Dog Holes Cave by munki-boy

Dog Holes Cave

Dog Holes Cave is a small pothole in the karst landscape of Warton Crag. The cave is interesting both visually, due to its small, open skylights that allow light to enter in some passages, causing green lichen and moss which is quite otherworldly when shafts of sunlight enter from above.

Dog Holes cave is also interesting as it has had a calcite floor. Calcite floors form by calcium deposition - usually from water - over prehistoric alluvium that represents the cave floor at that time. The calcite floor will seal in any plants or animal remains and sometimes evidence of prehistoric, human occupation. The calcite floor in Dog Holes cave has been broken through and the underlying sediment excavated and various animal bones were found. Further in at the ‘bone chamber’, prehistoric human remains where found in a build-up of clay and mud.

Dog holes cave in this case should not be confused with nearby Dog Hole cave which is near Beetham and has detailed reports of its archaeological finds.

These caves are dangerous, deep and private. The landowner will not accept liability for injury or damage to any person or property, however so caused(sic.)

Dog Holes Cave is in Arnside & Silverdale AONB, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Created: 27  November  2016  Edited: 29  November  2023

North Passage at Dog Holes Cave
Door to Skylight Chamber at Dog Holes Cave
Narrow Limestone Passage in Dog Holes Cave
Mud and Rubble Passage in Dog Holes Cave
West Fissure at Dog Holes Cave
Calcite Ceiling at Dog Holes Cave
Swirl Hole in Dog Holes Cave
Skylight above Bone Chamber at Dog Holes Cave
Bone Chamber in Dog Holes Cave
The Crawl in Dog Holes Cave - too narrow for us
The Skylight Chamber from Above at Dog Holes Cave
Bone Chamber Skylight from Above at Dog Holes Cave

Dog Holes Cave

Dog Holes Cave LiDAR Map

A LiDAR Map showing the area around Dog Holes Cave

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0

Dog Holes Cave map

Dog Holes Cave UK Map