Kirkdale Cave

Kirkdale Cave is a limestone cave in Kirkdale, about a mile west of Kirkbymoorside in North Yorkshire, England, on the edge of the North York Moors National Park. Since 1821 it has been one of Britain's best-known fossil sites, because the bones found inside reshaped what people thought they knew about prehistoric England.

Why is Kirkdale Cave famous?

Quarry workers broke into the cave while cutting limestone. Inside lay the remains of cave hyenas alongside animals that no longer live in Britain: hippopotamuses, straight-tusked elephants and rhinoceroses. They date from the Eemian interglacial, a warm period with temperatures close to today's. Many bones carried tooth marks, a clue to who had gathered them.

Who worked out what happened here?

News of the discovery reached the Oxford geologist William Buckland, who examined the cave in December 1821. He concluded that hyenas had used it as a den and dragged their prey in, rather than a flood sweeping the bones there. His findings were presented to the Royal Society. Local accounts credit a local doctor with spotting the find's significance first, and add that workmen at first used some of the bones on roads.

Can you go inside?

The cave is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is not a managed visitor attraction: there is no ticketing, signage at the entrance or visitor infrastructure. The entrance opens in the face of the old quarry, several feet above ground, and you need a torch and a crawl to get in. The approach path can be muddy. Deposits inside are protected, so nothing may be dug or collected. Check Natural England's current guidance and the landowner's permission before visiting; viewing the quarry from outside is the straightforward option.

What else is nearby?

About five minutes' walk away stands St Gregory's Minster, rebuilt between 1055 and 1065 by Orm, son of Gamel. Its Saxon sundial carries an inscription recording that rebuilding. Quiet footpaths run along Hodge Beck, and circular walks from Kirkbymoorside of roughly 4.5 to 5 miles take in both sites.

How do you get there?

Kirkdale lies on the road between Kirkbymoorside and Nawton. A small car park by the church takes payment through an honesty box; on service days leave the main spaces for worshippers and use the overflow area. On foot from Kirkbymoorside it is around 30 minutes.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring, summer and early autumn in dry weather. After rain the paths by Hodge Beck turn boggy, so wear proper walking boots.

Frequently asked questions

Is Kirkdale Cave open to the public?

Not as an attraction. It is a protected SSSI with no facilities; entry means crawling, and access depends on current protection rules and the landowner's consent.

Which animals were found in the cave?

Cave hyenas, hippopotamuses, straight-tusked elephants and rhinoceroses from the Eemian interglacial.

Who studied the cave first?

William Buckland, in December 1821. He showed that hyenas, not a flood, had accumulated the bones.

What else is worth seeing in Kirkdale?

St Gregory's Minster with its 11th-century Saxon sundial, a few minutes from the cave.