Pixie's Hole

Pixie’s Hole is a limestone cave system on the south side of Chudleigh Rock near the village of Chudleigh in Devon. It sits on the north side of the Kate Brook Valley and forms part of the wider Chudleigh Rock limestone outcrop. The cave entrance leads into a passage that runs east for about thirty metres towards a chamber called the Pope’s Chamber. Historic England lists Pixie’s Hole as a Scheduled Monument, recognising its archaeological importance. The cave has drawn attention since the 19th century when geologist and palaeontologist William Buckland visited in 1825. Excavations in the late 1970s uncovered a dense layer of Late Upper Palaeolithic tools and animal bones beneath a stalagmite floor. These finds suggest the cave was used by early humans thousands of years ago. Buckland’s visit shows how long the site has interested scientists. Inside, visitors follow a short passage to the Pope’s Chamber, where the ceiling rises above the stalagmite floor. The cave’s narrow walls and small chambers create an intimate space for exploration. Outside, the Kate Brook Valley offers quiet walks among limestone cliffs and wooded slopes. The surrounding Chudleigh Rock provides views across the valley and towards Dartmoor in the distance.