Victoria Cave — Attraction in Langcliffe

Victoria Cave was discovered by chance in 1837 and since then has been completely excavated.

Within the cave’s thick clay deposits, scientists found an amazing record of climate change in the Dales over thousands of years.

Victorian excavators were particularly fascinated by ‘bone caves’ where there might be a possibility of finding evidence for the earliest humans along with long extinct animals. Victoria Cave certainly had plenty of animal bones. The earliest, at 130,000 years old, included those of hippos, narrow-nosed rhino, elephants and spotted hyenas. They date to an Upper Pleistocene interglacial when the climate was much warmer than today. It seems as if at that time, the hyenas were using the cave as a den and dragging scavenged bones back to it. No evidence was found for human activity during this period.

The glaciers then returned and from 120,000 to around 12,000 years ago the cave gradually filled with layer upon layer of clay deposited as the glaciers periodically melted.

After the last Ice Age the cave was used by hibernating brown bear. In amongst the animal bones of reindeer was an 11,000 year old antler harpoon point, the first evidence for people in the Yorkshire Dales.

For archaeologists, the Roman layers were even more interesting. Here a collection of unusual bronze and bone artefacts were found, including brooches and coins. The unusual nature of some of the finds has led archaeologists to believe that the cave was being used as more than just a storage place or shelter for craft workers. It may even have been some...

Further exploration is requested by a polite sign to not venture past, due to fragility of formations. If. You've travelled a long way to see the cave, it may be a disappointment without going round the barrier. Expect wet, muddy and potentially very slippy Limestone. There are no grandiose formations, so unless your the adventurous type, you won't feel let down. SPOILER ALERT please don't look at all the pictures if you have more than a passing interest... See it for your self in your own perception 👍 Unfortunately further into the cave system there is littering... Some of it very old, some of it more recent.

People... It weighed little enough for you to carry it into the Dales... It would have been far lighter to carry it back with you. PLEASE DO...

This is a free to visit cave ...it's hard going if your not fit or in wet weather. Not suitable for wheelchairs or people who lack balance best to visit in warmer weather with children the path way can be muddy and slippery . .there are a few caves and they are quite interesting to see remember to take rubbish home with you and pay attention to your surroundings many of the rocks you'll see came from the ceiling of the cave.. The views of the surrounding countryside...