A Day Trip to Wookey Hole Caves
Wookey Hole cave was formed through erosion of the limestone hills by the River Axe. Before emerging at Wookey Hole the water enters underground streams and passes through other caves such as Swildon's Hole and St Cuthbert's Swallet. After resurging, the waters of the River Axe are used in a handmade paper mill (now sadly no longer making the famous rag paper), the oldest extant in Britain, which began operations circa 1610, although a corn grinding mill operated there as early as 1086.
Nearby is the limestone Ebbor Gorge, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a more tranquil spot than the busy Wookey Hole, which is itself an SSSI for both biological and geological reasons.
The cave is noted for the Witch of Wookey Hole -- a roughly human shaped rock outcrop, reputedly turned to stone by a monk from Glastonbury. It is also the site of the first cave dives in Britain.
The caves, at a constant temperature of 11 °C (52 °F), have been used by humans for around 50,000 years. The low temperature means that the caves can be used for maturing Cheddar cheese.
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@dansinclair220 it's beautiful I've been going there for years,In the early 70's the mill was still making rag paper and you could only get to the 3:25 cave then you had to go back.Later it was blasted through and then the mill was bought and it held a fairground collection,and was used by Tussuad's to store all their wax heads and body casts.Now owned by Gerry Cottle hence the circus memorabilia near the end.
Good to hear
I visit today this wookey hole and at cheddar 300 millions years old cave aswell. It waz btilient experince in my life.....
@ceredigio That organ was there for years and when I was small it started my interest in them.
It's been awhile since I last went so 30 mins as a guess,depends on how fast you walk through the last part.
I went there once, and I enjoyed alomost all of it. The caves where where I developed Claustrophobia
@ceredigio The caves are now owned by Gerry Cottle and yes more sideshow than circus.Shame they have stopped making rag paper now : (
great place to see 良い
How long does the walk last in the cave?
@dansinclair220 it is if you ever have the chance go its awsome
I went here a week or so ago and it sucked (apart from the caves)