Sometimes the most incredible treasures are lying right under your nose.
Over three tonnes of explosives and thousands of detonators were used to reveal a stunning underground cave with a rare rock formation in Somerset.
Owners of the Wookey Hole attraction were left stunned by the incredible discovery, and the new cave - officially known as Cavern 20 - is now accessible to visitors for the very first time.
The chamber is the largest at the West Country attraction and also features a subterranean lake which had previously only been seen by a handful of cave divers.
The explorers had nicknamed it King Arthur's Beard because of the unusual fluted rock formations.
The breathtaking rock formations have puzzled experts as they are normally created by running water.
It is rare to find inside a cave as the kind of water flow required to form it is not found inside caverns.
After experts blasted away 1,000 tonnes of rock, Wookey Hole bosses have opened up the cave as part of a £4 million investment and say it is the most exciting development at the attraction in more than 40 years.
Breathtaking new Somerset cavern with rare 'King Arthur's beard' rock formations is revealed to the public for first time after three tonnes of explosives exposed it
Over three tonnes of explosives and thousands of detonators were used to help reveal Cavern 20 in Somerset
The breathtaking chamber includes a subterranean lake which has previously been seen by just a few cave divers
The project cost Wookey Hole bosses £4 million in investment and is now open for the public to explore
By Becky Pemberton For Mailonline
3 August 2015
Daily Mail
Sometimes the most incredible treasures are lying right under your nose.
Over three tonnes of explosives and thousands of detonators were used to reveal a stunning underground cave with a rare rock formation in Somerset.
Owners of the Wookey Hole attraction were left stunned by the incredible discovery, and the new cave - officially known as Cavern 20 - is now accessible to visitors for the very first time.
Over three tonnes of explosives and thousands of detonators were used to reveal a stunning underground cave with a rare rock formation in Somerset
Owners of the Wookey Hole attraction were left stunned by the incredible discovery, and the new cave - officially known as 'Cavern 20' - is now accessible to visitors for the very first time
The fluted rock known as King Arthur's Beard in the newly opened cavern at Wookey Hole Caves near Cheddar, Somerset
The chamber is the largest at the West Country attraction and also features a subterranean lake which had previously only been seen by a handful of cave divers.
The explorers had nicknamed it King Arthur's Beard because of the unusual fluted rock formations.
The breathtaking rock formations have puzzled experts as they are normally created by running water.
It is rare to find inside a cave as the kind of water flow required to form it is not found inside caverns.
After experts blasted away 1,000 tonnes of rock, Wookey Hole bosses have opened up the cave as part of a £4 million investment and say it is the most exciting development at the attraction in more than 40 years.
The chamber is the largest at the West Country attraction and also features a subterranean lake which had previously only been seen by a handful of cave divers
Cave divers had previously nicknamed the chamber King Arthur's Beard because of the unusual fluted rock formations
The breathtaking rock formations have puzzled experts as they are normally created by running water
Director Daniel Medley said: 'It has been tireless work to blast through the rock and open up the never-seen-before cavern but it is so worth it.
'We have literally been tunnelling into the unknown but the hard work has paid off and the new cavern is nothing short of stunning.
'We're so pleased it is ready in time for the summer holidays. The new chamber will give people an insight into a world only glimpsed by a few people.
'This is such a monumental phase of the cave's history. The new cavern is spectacular and will give people a reason to come back.'
After experts blasted away 1,000 tonnes of rock, Wookey Hole bosses have opened up the cave, as part of a £4 million investment and say it is the most exciting development at the attraction in more than 40 years
Wookey Hole Caves are a series of limestone caverns in the village of Wookey Hole on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills near Wells in Somerset
The work, which took around two months to complete, has cost the attraction between £2 million and £3 million
More people had walked on the moon than had previously seen the new cavern, which is accessible via more than 229 feet of tunnels and located more than 262 feet beneath the Mendip Hills
The work, which took around two months to complete, has cost the attraction between £2 million and £3 million.
More people had walked on the moon than had previously seen the new cavern, which is accessible via more than 229 feet of tunnels and located more than 262 feet beneath the Mendip Hills.
Over three million people have visited Wookey Hole in the past ten years and it is hoped the new attraction will vastly increase this number.
