Rowtor Rocks

Mysterious cave complex with intriguing Druid carvings

Lying just on the outskirts of the little village of Birchover is the fascinating and mysterious cave complex known as Rowtor Rocks.

Rowtor Rocks

Rowtor Rocks consists of numerous interlinked tunnels and caverns, some natural and some man-made. Many of the rocks have been carved with symbols and pictures, including serpents, circles and cups. A series of steps, thrones and altars have also been fashioned out of the stone in a number of places.

Rowtor Rocks

The carvings and cave systems date from the 17th Century and are the handiwork of a very intriguing individual, the local parson of the village, Reverend Thomas Eyre (d. 1717).

Despite being a man of the cloth, Thomas Eyre was a Druid who reputedly practised witchcraft. It is believed that he used Rowtor Rocks in his Druid ceremonies, and also wrote his village sermons sitting on the seats he had carved, looking out over the landscape. Two of the caves were reputedly created by Thomas Eyre in which to entertain his friends.

Rowtor Rocks 1

Thomas Eyre, who lived at Rowtor Hall, was also responsible for building a private chapel below Rowtor Rocks. The building still survives to this day and is now the parish church of St Michael. It is unusual in that it has no windows at all on its two main sides.

Birchover

📍 Explore Near Rowtor Rocks

Discover attractions, walks, pubs, and bus stops within the local area

ℹ️ Tourist InformationAll →

Bakewell Visitor Centre 4.2 miles

🥾 Nearby WalksAll →

Robin Hood's Stride (2.7 miles) ✨ NEW 1.3 miles
Youlgreave via Lathkill Dale (7.6 miles) ✨ NEW 2.2 miles
High Peak Trail via Minninglow Hill (3 miles) ✨ NEW 3.7 miles
Chatsworth and Edensor Walk (3.8 miles) ✨ NEW 4.1 miles

🍺 Local PubsAll →

☕ Cafes & TearoomsAll →

Peak Village 2.7 miles
The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop 4.2 miles
Hassop Station Café & Monsal Trail Cycle Hire 5.4 miles

🏛️ AttractionsAll →

Peak Rail 1.9 miles
Haddon Hall 2.6 miles
The Heights of Abraham 4.2 miles
Gulliver’s Kingdom, Matlock Bath 4.2 miles

🏨 Places to StayAll →

🚌 Bus Stops

🚌 The Green (Adj) ← 172 0.1 mi 172 ✨ NEW 📋 Timetable

🚌 The Green (Opp) → 172 0.1 mi 172 ✨ NEW 📋 Timetable

🚌 Cratcliff View (Adj) ↘ 172 0.4 mi 172 ✨ NEW 📋 Timetable

🚌 Cratcliff View (Opp) ↖ 172 0.4 mi 172 ✨ NEW 📋 Timetable

🚌 Eagle Tor (Adj) ↘ 172 0.6 mi 172 ✨ NEW 📋 Timetable

🚌 Eagle Tor (opp) ↖ 172 0.6 mi 172 ✨ NEW 📋 Timetable

🚌 Dudwood Farm (Adj) ↑ 172 0.7 mi 172 ✨ NEW 📋 Timetable

🚌 Dudwood Farm (Opp) ↓ 172 0.7 mi 172 ✨ NEW 📋 Timetable

🚌 Chadwick Hill (S-bound) ↘ 169 172 0.8 mi 169, 172 ✨ NEW 📋 Timetable

🚌 Chadwick Hill (N-bound) ↖ 169 172 0.9 mi 169, 172 ✨ NEW 📋 Timetable

📍 Distances are straight-line (as the crow flies) and approximate.

🎪 Coming Up

Sat 12th Sep – Sun 25th Oct — Matlock Illuminations, Matlock Bath Illuminations

Fri 18th Sep — Leek Artisan Market, Leek, Independent Street

Sat 19th Sep — Glossop Artisan Market, Glossop, Independent Street

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📍 Distances are straight-line approximations.

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