Hole of Horcum
The Hole of Horcum is a large, bowl-shaped hollow carved into the North York Moors landscape. The formation stretches about 1.2 kilometers across and drops roughly 120 meters deep, with steep sides surrounding a wide, flat floor.
The hollow formed thousands of years ago when water from underground springs slowly wore away the soft rock underneath. The land collapsed over time, creating the depression you see today through natural erosion.
The name comes from old English words: 'horh' meaning filth and 'cumb' meaning bowl-shaped valley. The area has been home to people for thousands of years, as shown by archaeological finds of burial sites and earthworks.
Park at the Saltergate car park at the North York Moors National Park and follow a paved trail downhill into the hollow. The well-maintained path guides you through the area, and a full walk of the site covers roughly 8 kilometers.
Local folklore tells of a giant named Wade who created the hollow during a fight with his wife Bell, flinging a handful of earth at her in anger. According to the legend, the nearby hill Blakey Topping was formed from the earth he threw.
Address: Hole of Horcum, Pickering YO18 7NW, UK
GPS coordinates: 54.32896,-0.70493
Latest update: January 9, 2026 09:54
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