Christmas Fancy Dress party & Hiking Cheddar Gorge, Mendip Hills WEEKEND

We have an upgrade available for two people coming together to a private two person room which is £60 in total, to book whilst still available please email us at info@outdooraholics.co.uk
We may have 1 single person upgrade too, to check also please email us

The Outdooraholics Christmas trip is back for the 13th year and this year we're at a new venue, just 2.5 hours drive from West London.

Put on your festive hats as we’re off to the Mendip Hills and Cheddar Gorge. We will eat, drink and make merry with friends and fellow hikers in our last weekend hiking trip before the New Year.

Less formal than usual, our Christmas trips are all about fun, festivity, partying and hiking.

Oh and to add to the fun we're having a fancy dress party with prizes for the best dressed on Saturday night. For the Fancy dress we've chosen a theme that can suit any budget - Fantasy and Fiction :-D

Please note, there will be loud music and partying until 11pm. If this does not appeal, then this trip is not for you but we have plenty of non party hiking weekends.

The Mendip hills within Somerset are designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Stunning landscapes of steep rocky cliffs are home to the largest and one of the most spectacular natural sights in England - Cheddar Gorge. Situated on the northern edge of the village of Cheddar this dramatic limestone gorge stands at 450ft high and spreads across almost 5km. Formed under the sea 300 million years ago Cheddar Gorge lends its name to many things - cheese, caves, flowers and Britain's oldest complete skeleton buried in Gough’s Cave 9000 years ago.

Many of those who visit the area are unaware of the outstanding diversity of landscape and numerous exciting hiking trails. We will introduce you to the best Cheddar has to offer, therefore we’ve put together a trip combining good doses of both hiking and cultural exploration.

Video of Cheddar Gorge: LINK

HIGHLIGHTS

• Breathtaking hike on Cheddar Gorge - England’s largest gorge (canyon)
• Fancy dress with prizes on Saturday night
• Visit The Mendip Hills - designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
• Explore Cheddar Gorge - the home of Cheddar Cheese, where the original Cheddar company from 1870 still makes cheese
• Hike along the stunning edge of the Mendip hills to Somerset’s shapeliest summit - Crook Peak (191m)
• High level ridge hike over Wavering Down and Crompton Hill - breathtaking panoramic views
• A closer trip to London than usual - only about 2.5 hours driving from London

WEEKEND DESCRIPTION

On Saturday, we have a revitalising circular hike along the top of Cheddar Gorge before heading North to explore the magnificent Mendip Hills - an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Our hike will reward us with one of England's most iconic landscapes embellished with rugged limestone features and breathtaking views from the gorge.

Sunday is saved for a ridge hike to one of the most important and distinctive features of the Somerset landscape - the shapely Crook Peak (191m) and several more stunning adjacent hills marked as a geological and biological Site of Specific Scientific Interest.

ITINERARY

Friday

Head over to our accommodation in Cheddar. We've booked the two adjacent hostels (Cheddar and Cheddar Barton) exclusively for us.

We're staying in the town of Cheddar itself.

Please note, the trip starts from 7pm, you can arrive at 7pm or any time after this

Saturday

Hike: Cheddar Gorge Circular
Distance: 13 miles (21km)
Grading: Intermediate, some hills
Ascent: 610 metres
Hiking time: 5.5 to 6.5 hours

We’ll explore the timeless beauty and the stunning rolling hills of rural Somerset as we hike through woods and then along a spectacular valley, which loops back to the magnificent panoramic views at Beacons Batch (325m). We then follow the trails to the top of Cheddar Gorge where we’ll be awarded with breathtaking views of the Gorges dramatic and rugged limestone features and far reaching views of Cheddar Reservoir and towards the sea.

We hike from the hostel so no cars needed today. After the hike we'll return to the hostel for cream teas, then time to freshen up and put on our Fancy Dress before we sit down to a delicious 3 course dinner

After dinner we have prizes for the best dressed and then a light party until 11pm.

Sunday

Hike: Crook Peak and Wavering Down
Distance: 6 miles (9km)
Grading: Beginner/Intermediate
Ascent: 290 metres
Hiking time: 2.5 to 3.5 hours

Starting at the shady Kings Wood we go down to the village of Cross and to Compton Bishop from where we ascend to the crown of Crook Peak. The top of this stunning pointy peak offers views towards the Somerset countryside, West Mendip Hills, Cheddar reservoir, Bleadon Hill, Bristol Channel, the coast of South Wales, and on a clear day, views reach as far as the Black Mountains. When we’re done savouring the splendid views, we continue through the limestone Barton Hill and Compton Hill to take up on the high ridge to Wavering Down. The hike finishes with a descent back to Kings Wood.

COST & PAYMENT

EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT £164
£183 but if you are one of the first 20 people to book, you will get an early booking price of £164. Click “Attend” to pay the £30 deposit by PayPal. The remainder is due by bank transfer before Sunday 7th September, we’ll email payment details 1 week before.

Trip payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. When the trip is sold out fully paid spaces can be advertised to the same gender, for details: FAQ

TRANSPORT, ACCOMMODATION AND START TIME

The trip starts at the venue and you will need transport to the hikes.
Lift share discussion - to offer/request lifts

The accommodation address is at the top of this page, you are welcome to arrive from 7pm or any time later.

FOOD

Breakfast is healthy and nutritious - typically cereal, porridge with fresh fruit, berries, nuts and seeds, fresh fruit salad, free range eggs, yogurt, toast and coffees, teas etc.

For lunch we provide fruit, crisps, cereal bars and a range of options to make your own sandwiches typically tomatoes, cucumber, houmous, peanut butter, honey, jam, ham, cheese and salami.

After the hike we enjoy Cream Teas - an English delicacy consisting of scones, clotted cream and jam, a tasty treat!

Meals are meat based with vegetarian options. To find out if the food being provided meets your intolerance/allergies/preferences/likes/dislikes etc, please email us. You are welcome to bring your own favourite items to meet specific requirements and there is a fridge and kitchen you can use.

THE PRICE INCLUDES:

• 2 nights in hostel accommodation ( mainly 4 bedded single gender rooms with 1 x 6 room)
• Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday
• Tea (including herbal) and coffee
• Packed lunches on Saturday and Sunday
• Dinner on Saturday night
• Hikes by trained guides
• Compliance with the 2018 Package Travel Regulations including Financial protection

THE PRICE EXCLUDES:

• Transport to, from and during the trip

SAFETY - Your guide is a trained hike leader. Outdoor activities involve a risk of personal injury. Please bring suitable hiking footwear and hiking clothes such as warm clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers - CLOTHING TIPS

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