Ryedale Windypits, Natural underground fissures in North York Moors National Park, England
Ryedale Windypits is a group of over 40 natural limestone fissures located on a western slope above the River Rye in North Yorkshire. Four main fissures known as Antofts, Ashberry, Bucklands, and Slip Gill contain archaeological deposits with ancient bones, pottery, and stone tools.
Excavations reveal that people occupied these fissures from the Neolithic period through later prehistory. Discoveries of Beaker pottery and flint tools show multiple settlement phases spanning thousands of years.
The fissures have long served as natural shelters and storage places for local communities across millennia. Walking near these openings, visitors can sense how ancient people integrated with this limestone landscape and relied on these caves for protection and survival.
Access is best on foot from nearby Pickering village. Wear sturdy shoes as the ground near the fissures can be uneven and slippery, especially after rain or in damp conditions.
The fissures generate strong air currents through their shape and underground channels, creating visible steam in winter and cold drafts in summer. These air movements are forceful enough to move nearby plant leaves, giving the place its distinctive name.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
