13 Amazing Caves to Explore in England (From Popular Spots to Hidden Treasures)

Visiting a different county or city is an exciting thing to do! Before visiting somewhere new, I like to research to know what activities and places to explore. England has many things to offer like the food, culture, and even castles! I honestly did not know England had so many hidden treasures to explore and this article is to name a few! Check out this article for some amazing caves to explore in England!

1. Fingal’s

Fingal’s cave is located on the Isle of Staffa. This cave was rediscovered by Sir Joseph Banks after it was covered with 25 feet of water. Fingal’s cave is covered with hexagonal rock columns formed millions of years ago by volcanic eruptions. German composer, Felix Mendelssohn, wrote his famous Hebrides overture after becoming seasick on the boat tour. What a great way to become inspired!

2. Llechwedd Slate

Llechwedd Slate Cave is north of Wales National Park in Snowdonia. This cave was used as a slate mine by the Romans in the first century. There are two different tours in this cave going 500 feet underground. One tour is on a 3-foot-long gauge railway descending into the old working sites down a steep inclined plane. The second tour leads to a tunnel that had a train hauled by a battery electric locomotive in 1846. This beautiful cave stays around 54 degrees all year round.

3. Peak

The Peak Cavern has the largest cave entrance in Britain and has an interesting history to it. The Peak cave was called the “Devil’s arse” because the noises the cave makes when floodwaters are draining sound like flatulence. The name was changed to Peak Caverns in the 1800s because Queen Victoria wanted to visit the caves, but people were afraid to offend her. How embarrassing right? A group of rope makers called this cave home and sold wares to local villagers in 1915. This large cave is 60 feet high, 100 feet wide, and 340 feet long. Many events are held here throughout the year, so make sure to check out their website!

4. Three Counties System

The Three Counties Cave System is the longest and most complicated cave system in England. The cave system is underground in Yorkshire, passes Lancashire, and emerges in Cumbria. This cave system is 89 kilometers long and has 40 different entrances! This ever-growing cave has many caves and pothole entrances around the Valley of Ease Gill. This complicated system was discovered in 1946 by George Cornes and Bill Taylor.

5. Thor’s

Thor’s cave is outside the village of Wetton in Staffordshire Peak District and can be accessed on the biking trail, Manifold Way. The limestone hill housing the cave is made up of layers of dead marine animals from over a million years ago. There is also evidence of humans living in this cave dating back to 11,000 years ago. I can only imagine the critters that lived here years ago!

6. Reynards

Reynards is a small cave located on the Eastern bank of Davedale in the Peak District. This cave was formed by the erosion of limestone. To the left of the cave is a much smaller cave named Reynard’s Kitchen.

7. Kent’s

Kent’s Cave is located in Torquay, England, and is also known as Kent’s Hole. This cave is one of England’s Stone Age caves because of evidence of cave bears, mammoths, bison, and giant deer traveling or living here. The cave has a guided tour that lasts for about one hour and there are a ton of things to do around this prehistoric cave.

8. Holywell

Holywell has probably obtained its name because it is believed that this cave has healing powers for itchiness and dandruff. During your tour, you will see colorful walls of white, blue, red, green, and purple throughout the cave. This cave is located in the southwest corner of Kelsey’s head and can be accessed at low tide.

9. Clearwell

Clearwell is an old mining cave located on the edge of the forest of Dean in Gloucestershire. There is evidence in the cave that Clearwell was used for 1,000 years for iron and ochre pigment. If you are lucky you may come across some prehistoric iron!

10. Merlin’s

Merlin’s Cave is a 330-foot-long cave formed by marine erosion, located beneath Tintagel Castle. At high tide, this cave is accessed via kayak and can be walked through at low tide. This cave is also associated with the great King Arthur and a wizard named Merlin.

11. The Bone

The bone cave has an interesting history that makes you understand how the cave received its history. In 1928 pieces of reindeer antlers, bear teeth, land snails, frogs, and a jaw bone of a wildcat were discovered here. Forty-two human skeletons have also been found dating back to the Bronze Age! If none of that interests you, maybe jewelry will spike your interest. Researchers have also found silver rings, Roman pottery fragments, and bronze jewelry here. If you’re lucky maybe you will come across some of this old, prehistoric jewelry! The Bone Cave is located along the western slopes of Will Mountain.

12. Goatchurch

Goatchurch Cave is on the edge of Burrington Combe in Somerset England. This cave has two entrances, Tradesman’s and the Main. The main entrance was opened in 1901 making Goatchurch an official show cave. Remains of mammoths, hyaenas, bears, and cave lions have been discovered here over the years. If you are up for an adventure, this cave has a sports tour allowing tourists to climb, crawl, and squeeze through passages. You may encounter a few bats during your tour!

13. Smoo

Smoo Cave is a natural sea cave one mile east of Durness Village Centre in Scotland. The entrance is 50 feet high, 130 feet wide, and 200 feet long. This beautiful cave not only has a unique name but also has a cascading waterfall.

Conclusion

The photo featured at the top of this post is © VictorHuang/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more.

Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day.

Thanks for subscribing!