The Top 11 Caves around Borrowdale
Looking to visit a cave around Borrowdale on your next adventure? To help you better plan your next outdoor experience, we’ve collected Borrowdale’s 11
best caves for you. Based on the experiences of other users, each is a recommendation you know you can trust — so you can better plan your next adventure.
best caves for you. Based on the experiences of other users, each is a recommendation you know you can trust — so you can better plan your next adventure.
Last updated: October 23, 2025
Rydal Cave
Highlight • Cave
Rydal Cave is actually an old quarry called Loughrigg Quarry. It was used to mine slate tiles for the local buildings around 200 years ago. It now lies dormant and is partially flooded.
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Cathedral Cavern
Highlight • Historical Site
Cathedral Cavern is a surprisingly impressive chamber that emerges from the woodland just to the south of Little Langdale. At its centre is a massive pillar that supports the cavern …
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Buttermere Tunnel
Highlight • Structure
This tunnel-like cave is on the footpath around Buttermere. It is about 50 feet (15 m) long. A torch is useful as there are deep puddles inside in the pitch-black cave.
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Rydal Caves
Highlight • Cave
Don’t be disappointed thinking this is the large cave with stepping stones you were expecting 😂😂…that’s just a little further up around the corner but these smaller caves are worth a look on the way.
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Priest's Hole
Highlight • Cave
This highlight does not have an established path to but well worth a visit. When the main path flattens from the steep climb veer towards the rock outcrop to the …
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