List of caves in the United Kingdom
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
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 Johns' 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]
List of Caves in the United Kingdom and Ireland
This is a list of all caves over 1km length and 60m depth in the United Kingdom after Wilton-Jones.[7]
| Cave | Length (km) | Depth (m) | Region |
| Three Counties System | 86.619 | 253 | Northern Dales |
| Ogof Draenen | 70 | 151 | South Wales |
| Ogof Ffynnon Ddu | 60.644 | 309.5 | South Wales |
| Agen Allwedd | 32.8 | 160 | South Wales |
| Ogof Daren Cilau System | 28 | 232 | South Wales |
| Kingsdale Master Cave | 27 | 165 | Northern Dales |
| Clearwell Caves | 24 | 107 | Forest Of Dean |
| Gaping Gill System | 21 | 192 | Northern Dales |
| Peak Cavern - Speedwell Cavern | 17.75 | 248 | Peak District |
| Dan-Yr-Ogof | 16 | 150 | South Wales |
| Slaughter Stream Cave | 14 | 100 | Forest Of Dean |
| Hudgill Burn Mine Caverns | 13.244 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Marble Arch - Upper Cradle - Lower Cradle - Prod's Pot - Cascades Rising | 11.5 | < 60 | Co. Fermanagh |
| Mossdale Caverns | 10.5 | 60 | Northern Dales |
| Lancliffe Pot | 9.6 | 116 | Northern Dales |
| Swildon's Hole | 9.41 | 167 | Mendip |
| Carno | 8.9 | 63 | South Wales |
| Little Neath River Cave | 8.8 | 125 | South Wales |
| Ogof Craig A Ffynnon | 8 | 115 | South Wales |
| St. Cuthbert's Swallet | 7.103 | 145 | Mendip |
| The Goyden System | 7.1 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Gingling Hole | 6.9 | 177 | Northern Dales |
| Reyfad - Pollnacrom - Polltullybrack | 6.7 | 193 | Co. Fermanagh |
| White Scar Cave | 6.5 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Mongo Gill Hole - Stump Cross Caverns | 5.8 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Charterhouse Cave | 5.218 | 228 | Mendip |
| Penyghent Pot | 5.2 | 196 | Northern Dales |
| Giants Hole - Oxlow Caverns | 5.12 | 211 | Peak District |
| Shannon Cave - Polltullyard | 5 | 130 | Co. Fermanagh |
| Bagshawe Cavern | 5 | 75 | Peak District |
| Dale Barn Cave | 4.9 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Upper Flood Swallet | 4.72 | 136 | Mendip |
| Meregill - Roaring Hole | 4.6 | 181 | Northern Dales |
| Magnetometer Pot | 4.6 | 91 | Northern Dales |
| Knock Fell Caverns | 4.5 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Red Moss/Birkwith System | 4.2 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Ogof Llyn Parc | 4 | 110 | North Wales |
| Miss Graces Lane Swallet | 4 | 72 | Forest Of Dean |
| Dub Cote Cave | 4 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Ogof Llyn Du - Ogof Dydd Braf | 4 | < 60 | North Wales |
| Noon's Hole - Arch Cave | 3.7 | 108 | Co. Fermanagh |
| Dow Cave - Providence Pot | 3.7 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Wookey Hole | 3.66 | 182 | Mendip |
| Baker's Pit - Reeds | 3.631 | < 60 | Devon |
| Birks Fell Cave | 3.6 | 142 | Northern Dales |
| Boreham Cave | 3.6 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Gough's Cave | 3.405 | 115 | Mendip |
| Otter Hole | 3.352 | < 60 | South Wales |
| Carlswark Cavern | 3.243 | 61 | Peak District |
| Fairy Holes | 3.2 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Pollaraftra | 3.13 | 73 | Co. Fermanagh |
| Uamh An Claonaite | 2.868 | 110 | Assynt |
| Ibbeth Peril - Upper Hackergill Caves | 2.803 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Eastwater Cavern | 2.8 | 160 | Mendip |
| Knotlow Cavern | 2.6 | 76 | Peak District |
