England is well known for its rolling hills. Mostly they're gentle, green and grassy. But Cooper's Hill is steep, mean and cheesy.
For hundreds of years Gloucestershire has played host to the Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling and Wake. In the past this unusual festival featured many activities, including bobbing for apples, dancing round the maypole, shin-kicking, tug-of-war and wrestling. Now all that remains is the infamous rolling of the cheese.
The exact origin of cheese rolling isn't known. Some trace the tradition back as far as the ancient Romans, who used to have a fort on Cooper's Hill and are credited as the first people to send objects hurtling down its steep slope. The next step is giving chase...
Cheese rolling is a downhill footrace with a twist – runners plunge down the course in pursuit of a big wheel of the region's famous Double Gloucester cheese!
Originally at midsummer, the festival is now held on the last Monday in May. The 2006 Cheese Rolling and Wake starts at noon on Monday May 29.