Fox Hole Cave.
Location-
High Needham, Derbyshire.
O.S Grid Reference-
SK100 663.
The hill is owned by the National Trust and is open access, there is just about room for one car to park near the farm of Wheeldon Trees. From here there is a gated path that leads to the top of the hill the cave is near the summit on a rocky limestone spine on the NW side.
High Wheeldon lies at the southern end of a chain of prominent hills, once reefs in a warm shallow sea, that includes Parkhouse and Chrome Hills. Viewed from the north High Wheeldon dominates the local landscape yet near its summit is a small hidden cave (the entrance today being larger after being blasted with dynamite to aid the rescue of a dog in 1929).
Excavations of the cave have revealed a long history of human use beginning in the Upper Paleaolithic. Then in the Neolithic several cists containing burials were constructed; these bones are the oldest ritually buried bones yet recovered from the Peak District.
High Needham, Derbyshire.
O.S Grid Reference-
SK100 663.
The hill is owned by the National Trust and is open access, there is just about room for one car to park near the farm of Wheeldon Trees. From here there is a gated path that leads to the top of the hill the cave is near the summit on a rocky limestone spine on the NW side.
High Wheeldon lies at the southern end of a chain of prominent hills, once reefs in a warm shallow sea, that includes Parkhouse and Chrome Hills. Viewed from the north High Wheeldon dominates the local landscape yet near its summit is a small hidden cave (the entrance today being larger after being blasted with dynamite to aid the rescue of a dog in 1929).
Excavations of the cave have revealed a long history of human use beginning in the Upper Paleaolithic. Then in the Neolithic several cists containing burials were constructed; these bones are the oldest ritually buried bones yet recovered from the Peak District.
Above: High Wheeldon (the rocky spine where the cave is located is easily seen toward the top of the hill).
Below: Fox Hole Cave with High Wheeldon's Summit behind.
Below: Fox Hole Cave with High Wheeldon's Summit behind.