Ravencliffe Cave.
Location-
Cressbrook, Derbyshire.
O.S Grid Reference-
SK1739 7356.
From the Monsal Head Hotel and viewpoint follow the road down into Monsal Dale and continue passed the converted Cressbrook Mill. As the road begins to head up hill just before the sharp lefthanded hairpin bend there is a road that leads to Cressbrook Cottages by the side of the river, park here in the small car park; buses use the road through the dale and parking on this road could cause a road block.
Back at the cottages there are some stepping stones across the river that lead to a climbers concessionary path up to the crags. The path as with most climbers paths isn't that well made but if you choose to take it then follow it up through the trees. As you break through the trees at around 300m in height from the river the cave is easily found in the crags after scrambling up the grass bank. It's a bit of an exposed vertigo inducing trip but worth it for the views of the dale.
The cave has been excvavted and was found to have been used during a warm interglacial period during the last Ice Age, when the ice sheets had retreated further North. It was also used during the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods and into the Romano-British.
Cressbrook, Derbyshire.
O.S Grid Reference-
SK1739 7356.
From the Monsal Head Hotel and viewpoint follow the road down into Monsal Dale and continue passed the converted Cressbrook Mill. As the road begins to head up hill just before the sharp lefthanded hairpin bend there is a road that leads to Cressbrook Cottages by the side of the river, park here in the small car park; buses use the road through the dale and parking on this road could cause a road block.
Back at the cottages there are some stepping stones across the river that lead to a climbers concessionary path up to the crags. The path as with most climbers paths isn't that well made but if you choose to take it then follow it up through the trees. As you break through the trees at around 300m in height from the river the cave is easily found in the crags after scrambling up the grass bank. It's a bit of an exposed vertigo inducing trip but worth it for the views of the dale.
The cave has been excvavted and was found to have been used during a warm interglacial period during the last Ice Age, when the ice sheets had retreated further North. It was also used during the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods and into the Romano-British.