Cheddar Gorge Circular
Mont Granier
Cheddar Gorge Circular vs Mont Granier: Intensity Score Comparison
Mont Granier is unequivocally more demanding overall (+19 points). While Cheddar Gorge Circular is a serious endeavor, Mont Granier pushes the limits further, particularly regarding sustained physical exertion.
Model-based (not a field report) · Evaluates overall route demand, not danger.
Cheddar Gorge is England’s largest limestone gorge, with soaring cliffs rising around 120 metres above the valley floor. This short but steep circular loop gains the clifftops quickly for wide views across the Mendip Hills and Somerset Levels, then returns via the opposite rim. The terrain combines polished limestone steps, grassy cliff-top paths, and rougher rocky sections near the pinnacles, with the North Rim descent often feeling slicker than expected.
Standing as a massive limestone sentinel, Mont Granier in the Chartreuse Massif above Chambéry is the northern pillar of the region. Infamous for the catastrophic landslide of 1248, it features the highest vertiginous cliff face in France—a sheer 900-meter drop. The 11.3km circular hike via the Pas des Barres is an adventurous route that winds through steep beech forests before tackling the vertical limestone barriers with iron cables and rungs. The summit plateau offers a sweeping 360° panorama of the French Alps. Note: Compiled from public sources — not a field report.
Head-to-Head Metric Analysis
HikeMetrics Hazard Scale — Explanation
The HikeMetrics Hazard Scale is a proprietary 5-point classification system that evaluates hiking routes across five dimensions: physical demand, technical complexity, altitude exposure, weather risk, and rescue accessibility.
Unlike generic star ratings, the Hazard Scale is calibrated against altitude profiles, elevation gain per day, and logistical isolation factors — making it the most precise route classification system available.
Full Scale Documentation