Caves finally reopen, with new lighting and air purification system
One of the region's biggest visitor attractions finally reopens today, after closing due to Covid precautions
After being closed for 18 months because of the pandemic, the caves at Cheddar Gorge finally reopen from Friday.
The 200,000 people a year visitor attraction was shut as a precaution, because of concerns about Covid spreading.
During the closure a new lighting system and air purification system have been installed.
A spokesperson for the attraction said: "The lights are designed to naturally accentuate the caves’ spectacular geological formations as well as illuminate new areas which had not been visible previously. Sensors activated by visitor movement through the caves will also heighten the experience.
"New air purifiers have been installed allowing air to circulate freely through the caves as part of several new health protocol initiatives.
"Gough’s Cave is 115 metres deep and contains numerous impressive rock formations; it’s also the location for the Cheddar Yeo, the largest underground river system in Britain.
"Created more than half a million years ago by river water dissolving the limestone rock, the resulting cathedral-like caverns are filled with extraordinary rock formations.
"Between 1892 and 1898 Richard Cox Gough, who lived in Lion House in Cheddar, found, excavated, and opened to the public further areas of the cave, up to Diamond Chamber, which is the end of the show cave today.
"Thomas Thynne, 5th Marquess of Bath, took over the caves at the beginning of the 20th century and it remains part of the Longleat Estate to this day.
"The caves have a long connection with humans dating back over 10,000 years.
"In 1903 the remains of a human male, since named Cheddar Man, were found a short distance inside Gough's Cave. He is Britain’s oldest complete human skeleton, having been dated to approximately 7150 BCE.
"In addition to Gough’s Cave, visitors will be able to climb Jacob’s Ladder to reach the Lookout Tower, enjoy cliff-top walks in the gorge itself, experience the multimedia Dreamhunters: The Early Adventures of Man presentation and visit the Museum of Prehistory."
For more about the attraction visit www.cheddargorge.co.uk