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Rhino Rift

Longwood Valley, Charterhouse-on-Mendip.

Rhino Rift is something of an anomaly amongst Mendip caves, bearing more resemblance to a Yorkshire pothole. The main element of the cave is the sequence of three vertical pitches, together forming a descent of 84m broken by broad ledges. There has never been enough water in the cave to conduct flow tests, but the cave forms part of the Cheddar drainage system, and part of Charterhouse Cave appears to be heading in its general direction. UBSS excavated most of the entrance rift in spasmodic operations between 1928 and 1961. WCC and ESCC enlarged the passage and continued working inwards in a major effort from 1969, finally breaking through to the head of the First Pitch in 1971. Further work in the passage below the Third Pitch extended the cave to the Fifth Pitch in the same year and there have been minor extensions since. Bones, including those of rhinoceros and hyena were found near the entrance.

Alternate Names: Longwood Rift

Notes: Digging not permitted without authority from CCC Ltd.