Cathedral Quarry, Coniston, Cumbria

Langdale - Cathedral Quarry (Cathedral Cave)

Location : Little Langdale
Map - Ordnance Survey - NY 308028

Cathedral Cave, Langdale,

The Cathedral quarries are a small network of inter-linked quarries above Little Langdale. The system is best known for its main chamber, which still stands forty feet in height, and is lit by two windows off the main quarry.

Having read the sign at the entrance, and accepting its conditions, you then enter a tunnel. For this first tunnel you will probably not need lighting. At the end of the tunnel you will enter a forty foot high chamber that is known as “The Cathedral”.

The larger of the two openings opens onto the second level of a pit quarry. The smaller opens out into a narrow, cutting like quarry, which eventually leads back to the entrance where you started.

There are various tunnels to explore, which will require lighting, as one is about 400 feet long.

Cathedral Cave, Langdale,

Cathedral Cave, Langdale,
Photo by Tony Richards

Cathedral Cave, Langdale,

Photos from Ian's Photos.

The crag is owned and managed by the National Trust which has gone to considerable lengths to keep the quarry open for climbers in recent years and all group leaders must attend a safety briefing session. Briefings are arranged by Property Manager, Jim Loxham or Ed Forrest (Tel: 015394 41172). Individual climbers are not affected.