Home - Beer Quarry Caves

BEER QUARRY CAVES

Guided Tours of 2,000 year old man-made caverns

Tel:01297 680 282

EX12 3 AS

Opening Times

The caves are open every day at 10:00am until Sunday 1st November 2020.
Today's Tours Start at 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30 and 15:30.
The caves are cool – please wear something warm and respect social distancing. Numbers on the tours will be in line with government advice and guidance so will be very restricted. If possible please pre-book tours by ringing 01297 680 282 and pay by card or ring for tour availability.

N.B. In exceptional circumstances Tour times may vary. (This now HIDDEN for Desktop, Tablet and Mobile)

For 2020 normally open daily at 10.00am from 4th July until we close on November 2nd.
Tours are every hour on the half hour e.g. 10.30am, 11.30am - Last tour 3.30pm.
October / November Tours are:
1st - 23rd Oct and Nov 1st: 10.30am, 12.30pm & 2.30pm.
24th to 31st Oct as March to September with the last tour at 3.30pm.
Saturday 31st October come and enjoy a spooky time at Beer Quarry Caves.

2020 Prices

Adults £10.00
Child 5 to 16 years and over 65 years £8.00.
Family 2 adults + 2 Children £30.00.
Under 5’s FREE.

John Scott F.R.S.A.

At 1.50pm Monday 13th July the caves founder John died peacefully at home in Fore Street. He was so proud of being a genuine Beer Boy, born in the house called ‘Golspie’ in the Higher Meadows. As a boatbuilder for Harold Mears he had a hand in building most of the working boats currently on Beer beach. He saved the Quarry Caves from being dynamited and lost for ever, and spent half his life running the Caves on a shoestring for the benefit of the thousands of people who have visited them since the 1980s. RIP John – see his video of the caves at the bottom of this page.

The Tours

Our guides will take you on an hour long tour through the vast man-made complex of underground caverns with their mighty halls of vaulted roofs and pillars of Beer Stone which have been likened to a vast underground cathedral.
See for yourself the methods used to quarry and deliver the huge blocks of stone, the working conditions, the hardships endured and the dangers faced daily by the work-force using only the light from a flickering tallow candle and you may never again see a famous building with the same eyes.
The caves are cool so please bring warm clothing and it’s best to arrive at least 10 mins before the tours start and no need to book unless you are a large party.

Many of us marvel at the intricacy of stonemasons' work on numerous stately buildings, cathedrals and churches. But do we ever stop to consider where the stone came from and the history of the excavation behind it?
This vast man-made complex of underground caverns was created by centuries of quarrying the famous Beer Stone. The underground quarry, first worked by the Romans, supplied stone for 24 cathedrals including Exeter and St.Paul's, parts of Westminster Abbey,the Tower of London, Hampton Court and Windsor Castle.
Quarried by hand, a small block weighing 4 tons, the stone was carted on horse-drawn wagons and by barges from Beer beach to its destination, sometimes involving journeys of several hundreds of miles.
The quarry closed around 1920 as a new quarry opposite was opened. This closed in 2003, so there is no quarrying activity now.

Useful Quarry Facts

Onsite Car Parking is Free

The caves are cool please wear something warm

Please do NOT bring your own torch - the caves are well lit

Regrettably it is not suitable for wheelchairs

Only assistance dogs are permitted underground.

Light refreshments and souvenirs available.

Location

Next Event

Awaiting Corona virus Finish: Open tour for businesses and characters of Beer.

We are pleased and excited to welcome by invitation, local businesses and characters of the village to a free open evening at the caves hosted by Steve. with much more besides. Details to follow when a date is confirmed.

Reviews from the Visitors Book

This is an inspirational and moving place, inspiring awe at the extraordinary skill and industry of man throughout 2,000 years and moving because of its testament to the injustices of a system that enabled such labour to be valued so lightly – a must see destination and many congratulations on the best guided tour I have ever had.
Tim Smit – Director , Eden Project, Bodelva, Cornwall.

Really fascinating and entertaining.
A great insight into local and national history.

Hitchin, Herts – 28/10/2019.

Excellent Tour. A fascinating look into time gone by.
Well worth a visit.

Sidmouth – 28/09/2019.

Very haunting captivating stories that brought the past alive. Thank You.
(The ponchos were very much appreciated).

Glasgow – 02/08/2019.

Fantastic experience thanks to our guides passion and competence.
Highly recommended.

Borth, Wales – 10/07/2019.

Fantastic tour with wonderful local history.
Pitched to both adults and children.

Hampshire – 21/06/2019.

Time Capsule with incredible stories and History.
Great tribute to the past!

Essex – 08/05/2019.

Amazing tour.
History preserved underground.

Seaton – 18/04/2019.

A fantastic slice into history
Very interesting and also very moving.

London – 24/10/2018.

Three visits and just as fascinating as the first visit.
Learn something new every time so worth more visits. Thanks.

Sidmouth – 29/09/2018.

Wow! Nothing like this at home. The guide was brilliant and made it so real.
Thank You.

Aukland New Zealand – 15/08/2018.

Taster Video

One of the most important industrial sites in the British Isles.
Beer Quarry Caves are owned by Clinton Devon Estates and leased to the Beer Quarry Caves Ltd.