KNARESBOROUGH - 28 MINS FROM PATELEY BRIDGE
Mother Shipton's Cave
Set in riverside woodland in Knaresborough, this little site has been open to paying visitors since 1630, making it, by most accounts, England's oldest tourist attraction. A short, atmospheric visit that pairs naturally with the rest of the town.
Visit information
- Address
- Prophecy Lodge, High Bridge, Knaresborough HG5 8DD
- From Pateley Bridge
- 28 minutes via Pateley Bridge Road and the B6165
- Open
- Seasonal - generally daily through summer and weekends in the off-season. Check website before travelling
- Entry
- Paid entry, with a riverside woodland walk included
- Dogs
- Welcome on leads in the grounds
- Parking
- Use a Knaresborough town car park, a short walk along the river
England's oldest tourist attraction
Mother Shipton's Cave has been open to paying visitors since 1630, predating even the formal visitor arrangements at Stonehenge, which is why it is widely described as the oldest tourist attraction in England.
The site is named after Mother Shipton, a legendary prophetess said to have been born in the cave in the 15th century. Her predictions, recorded and embellished over the centuries, made her one of the most famous figures in English folklore.
Beside the cave is the Petrifying Well, whose mineral-laden water has been turning objects to stone in full view of visitors for hundreds of years, long before anyone understood the geology behind it.
Combine it with the rest of Knaresborough
A visit here typically takes an hour or two, including time in the riverside woodland, which makes it easy to combine with the castle, river and old town of Knaresborough on the same trip.
The grounds follow the River Nidd beneath the famous railway viaduct, so it is worth bringing a camera even if the legend itself isn't your main draw.
Park in the town and walk down to the riverside, since the site itself has limited parking.
What to see
The Cave
Said to be the birthplace of Ursula Sontheil, the legendary 15th-century prophetess known as Mother Shipton, whose predictions were famous - and feared - across the country for centuries.
The Petrifying Well
A dripping well whose mineral-rich water slowly calcifies anything left beneath it. Everyday objects, soft toys and even old boots hung beneath the flow gradually turn to stone over weeks and months.
Riverside Woodland Walk
The wooded grounds run along the banks of the River Nidd directly beneath Knaresborough's famous railway viaduct, a lovely spot in its own right.
Museum & Gift Shop
Displays on the legend of Mother Shipton and the history of the site, alongside a shop selling traditional sweets and gifts to take home.
About 28 minutes away
Mother Shipton's Cave is in Knaresborough, around 28 minutes from Pateley Bridge. Check opening days before you travel, as the site closes on some days outside summer.
