'Douky Bottom Cave' Hawkswick Clowder, near Kilnsey

Douky Bottom Cave is an archaeological cave on Hawkswick Clowder, an upland limestone pasture near Kilnsey in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, North Yorkshire, England. It is not a developed attraction. It is a protected heritage site on open fell, of most interest to archaeology fans and hill walkers.

What is Douky Bottom Cave?

Sources spell the name several ways: Douky Bottom, Douk Bottom, Dowkabottom and Dowkerbottom. The cave lies above the village of Hawkswick in the old district of Craven, between Wharfedale and Littondale. Its grid reference is SD 9517 6890, and an early twentieth-century account puts it at roughly 1,250 feet (about 380 m) above sea level. Historic England records it on the National Heritage List for England under entry 1004875.

Why does it matter historically?

The cave was dug several times in the nineteenth century: in the 1850s by Jackson, in 1858 by H. Denny, in 1863 by J. Farrer and in 1881 by Poulton. Excavators recovered pottery, worked flint, Romano-British objects and animal bone. The human remains represent at least three people, two adults and a child. The burial is classed as Neolithic, yet the objects found with it are not diagnostic of a single period and no radiocarbon dates exist. Finds went to the British Museum, Craven Museum in Skipton, Leeds City Museum and the University of Cambridge.

How do you reach Hawkswick Clowder?

Walkers usually start near Kilnsey, on the B6160 beneath Kilnsey Crag, and climb to the limestone terrace above. The cave sits about a quarter of a mile from the far end of Sleets Ghyll Cave, and a 1911 description directs visitors along field walls from the head of the Sleets Ghyll gully. Around 100 yards beyond is the Douky Bottom Ring, a stone circle that commentators place in the Iron Age or earlier. The terrain is karst, with limestone pavement and cairns, and a small parking area with an honesty box serves the pasture.

Can you go inside?

The cave is an archaeological monument, so visitors view it from outside and must not remove or dig anything. It suits experienced cavers rather than casual sightseers, and there is no lighting, path or ticketed access. The sources we used give no access rules, so check with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and the British Caving Association before you set out.

When should you go?

Dry weather from late spring to early autumn keeps the limestone from getting slippery. Conditions on the fell, above 350 m, change fast, so bring waterproofs, sturdy boots and a map.

Frequently asked questions

Is Douky Bottom Cave the same as Dowkerbottom Cave?

Yes. These are variant spellings of one cave near Hawkswick, also written Dowkabottom and Douk Bottom.

Is it a show cave?

No. There are no visitor facilities, and the site is a listed archaeological monument.

What was found here?

Pottery, flints, Roman-period objects, animal bones and the remains of at least three people.

Can I drive there?

You can drive to Kilnsey on the B6160, and a small car park serves Hawkswick Clowder. The final stretch is on foot.