Cow Cave
Cow Cave is a small but intriguing natural limestone cave situated on the eastern slopes of the Teign Gorge in Devon, England, within the Dartmoor National Park. It lies close to the village of Drewsteignton and is one of several cave features found in this geologically rich stretch of the gorge. The cave takes its name from the local farming tradition of the area, and while modest in scale compared to some of Devon's more celebrated cave systems, it holds genuine interest for walkers, naturalists and those curious about the prehistoric human and animal occupation of the Dartmoor fringe. The Teign Gorge itself is considered one of the finest wooded river gorges in southwest England, and Cow Cave forms a quiet but rewarding footnote to any exploration of this landscape.
The cave is carved into the Devonian limestone that forms the dramatic rocky outcrops above the River Teign. This limestone geology, relatively unusual within the otherwise granite-dominated Dartmoor terrain, has produced a series of cave features and fissures along the gorge walls. Caves in this area have historically yielded bones of animals dating back to the Pleistocene epoch, and the broader Teign Gorge has been of intermittent interest to archaeologists and palaeontologists. The name "Cow Cave" most likely derives from its use as shelter for livestock, a common enough practice in the rural Devon countryside where natural hollows and overhangs were pressed into agricultural service by generations of farmers.
In person, the cave presents as a low, rocky opening set into a wooded limestone face, sheltered by the canopy of the mixed deciduous woodland that clothes the gorge slopes. The interior is cool and damp, as is typical of shallow cave systems in this region, with mosses and ferns clinging to the entrance rocks. The sound of the River Teign can often be heard below, and birdsong from the rich woodland habitat permeates the area. The atmosphere is one of quiet antiquity, with the cave sitting in semi-shadow even on bright days due to the density of the surrounding oak and ash woodland.
The wider landscape around Cow Cave is exceptional. The Teign Gorge path, commonly known as the Hunter's Path or the Fisherman's Path depending on the route taken, winds through this area and offers some of the most celebrated woodland walking in Devon. Nearby is Castle Drogo, a National Trust property and the last castle built in England, designed by Edwin Lutyens and completed in the early twentieth century. The village of Drewsteignton with its thatched cottages and the famous Drewe Arms pub sits just above the gorge. Fingle Bridge, a picturesque medieval packhorse bridge, lies within easy walking distance downstream and is a popular destination in its own right.
For visitors, Cow Cave is best reached on foot via the network of footpaths through the Teign Gorge, accessible from Drewsteignton or from the car park near Fingle Bridge. The paths can be steep and uneven in places, and sturdy footwear is advisable. The cave itself requires no special equipment to visit, though a torch is useful for peering into the darker recesses. The area is managed in part by the National Trust and is open year-round, though the paths can be muddy in wet weather. Spring and autumn are particularly rewarding times to visit, when the woodland is either fresh with new growth or alive with autumn colour, and when the gorge is at its most atmospheric.