| Lathkill Head Cave - Ricklow Cave | 2.58 | < 60 | Peak District |
| Porth yr Ogof | 2.53 | < 60 | South Wales |
| Boho Caves | 2.5 | < 60 | Co. Fermanagh |
| Excalibur Pot | 2.5 | < 60 | North York |
| Ogof T1 | 2.5 | < 60 | South Wales |
| Alum Pot System | 2.454 | 129 | Northern Dales |
| Aygill Caverns | 2.438 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Sleets Gill Cave | 2.4 | 76 | Northern Dales |
| Hurtle Pot - Jingle Pot System | 2.37 | 64 | Northern Dales |
| Stoke Lane Slocker | 2.25 | < 60 | Mendip |
| Robinsons' Pot | 2.2 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Reservoir Hole | 2.196 | 131 | Mendip |
| Tunnel Cave | 2.135 | 145 | South Wales |
| Black Keld | 2.115 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Ogof Hesp Alyn | 2 | 97 | North Wales |
| Cliff Force Cave | 2 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| GB Cave | 1.95 | 134 | Mendip |
| Dog Hole - Crystal Cave | 1.95 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Smeltmill Beck Cave | 1.9 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| P8 (Jackpot) | 1.8 | 70 | Peak District |
| Blea Gill Cave | 1.8 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Devis Hole Mine Caves - South and East Cave Series | 1.791 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Joint Hole | 1.77 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Ogof Afon Hepste | 1.76 | < 60 | South Wales |
| Llanelly Quarry Pot | 1.705 | 80 | South Wales |
| Ayleburn Mine Cave | 1.7 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Devis Hole Mine Caves - Central Maze | 1.7 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Malham Cove Risings | 1.7 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Great Douk Cave | 1.676 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Longwood Swallet | 1.65 | 175 | Mendip |
| Redhouse Lane Swallet | 1.615 | < 60 | Forest Of Dean |
| Ogof Tarddiad Rhymney | 1.608 | < 60 | South Wales |
| Redmire Pot | 1.6 | 117 | Northern Dales |
| Llygad Llwchwr | 1.6 | < 60 | South Wales |
| Spittle Croft Cave | 1.6 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Goatchurch Cavern | 1.532 | 63 | Mendip |
| Tooth Cave | 1.525 | < 60 | South Wales |
| Wigmore Swallet | 1.52 | 113 | Mendip |
| Long Kin East - Rift Pot | 1.5 | 113 | Northern Dales |
| Tullyhona Rising Cave | 1.5 | 65 | Co. Fermanagh |
| Allt Nan Uamh Stream Cave | 1.5 | < 60 | Assynt |
| Ogof Cynnes | 1.5 | < 60 | South Wales |
| Pollnagossan (Pollnadossan) | 1.5 | < 60 | Co. Cavan |
| Scoska Cave | 1.5 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Borrins Moor Cave | 1.433 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Thrupe Lane Swallet | 1.417 | 120 | Mendip |
| Cnoc Nan Uamh | 1.4 | 84 | Assynt |
| Shatter Cave | 1.373 | < 60 | Mendip |
| Eglwys Faen | 1.34 | < 60 | South Wales |
| Blue John Caverns | 1.324 | 90 | Peak District |
| Tyning's Barrow Swallet | 1.296 | 132 | Mendip |
| Eglin's Hole | 1.28 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Marble Steps Pot | 1.273 | 131 | Northern Dales |
| Tatham Wife Hole | 1.219 | 155 | Northern Dales |
| Big Sink Cave (or swallet) | 1.2 | 126 | Forest Of Dean |
| Pant Mawr Pot | 1.2 | 97 | South Wales |
| Bown Scar Cave | 1.2 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Cherry Tree Hole | 1.2 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Hagg Gill Pot | 1.2 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| White Keld | 1.2 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Windegg Mine Caverns | 1.2 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Manor Farm Swallet | 1.17 | 179 | Mendip |
