Banwell Ochre Caves

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.3285, -2.8518

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Also within

Somerset County Mendip Hills Scenic Area

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable No Change (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
ST407591 — Unfavourable No Change 11.5 2010-06-14

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Quaternary

Description

Description The five caves contain the most extensive and accessible yellow ochre workings in the Mendip area. A wide variety of ochre types and iron hydroxides limonites can be examined in situ and the evidence of their accumulation as residual ore bodies associated with Ice Age Pleistocene sediments is clearly visible.