on Sunday 20 July 2008 ...............Cheddar Gorge, a place of wild and rugged beauty, is a karts limestone and calcareous grassland nature reserve and home to many rare plants and animals, including endangered Greater Horseshoe bats.

The area has been a destination of travellers and holidaymakers for centuries, each one curious to view the magnificent limestone gorge carved into the southern slopes of the Mendip hills above the village of Cheddar.

Reaching 500 feet in places, the sides of the ravine boast the highest inland cliffs in the country and can be viewed both from the public road running through the base of the gorge or from footpaths along the cliff tops.

At the lower end of the gorge, closest to the village are riverside walks, tea rooms and gift shops and the famous Show-caves, a series of labyrinthine underground chambers accessible to the public.

Cheddar caves, were discovered by Messrs Gough & Cox, enterprising Victorian showmen, and are world famous for their spectacular stalactite and stalagmite decorations, whose beautiful colours are mirrored in pools of water.

These caves also fired the imagination of JRR Tolkien, author of the trilogy "Lord of the Rings" on his honeymoon visit in 1916.

Cheddar cheese is known throughout the world, its manufacture originating at farms in the region. You can watch traditional Cheddar cheese making at the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company in the lower Gorge.

The Mendip hills are a great centre for walking, riding, adventure activities and outdoor pursuits, particularly caving and climbing. An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty the limestone plateau is noted for its landscape beauty and wildlife.

To reserve your place, please contact Mary Tamangan on 020 8552 8394

Coach fare: £25.00 per person. Depart from Victoria at 07:00 hours