Ash Hole Cavern

There is evidence that the cave has been used for shelter by humans since the Bronze Age, and several pottery fragments of that era have been found just inside the natural entrance. There is also evidence of Roman burials in the cavern. Several fragments of urns have been found, in which have been found ashes and around those have been found bone fragments. These have been dated to be from Roman times. Also found were several Roman coins including those of Claudius and Nero which were discovered in 1831.

Ash Hole Cavern is reached by an approximately 50-metre walk from the Berry Head Road, through an area of woodland and undergrowth. The cave, which is situated in the limestone rock of the Devonian age, consists of an east–west-orientated main chamber and several other fissures and smaller chambers. There are two entrances into the cave: the naturally formed entrance is at the bottom of a sinkhole at the eastern end of the main chamber, and a larger entrance, created by a breach during quarrying in the 19th century, is on the northern side. Apart from the large main chamber, there are several smaller chambers, which extend downwards into the rock. One has a large quantity of loose rock…