Hillier's Cave

Hillier's Cave is a limestone cave in the Mendip Hills of Somerset, a short distance from Oakhill. It sits inside the disused Fairy Cave Quarry near the village of Stoke St Michael. This is a site for organised cavers only, not a stop for casual visitors.

What is Hillier's Cave?

Quarry blasting broke into the passage in 1954. The first explorers were a local group that included pupils from a Midsomer Norton school, and the cave was named after Gordon Hillier, the school's headmaster from 1926 to 1958. Stone extraction began in the 1920s and ended in 1977, when permission was no longer granted because the works were affecting local water resources. Parts of the cave are now choked with sludge from the quarry.

What lies underground?

The cave is part of the Fairy Cave Quarry complex. A long, wet crawl in neighbouring Fairy Cave leads to the Upper Grotto of Hillier's Cave, and Hillwithy Cave was later linked to the upstream section of Hillier's. The squeeze between Hillier's and Fairy Cave is tight, and caving guides warn that a person can become stuck in it. A recently dug crawl near the entrance has been seen to flood quickly with run-off from the quarry floor.

Can you go in?

Only through a caving club. The Fairy Cave Quarry Management Committee controls access for the landowners. Entry is limited to bona fide caving clubs, and each caver needs public liability insurance, such as the cover offered through the British Caving Association. The cave is locked, and keys are held by the main Mendip clubs: ACG, BEC, CSS, MCG, MNRC, SMCC and WCC. The quarry gate has a combination lock and the locked car park needs a key, both obtainable from those clubs. Parties are capped at six people.

When is it closed?

The cave shuts from 1 October so that hibernating bats are left undisturbed. The CSCC access guide gives 31 March as the reopening date in one entry and 30 April in another, so confirm the current dates with the access committee before you plan a trip. The quarry lies within the St. Dunstan's Well Catchment Site of Special Scientific Interest, which adds to the restrictions.

How do you get there?

Fairy Cave Quarry lies in the north-east of the Mendip Hills around Stoke St Michael, between Oakhill and Ashwick. Driving is the practical option. Because the car park is locked, arrange your arrival with the club that holds the key and gate code. The cave's coordinates are roughly 51.226 N, 2.492 W.

What can non-cavers do nearby?

Explore the Mendip Hills National Landscape, with its gorges, heathland and views across the Somerset levels. Several other caves in the region offer commercial, guided trips suitable for beginners.

Frequently asked questions

Can a tourist visit Hillier's Cave?

Not independently. Entry is only possible as part of a caving-club party with keys and insurance.

How many people can go in together?

Up to six.

Is the cave difficult?

Yes. It involves tight squeezes, wet crawling and a risk of quick flooding near the entrance, so it suits experienced cavers.

Why is it closed in winter?

Bats hibernate in the cave, and protecting them sets the closure period, which begins on 1 October.