Cheddar Complex Cheddar Complex The Cheddar Complex is a 441.3 hectare (1090.5 acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest near Cheddar around the Cheddar Gorge and north east to Charterhouse in the Mendip Hills, Somerset, notified in 1952. The very large area includes 4 SSSIs formerly known as: Cheddar Gorge SSSI; August Hole/Longwood Swallet SSSI; GB Cavern Charterhouse SSSI; and Charterhouse on-Mendip SSSI. It is part owned by the National Trust, commercial landowners including the Marquess of Bath's Longleat Estate; and part managed by the Somerset Wildlife Trust. The Cheddar Complex supports a wide range of semi-natural habitats which includes unimproved grassland,
Cheddar Gorge open-top bus tour operates during the summer. Cheddar cheese is made in the lower part of the gorge. UK 1960s Garage Rock band The Troggs used Cheddar Caves as the backdrop for the band photo on their debut album "From Nowhere – The Troggs", which included the US "Billboard" no.1 hit single (no.2 UK), "Wild Thing". Cheddar Gorge was the setting for Peter Nichols' 1968 comedy "The Gorge", in the BBC's Wednesday Play series. Cheddar Gorge is a panel game played on the BBC Radio 4 series "I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue". The gorge was used as a location