Wookey Hole Caves

Wookey Hole Caves

Wookey Hole Caves is a well-known tourist attraction located in the small village of Wookey Hole near the medieval town of Wells in Somerset, England.

The caves were formed by the erosional action of the River Axe as it flowed through the limestone hills, and the site features underground streams. Prior to entering the cave, the river flows through subterranean passages and other caves such as Swildon’s Hole and St. Cuthbert’s Swallet. Due to the presence of water, there is also one of the oldest surviving handmade paper mills in Britain nearby, dating back to 1610, as well as a corn mill built in 1086.

The caves have a history of human activity spanning 50,000 years and are famous for the Wookey Hole Witch—a roughly human-shaped rock formation believed to have been turned to stone by a monk from Glastonbury. It is also the site of the first cave in Britain to be used for diving. The constant temperature inside the cave is 11 degrees Celsius, which is ideal for aging shaped Cheddar cheese.

There are several other tourist attractions around Wookey Hole Caves, such as the nearby Ebbor Gorge, which is recognized as a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its unique biology and geology, offering a quieter alternative to the busier Wookey Hole Caves.

Wookey Hole Caves

Must-visit reason: The earliest cave in Britain to be used for diving

Continent where the attraction is located: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region where the attraction is located: Britain[Britain]

Province/State where the attraction is located: Somerset County [Somerset County]