It is particularly rare to see rock formations like those inside Chamber 20
Wookey Hole director Daniel Medley looks at the section of fluted rock known as King Arthur's Beard in the newly opened cavern
Daniel Medley stands in the newly opened cavern in Somerset, which features a subterranean lake
Over three million people have visited Wookey Hole in the past ten years and it is hoped the new attraction will vastly increase this number
Cavern 20 is part of the Wookey Hole Caves (pictured) which feature unique cave formations in the carboniferous limestone of the Mendip Hills
Adults can visit the Wookey Hole Caves from £18 per person with the option of also partaking in number of attractions including crazy golf
Over three tonnes of explosives and thousands of detonators were used to reveal a stunning underground cave with a rare rock formation in Somerset.
Owners of the Wookey Hole attraction were left stunned by the incredible discovery, and the new cave - officially known as Cavern 20 - is now accessible to visitors for the very first time.
The chamber is the largest at the West Country attraction and also features a subterranean lake which had previously only been seen by a handful of cave divers.
The explorers had nicknamed it King Arthur's Beard because of the unusual fluted rock formations.
The breathtaking rock formations have puzzled experts as they are normally created by running water.
It is rare to find inside a cave as the kind of water flow required to form it is not found inside caverns.
After experts blasted away 1,000 tonnes of rock, Wookey Hole bosses have opened up the cave as part of a £4 million investment and say it is the most exciting development at the attraction in more than 40 years.
Breathtaking new Somerset cavern with rare 'King Arthur's beard' rock formations is revealed to the public for first time after three tonnes of explosives exposed it
Over three tonnes of explosives and thousands of detonators were used to help reveal Cavern 20 in Somerset
The breathtaking chamber includes a subterranean lake which has previously been seen by just a few cave divers
The project cost Wookey Hole bosses £4 million in investment and is now open for the public to explore
By Becky Pemberton For Mailonline
3 August 2015
Daily Mail
Sometimes the most incredible treasures are lying right under your nose.
Over three tonnes of explosives and thousands of detonators were used to reveal a stunning underground cave with a rare rock formation in Somerset.
Owners of the Wookey Hole attraction were left stunned by the incredible discovery, and the new cave - officially known as Cavern 20 - is now accessible to visitors for the very first time.
Owners of the Wookey Hole attraction were left stunned by the incredible discovery, and the new cave - officially known as 'Cavern 20' - is now accessible to visitors for the very first time
The fluted rock known as King Arthur's Beard in the newly opened cavern at Wookey Hole Caves near Cheddar, Somerset
The chamber is the largest at the West Country attraction and also features a subterranean lake which had previously only been seen by a handful of cave divers.
The explorers had nicknamed it King Arthur's Beard because of the unusual fluted rock formations.
The breathtaking rock formations have puzzled experts as they are normally created by running water.
It is rare to find inside a cave as the kind of water flow required to form it is not found inside caverns.
After experts blasted away 1,000 tonnes of rock, Wookey Hole bosses have opened up the cave as part of a £4 million investment and say it is the most exciting development at the attraction in more than 40 years.
Cave divers had previously nicknamed the chamber King Arthur's Beard because of the unusual fluted rock formations
The breathtaking rock formations have puzzled experts as they are normally created by running water
Director Daniel Medley said: 'It has been tireless work to blast through the rock and open up the never-seen-before cavern but it is so worth it.
'We have literally been tunnelling into the unknown but the hard work has paid off and the new cavern is nothing short of stunning.
'We're so pleased it is ready in time for the summer holidays. The new chamber will give people an insight into a world only glimpsed by a few people.
'This is such a monumental phase of the cave's history. The new cavern is spectacular and will give people a reason to come back.'
Wookey Hole Caves are a series of limestone caverns in the village of Wookey Hole on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills near Wells in Somerset
The work, which took around two months to complete, has cost the attraction between £2 million and £3 million
More people had walked on the moon than had previously seen the new cavern, which is accessible via more than 229 feet of tunnels and located more than 262 feet beneath the Mendip Hills
The work, which took around two months to complete, has cost the attraction between £2 million and £3 million.
More people had walked on the moon than had previously seen the new cavern, which is accessible via more than 229 feet of tunnels and located more than 262 feet beneath the Mendip Hills.
Over three million people have visited Wookey Hole in the past ten years and it is hoped the new attraction will vastly increase this number.
Wookey Hole director Daniel Medley looks at the section of fluted rock known as King Arthur's Beard in the newly opened cavern
Daniel Medley stands in the newly opened cavern in Somerset, which features a subterranean lake
Cavern 20 is part of the Wookey Hole Caves (pictured) which feature unique cave formations in the carboniferous limestone of the Mendip Hills
Adults can visit the Wookey Hole Caves from £18 per person with the option of also partaking in number of attractions including crazy golf
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