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The Great Britain Guide

Caves Β· South Wales

Otter Cave

In or near Caerwent.

Free admission

Otter Cave is a cave in the United Kingdom.

Otter Cave, caves in South Wales

Wikimedia Commons contributors β€” see linked file page for photographer and licence licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
45 min–1.5 h
Nearest railway station
Chepstow Β· 2.7 km
  • Free entry
  • Dog-friendly

Getting there & planning your visit

To visit Otter Cave, the nearest railway station is Chepstow, located 2.7 km away. Entry to the cave is free.

Directions on Google Maps β†’

About

Otter Cave is a named cave entrance in the United Kingdom. Coordinates: 51.6621Β°, -2.6884Β°. This entry is part of The Great Britain Guide, a free, ad-free, open-data tourist directory.

Photo gallery

Protected designations

  • Site of Special Scientific Interest: River Wye SSSI
  • Site of Special Scientific Interest: Severn Estuary SSSI
  • Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Wye Valley
  • Ramsar wetland: Severn Estuary

Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.

From the Wikipedia article

Otter Hole is perhaps one of the best decorated caves in Britain. Located on the Wales–England border just north of Chepstow, the cave runs from the banks of the tidal River Wye under the Chepstow Racecourse and onwards through various chambers, each rich with cave formations. Because of its importance as one of the finest examples of decorated caverns in Europe, access is restricted and is managed by the Royal Forest of Dean Caving Club on behalf of the landowner.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

Description

The entrance to the cave is on the banks of the Wye through a gated doorway at the foot of a bluff. This is locked as a precaution against illegal entry to the cave, to protect the rare forms inside the cave and to prevent anyone wandering into the cave and being trapped accidentally as the cave floods with the tide. After a short crawl with few squeezes the passage opens out to a 'beach' where the tidal sump blocks access. At low tide this sump drains quickly and noisily, becoming passable as a 'duck' beneath a 'figure 8' double opening. The frequency of the tidal sump means that two trips are possible: a 'between tide trip' lasting around 6 hours will enter just after the sump drains and…

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
51.6621, -2.6884
Parish
Chepstow
Postcode
NP16 6EG
Parliamentary constituency
Monmouthshire
Nearest railway station
Chepstow β€” 2.7 km

Sources

Other places nearby

Nearby

The Giant's Cave - geograph.org.uk - 7041393πŸ“· 3

Viewpoints Β· South Wales

The Giant's Cave

The Giant's Cave is a viewpoint in the United Kingdom.

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The Giant's Cave - geograph.org.uk - 7041393πŸ“· 5

Caves Β· South Wales

The Giant's Cave, Piercefield

The Giant's Cave, Piercefield β€” a cave broad in wales-south, United Kingdom.

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Otter HoleπŸ“· 3

Mountains & hills Β· South Wales

Otter Hole

Otter Hole β€” cave in United Kingdom.

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Piercefield HouseπŸ“· 5

Historic houses Β· South Wales

Piercefield House

Piercefield House β€” neo-classical country house near Chepstow, Wales.

πŸ‘Ά
St Arvans Victorian Drinking Fountain - geograph.org.uk - 6580050πŸ“· 5

Villages Β· South Wales

Saint Arvans

Saint Arvans β€” a village in wales south.

The Platform - geograph.org.uk - 7041372πŸ“· 5

Vineyards Β· South Wales

Piercefield Little Camp

Piercefield Little Camp β€” a UK vineyard in wales south, producing English or Welsh wine from cool-climate grape varieties.

Where to eat & stay near Otter Cave

Places to stay

Bridge Street, Chepstow - geograph.org.uk - 5149811πŸ“· 5

B&Bs Β· South Wales

Woodfield Arms

Woodfield Arms β€” a bed-and-breakfast in wales south.

Dark green on lighter green, Tintern - geograph.org.uk - 7785252πŸ“· 7

Hotels Β· South Wales

The Wild Hare

The Wild Hare β€” a hotel in wales south.

β†— thewildharetintern.co.uk
The Coach House and Old Rectory, Tintern - geograph.org.uk - 6196338πŸ“· 7

B&Bs Β· South Wales

Tintern Old Rectory B&B

Tintern Old Rectory B&B β€” a bed-and-breakfast in wales south.

Gothic Cottage, Trelleck Road, Tintern - geograph.org.uk - 7785296πŸ“· 7

Hotels Β· South Wales

Wye Valley Hotel

Wye Valley Hotel β€” a hotel in wales south.

Free range geese - geograph.org.uk - 3116749πŸ“· 5

Campsites Β· South Wales

Beeches Farm Campsite

Beeches Farm Campsite β€” a campsite in wales south.

β†— beechesfarmcampsite.co.uk
St Peter's church, St Pierre, near Chepstow - geograph.org.uk - 1848340πŸ“· 5

Hotels Β· South Wales

St Pierre Country Club

St Pierre Country Club β€” a hotel in wales south.

β†— marriott.com

Places to eat & drink

Parish church - geograph.org.uk - 7358349πŸ“· 5

Restaurants Β· South Wales

Mint & Mustard

Mint & Mustard β€” a restaurant in wales south.

β†— mintandmustard.com
Chepstow buildings (51) - geograph.org.uk - 7357534πŸ“· 7

Historic pubs Β· South Wales

Beaufort Hotel

Beaufort Hotel in Wales South, United Kingdom.

Elizabeth II postbox on Moor Street, Chepstow - geograph.org.uk - 6311649πŸ“· 6

Restaurants Β· South Wales

route 66

route 66 β€” a restaurant in wales south.

Shades of green, Alvington, Gloucestershire - geograph.org.uk - 7633539πŸ“· 5

CafΓ©s Β· South West England

Swan House

Swan House β€” a cafΓ© in england west midlands.

β†— swanhousetearoom.com
It used to say Zion - geograph.org.uk - 6483578πŸ“· 7

Historic pubs Β· South West England

The Boar's Head

The Boar's Head in Wales South, United Kingdom.

β†— old-church-farm.co.uk
NW along Chapel Hill, Aylburton, Gloucestershire - geograph.org.uk - 7634515πŸ“· 7

Historic pubs Β· South West England

Cross Inn

Cross Inn in Wales South, United Kingdom.

More caves in this region

Llangatwg Quarries - geograph.org.uk - 433569πŸ“· 3

Caves Β· South Wales

Agen Allwedd (Ogof Gam)

Agen Allwedd (Ogof Gam) is a cave in the United Kingdom.

FreeπŸ•β†— chelseaspelaeo.org
Aveline's HoleπŸ“· 3

Caves Β· South Wales

Aveline's Hole

Aveline's Hole is a cave in the United Kingdom.

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Ladye Point - geograph.org.uk - 6324758πŸ“· 3

Caves Β· South Wales

Babyface Cave

Babyface Cave is a cave in the United Kingdom.

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Deep Slade on a June evening - geograph.org.uk - 2447765πŸ“· 3

Caves Β· South Wales

Bacon Hole

Bacon Hole is a cave in the United Kingdom.

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Otter Cave?
Otter Cave is in South Wales, United Kingdom (postcode NP16 6EG), in the parish of Chepstow.
What is Otter Cave?
Otter Cave is a cave in the United Kingdom.
How do I get to Otter Cave?
The nearest railway station is Chepstow, about 2.7 km away. Drivers can use postcode NP16 6EG.
Is Otter Cave a protected site?
Yes β€” Otter Cave is part of the River Wye SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Severn Estuary SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Is Otter Cave free to visit?
Yes, Otter Cave is free to enter.
How do I get to Otter Cave?
The nearest railway station is Chepstow, about 2.7 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode NP16 6EG.