Wookey Hole
WHERE: Somerset, England
It is believed that Wookey Hole Caves have been inhabited since the Stone Age, over 50,000 years ago. The caves are now known as England's oldest tourist attraction. Archaeologists have found the bones of rhinoceroses, bears, mammoths and lions as well as many human artifacts. These finds have led scientists to the belief that humans occupied the caves of Wookey Hole between 35,000 and 25,000 B.C.
Much later, Celtic people settled and farmed in the Southern England location until the Romans arrived approximately 2,000 years ago. When archaeological excavation began in the early 1900s, the secrets and history of Wookey Hole were revealed.
Legends surrounding the haunting of Wookey Hole are as old as the site itself; it is said that during the Dark Ages, an old woman lived alone in the cave. The nearby townspeople believed her to be a witch, and blamed the old woman for illnesses, deaths and misfortune. When the town's abbot confronted the woman, he turned her to stone by splashing her with blessed river water. The witch-shaped stone structure can still be seen at the entrance to the caves today.
Partaking in a guided tour is a great way to experience the cave's history and lore firsthand. The cave is open seven days a week, with tours ending at 5 p.m. in the summer and an hour earlier during winter months.
Wookey Hole is the perfect place for young children: an arcade, youth circus, the Pirate Ship "Zap" Zone and newly added Dinosaur Valley will capture their imaginations. Especially exciting for young muggles is the fact that certain scenes from "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" were filmed at Wookey Hole.
Just when you thought there couldn't possibly be more to England's oldest tourist attraction, we've got one more lure. Visitors can take home some delicious Wookey Hole Cheddar: the caves have been used to age local cheese for hundreds of years.
RSS Feeds