Caves

Heaning Wood Bone Cave

In 1958 and 1953 Human remains, some of which date back until just after the ice ages ended 11,000 years ago, were found at Heaning Wood Bone, Cave – making them the earliest Cumbrians.

In our story Meg is one of the early members of species homo sapiens to reach this area marking the return of hominids to the area after the ice had wiped it clean. These were our earliest direct ancestors – perhaps this was the home of our fictional Megs fictional tribe?

We can only guess what the surrounding landscape was like, and the creatures who lived in it at this great distance – five times the the span of years between us and the Romans, but these people who lived and breathed as we do, are part of the thread which leads to us.

Cathedral Cave

Cathedral cave is a new cave formed from a slate quarry but its impressive size and make up help to give us the sense of being and living underground.

To experience being in a large cave is to open the imagination which in ancient times was populated by many strange creatures and possibilities – often being seen as a gateway to other worlds.

Rydal Cave

Rydal cave is the kind of spectacular cave which you can well imagine matching the secret cave discovered in our story, where the secret of Eden was hidden and stumbled upon by Meg.

We are not the only ones to be struck by this site as it featured in the Netflix Witcher series. It is reached by the fairly easy White Moss walk near Rydal Water and it worth the visit, but alas it only dates to the 19th Century and is man made – so seekers of the secret will have to continue their search!

Lacey’s Caves

Laceys caves were built by Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Lacy of nearby Salkeld Hall in the 18th Century but also appeal to us because they are close to the stone circle of Long Meg and her Daughters which enables us to imagine the spectral ladies of our tales meeting here (although built long after the time of our tales).

There are five adjoining champers originally used for entertaining and now open to all.

Kirkhead Caves

Kirkhead cave is another early stone age site which has unfortunately been badly excavated since the 19th Century with the result that we may have lost important early information and remains.

What is left dates to at least 10,000 years ago so this is another candidate for the home of the first tribe. It’s nationally important due to these discoveries and you touch time here across the old, middle and new stone age and the bronze age.

Skull Cave

This cave is situated in the remote Hodge Close Quarry and also featured as a Witcher location. Its notoriety is due to the reflected skull which forms at 90 degrees in one of the caves when filled with water.

It is said that people have perished exploring this cave and divers are warned to be experienced and careful. You can walk down to enter the cave but take the correct route and don’t try any shortcuts. Eden again excels at stimulating our imagination.