List of caves in the United Kingdom

Summary

This is an incomplete list of caves in the United Kingdom, including information on the largest and deepest caves in the UK.

Longest, deepest and largest edit

The longest cave system in the UK is the Three Counties System in the Yorkshire Dales, with 86.7 km (53.9 mi) of passageways. It includes the Ease Gill system, the Notts Pot / Ireby Fell Cavern system, the Lost John's Cave system, and the Pippikin Pot system, all of which are connected.[1]

  • The deepest cave in Wales and the UK is Ogof Ffynnon Ddu, 274.5 metres (901 ft) deep and containing around 50 km (31 mi) of passageways.[2]
  • The deepest cave in England is the Three Counties System which is 252 metres (827 ft) deep between the entrance of Large Pot, and the deepest point reached by diving in Gavel Pot.
  • The deepest cave in Scotland is Uamh an Claonaite in Assynt, 110 metres (360 ft) deep. [3]
  • The deepest cave in Northern Ireland is Reyfad Pot in County Fermanagh, 193 metres (633 ft) deep.

A sea cave on the north side of Calder's Geo in Shetland was measured in 2014 at over 20 metres (66 ft) high and with a floor area of around 5,600 square metres (60,000 sq ft). This makes it the largest known cave chamber in the United Kingdom.[4][5]

A chamber in Reservoir Hole, Cheddar Gorge called “The Frozen Deep” was discovered in 2012 and found to be 30 metres (98 ft) high and 60 metres (200 ft) long.[6]

England edit

By English caving region.

Devon edit

See also Caves in Devon

Mendip Hills edit

The following are all within Somerset unless otherwise stated. See also Caves of the Mendip Hills.

Peak District edit

The following are all within Derbyshire unless otherwise stated. See also List of caves in the Peak District and List of caves in Derbyshire.

Yorkshire Dales edit

Other areas edit

Northern Ireland edit

The following are all within County Fermanagh unless otherwise stated. See also Caves of the Tullybrack and Belmore hills.

Scotland edit

Wales edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Allen, Tim (Oct–Nov 2014). "The Longest Cave". Descent (240). Wild Places Publishing: 36.
  2. ^ "Ogof Ffynnon Ddu - Surveys". South Wales Caving Club. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  3. ^ "Scottish Cave and Mine Database. Grampian Speleological Group
  4. ^ " 'Biggest cave' is Calders Geo in Shetland at Esha Ness". BBC News. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  5. ^ "Esha Ness sea cave is 'largest in Britain'". BBC News. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  6. ^ "Cheddar cave 'biggest in Mendip Hills'". BBC News online. 7 September 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2012.

External links edit

  • UK Caves