very touristy way but some things are very overpriced. I'm not sure if they still do the open top bus along the gorge but that would be a nice way for you to see it and then maybe have a nice cream tea or a bit of home made cake in one of the cafes afterwards? And as someone else said, the caves will be nice and cool and although large, they are mostly fairly level due to all the concrete they chucked down in Victorian times.

Wells is nicer, as others have said; or Glastonbury if you like a bit of "woo" (though don't attempt the Tor, I would suggest, stick to the Abbey and maybe the Chalice Well gardens or the museum of Somerset Life. And you do have to be in the right mood for the High Street, which is sort of like an occult/New Age/Christian supermarket split into different shops [though the Hundred Monkeys cafe can be quite fun]. (Yes, I really did put occult/New Age and Christian in the same sentence, it's a very, er, unique place.)

If you're in a car and you want a bit of peace on the beach, then there's always Brean, which is not too far. I'm not sure how busy it gets in summer holidays though, we only visit out of season. Or even Weston, if you stay at the quieter ends (either Uphill at one end or Sand Bay, at the other - sttep drive though). Or in the opposite direction there are some very nice English Heritage places; or head down the coast towards Minehead and Exmoor.

And unless you're 8 years old and like mirrors, I'd avoid Wookey too...the caves themselves are impressive, but the rest of it is very commercial.

There's Clark's Village in Street.
You could pop into Bristol or Bath, where there's plenty to do.
Weston Super Mare is ok , typical candy floss, donkey rides, walk along the prom and pier.

To manage your expectations, my Dad called Weston “Weston-super-Mud” - it’s estuarial and a mix of mud and sand. The sea also goes out a looooong way at low tide. In short, not your usual beach experience.

Don’t bother with the gorge walk. The views are amazing but I doubt you would manage it.

Burnham on sea is a nice seaside town.

You aren’t that far from longleat which is well worth a visit at least once. Don’t bother with Weston super-mare it’s grim
Wells is lovely

Avoid Jacobs ladder! Wookey hole is fun, especially the bit with the victorian penny slot machines. Agree with pp about other places. Have fun!

My personal opinion is don’t bother with Weston.

Cheddar is lovely, just park at the top and stroll down. It’s astonishingly beautiful and worth seeing even if it is a bit busy. You don’t have to go in the caves to have a nice time there. Obviously don’t do Jacob’s ladder.

Wookey Hole is fun and I would go here over Weston any day.

Wells cathedral is lovely. I don’t remember the Tor being that difficult to walk to. Dunster is lovely depending on where you are. Also Watchet on the coast.

Agree re Longleat.

Some Dorsetty places like Sherbourne are within reasonable reach of that part of Somerset.

Clarkes Village is so-so and often full of busloads of Chinese tourists (Clarkes brand is popular there). Last time we visited it had an excellent Lindt shop with many of the hard to find Lindor flavours.

Is there still an archaeological-type museum near Mere that covers the early dweller on the Somerset Levels and the raised walkways (above the flooded marshes)?

If you have a small child with you, Noah’ Ark Zoo near the M5 is ‘interesting’. It’s run by ‘world created in 7 days’ creationists and the exhibitions are worth a look for sheer bonkersness - dinosaurs and humans contemporaneous & together in the dioramas.

Puxton Park is also good for small kids.

Plus We the curious in Bristol.

Best place in Cheddar is Lion Rock tea rooms - lovely food and lots of gluten free/vegan options etc

Have just thought of another couple of places that you might like if you're driving - Willow Wetlands Centre and Hestercombe Gardens. A bit closer to Cheddar there's the reservoir, the woods, King John's Hunting Lodge (check opening times carefully on that one though), and Axbridge itself is a pretty (very) little town.

I live in Weston and it's not THAT bad (I've lived in plenty of worse places) but it does get very busy along the main drag of the seafront between the New Pier and the Old Pier in summer. It's nice and flat though with a good promenade for around 3 miles, and on a sunny day it's very pleasant, there are a couple of tea rooms near the old Knightstone Theatre (now flats, of course....) which are quite nice. It is the second highest tidal range in the world though (I think it's second, anyway), and when the water is in, it's IN, but when it's out, yes, it's just mud flats. For hours. And hours.

Burnham is sort of a smaller version of Weston without as many amusements, though it is a lot quieter, or if you're up to driving up the coast, Clevedon has some pretty walks.

I personally find climbing up the Tor hard work (it's 158 metres high and yes there are steps, but even some of the official sites tell you it gets steep very quickly) so hats off to the PP who didn't think it was a bit of a workout!! Also agree with the poster on Clarks Village - again, though, it's nice and flat with lots of places to sit and people watch. A lot of it depends on what you like to do, really.

It's pretty hilly, I got tired quickly at that stage. I do recommend a visit to Clark's village though,

I like to go here to see the starlings in the winter but it'll be lush now and lovely and flat.

avalonmarshes.org/explore/nature-reserves/shapwick-heath/