| Fairy Cave - Hillier's Cave - Hillwithy Cave | 1.17 | < 60 | Mendip |
| Crescent Pot | 1.146 | 122 | Northern Dales |
| Ogof Rhyd Sych | 1.11 | < 60 | South Wales |
| Langstroth Pot | 1.1 | 90 | Northern Dales |
| Ogof Fawr | 1.1 | 76 | South Wales |
| Grabbers Cave | 1.1 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Hugh's Moss Cave | 1.1 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Pridhamsleigh Cavern | 1.1 | < 60 | Devon |
| Water Icicle Close Cavern | 1.1 | < 60 | Peak District |
| Yew Cogar Cave | 1.1 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Little Hull Pot | 1.097 | 110 | Northern Dales |
| Heron Pot | 1.097 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Ogof Pwll Swnd | 1.075 | 76 | South Wales |
| Dry Gill Cave | 1.07 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Ogof Fechan | 1.067 | < 60 | South Wales |
| Lower Cales Dale Cave | 1.055 | < 60 | Peak District |
| Pikedaw Calamine Caverns | 1.055 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Rowter Hole | 1.044 | 140 | Peak District |
| Hammer Pot | 1.036 | 90 | Northern Dales |
| Creevy Cave | 1.024 | < 60 | Co. Monaghan |
| Ogof Ap Robert | 1.015 | 90 | South Wales |
| Lionel's Hole | 1.006 | < 60 | Mendip |
| Barras End Mine Caverns | 1 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Carrickbeg Rising Cave (Bunty Pot) | 1 | < 60 | Co. Fermanagh |
| Kent's Cavern | 1 | < 60 | Devon |
| Nidd Head North West Rising | 1 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Ogof-Yr-Ardd | 1 | < 60 | South Wales |
| Skirwith Cave | 1 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
| Tub Hole | 1 | < 60 | Northern Dales |
England
By English caving region.
Devon
See also Caves in Devon
- Ash Hole Cavern
- Bakers Pit, Buckfastleigh
- Chudleigh Cavern
- Kent's Cavern
- Kitley Show Cave
- Pridhamsleigh Cavern, Ashburton
- Reed's Cave
Mendip Hills
The following are all within Somerset unless otherwise stated. See also Caves of the Mendip Hills.
- Aveline's Hole
- Charterhouse Cave
- Cox's cave
- Eastwater Cavern
- GB Cave
- Goatchurch Cavern
- Gough's Cave
- Lamb Leer
- Longwood Swallet
- Manor Farm Swallet
- Pierre's Pot
- Reservoir Hole
- Rhino Rift
- Shatter Cave
- St Cuthbert's Swallet
- Stoke Lane Slocker
- Swildon's Hole
- Thrupe Lane Swallet
- Wookey Hole Caves
Peak District
The following are all within Derbyshire unless otherwise stated. See also List of caves in the Peak District and List of caves in Derbyshire.
- Blue John Cavern
- Great Masson Cavern
- Great Rutland Cavern
- Oxlow Cavern
- Peak Cavern
- Poole's Cavern
- Speedwell Cavern
- Thor's Cave, Staffordshire
- Titan
- Treak Cliff Cavern
Yorkshire Dales
- Alum Pot
- Aquamole Pot
- Bar Pot, Gaping Gill
- Big Meanie (See Death's Head Hole)
- Boxhead Pot
- The Buttertubs
- Coal Hole Entrance (See Short Drop Cave)
- Crackpot Cave
- Death's Head Hole
- Disappointment Pot, Gaping Gill
- Ease Gill Caverns
- Eden Sike Cave, Mallerstang
- Flood Entrance Pot, Gaping Gill
- Gaping Gill
- Gavel Pot
- Goyden Pot
- Great Douk Cave
- Ingleborough Cave
- It's a Cracker (See Lost Pot)
- Jib Tunnel
- Jingling Caves (See Jingling Pot)
- Jingling Pot
- Juniper Gulf
- Langcliffe Pot
- Long Churn Caves
- Long Drop Cave
- Long Kin East Cave
- Lost John's Cave
- Lost Pot
- Manchester Hole
- Marilyn, Gaping Gill (See Disappointment Pot)
- Mossdale Caverns
- Motley Pot, Gaping Gill (See Disappointment Pot)
- New Goyden Pot
