Jubilee Cave

Jubilee Cave sits high in the limestone face of Langcliffe Scar, just above the village of Langcliffe and the market town of Settle in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, North Yorkshire. Walkers treat it as a short stop on a loop from Settle. Archaeologists know it as a scheduled monument (Historic England list entry 1010296).

What is Jubilee Cave?

The cave belongs to the same stretch of limestone crags as the better-known Victoria Cave, a little further along the scar. It is not a serious caving system. Two neighbouring entrances open into small chambers you can peer into, though the rock is uneven and slippery, so take care.

Why does it matter to archaeologists?

Digging here began in 1871 under the Settle Cave Exploration Committee and resumed between 1935 and 1938, led by T. Lord and T. L. Frankland. Finds include Mesolithic flints, Neolithic Peterborough Ware pottery, Iron Age and Romano-British artefacts, and animal bones. People, in other words, have used this shelter across thousands of years. Do not confuse it with Victoria Cave, a separate site famous for Roman coins, jewellery and craft tools.

How do you get there?

The usual route starts in Settle's market place. A circular walk past Attermire Scar, both caves and back over fields takes about 2 hours 15 minutes. Longer versions run to roughly 15 km, 4 to 6 hours and about 500 m of climbing, often adding the Catrigg Force waterfall. The paths cross fields and open fell, so wear proper walking footwear.

What will you see on the way?

• The sheer limestone cliff of Attermire Scar and scattered boulders beneath it.
• The entrances of Jubilee Cave and Victoria Cave.
• Views over Settle, the Ribble valley and the Craven hills.

When should you go?

Pick a dry day. Wet weather turns limestone slick and the paths muddy. Summer gives long daylight for combining the caves with other stops. Bring a torch if you want to look deeper inside.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside Jubilee Cave? Yes, the entrances can be reached from a public path and explored with care. The cave is a protected monument, so take nothing away and do not dig.

Is Jubilee Cave the same as Victoria Cave? No. They are two different caves in the same scar. Victoria Cave is larger and better documented; Jubilee Cave is smaller.

How long does a visit take? The cave itself takes around 15 minutes, while the full loop from Settle runs from about 2 to 5 hours depending on the route.

Do you need a ticket? No. There is no charge to walk to the cave or look inside; the route crosses open Dales countryside.