- OBJ Pot, Gaping Gill (See Flood Entrance Pot)
- Oddmire Pot (See Langcliffe Pot)
- Rat Hole, Gaping Gill
- Rat Hole Sink, Gaping Gill (See Rat Hole)
- Rift Entrance (See Short Drop Cave)
- Rift Pot (see Long Kin East Cave)
- Rowten Pot
- Rumbling Beck Cave (See Rumbling Hole)
- Rumbling Hole
- Short Drop Cave
- Short Long Drop Cave (see Long Drop Cave)
- Simpson Pot
- Skirwith Cave
- Small Mammal Pot, Gaping Gill (See Bar Pot)
- Stile Pot, Gaping Gill (See Bar Pot)
- Stream Passage Pot, Gaping Gill
- Stump Cross Caverns
- Swinsto Cave
- Three Counties System
- Wades Entrance, Gaping Gill (See Flood Entrance Pot)
- Weathercote Cave
- White Scar Caves
- Yordas Cave
- Yordas Pot (See Yordas Cave)
Other areas
- Alloa Lea Quarry Cave, Northumberland
- Creswell Crags
- Excalibur Pot, North York Moors
- Kirkdale Cave, North York Moors
- Miss Grace's Lane, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
- Mother Ludlam's Cave, Moor Park, Farnham, Surrey
- Dog Hole Cave, Cumbria
- Pate Hole, Cumbria
- Slaughter Stream Cave, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
- Heathery Burn Cave, Stanhope, County Durham
- Pen Park Hole, Bristol
- Clearwell Caves, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
Northern Ireland
The following are all within County Fermanagh unless otherwise stated. See also Caves of the Tullybrack and Belmore hills.
- Badger Pot
- Boho Caves
- Marble Arch Caves
- Noon's Hole
- Portbraddon Cave, County Antrim
- Shannon Cave, County Fermanagh and County Cavan, Republic of Ireland
Scotland
- Calder's Geo, Shetland
- Cleeves Cove Cave, North Ayrshire
- Fingal's Cave, Inner Hebrides
- Smoo Cave, Sutherland
- Uamh An Claonaite, Sutherland
Wales
All in Brecon Beacons unless stated.
- Cathole Cave, Gower
- Dan yr Ogof
- Ogof Agen Allwedd
- Ogof Craig a Ffynnon
- Ogof Daren Cilau
- Ogof Draenen
- Ogof Ffynnon Ddu
- Ogof Hen Ffynhonnau, Flintshire
- Ogof Hesp Alyn, Flintshire
- Ogof Llyn Parc, Wrexham
- Ogof Nadolig, Flintshire
- Ogof y Daren Cilau
- Otter Hole, Gwent
- Porth yr Ogof
- Pwll Dwfn
Bibliography
- Allshorn, Sam; Swire, Paul (2017). Northern Caves: The Three Counties System and the North-West. High Mead. ISBN 9781527210950.
- Brook, G.; Davies, G.M.; Long, M.H.; Ryder, P.F. (1988). Northern Caves: Wharfedale & The North-East. Vol. 1. Dalesman Books. ISBN 0852069278.
- Brook, G.; Davies, G.M.; Long, M.H.; Ryder, P.F. (1991). Northern Caves: The Three Peaks. Vol. 2. Dalesman Books. ISBN 0852069278.
- Irwin, Dave (2013). Mendip Underground: A Caver's Guide (4th ed.). Mendip Cave Registry and Archive. ISBN 9780953131051.
- Oldham, Tony; Oldham, T.E.A; Smart, T. (1986). The Concise Caves Of Devon.
See also
- Caving in the United Kingdom
- Geography of the United Kingdom
- List of caves
- List of UK caving fatalities
- Speleology
References
- ^ Allen, Tim (Oct–Nov 2014). "The Longest Cave". Descent (240). Wild Places Publishing: 36.
- ^ "Ogof Ffynnon Ddu - Surveys". South Wales Caving Club. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
- ^ "Scottish Cave and Mine Database. Grampian Speleological Group
- ^ " 'Biggest cave' is Calders Geo in Shetland at Esha Ness". BBC News. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
- ^ "Esha Ness sea cave is 'largest in Britain'". BBC News. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
- ^ "Cheddar cave 'biggest in Mendip Hills'". BBC News online. 7 September 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
- ^ "All regions - Longest caves". www.ukcaves.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-11-24.