Trollers Gill facts for kids

Troller's Gill

Trollers Gill is a cool, deep valley, also called a gill or gorge, in North Yorkshire, England. It's made of limestone rock. You can find it close to the village of Skyreholme, about 4.7 miles (7.5 km) south-east of Grassington in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. This gorge is about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) long and is also known as Trollerdale.

What is Trollers Gill Like?

A stream called Skyreholme Beck flows through Trollers Gill. But for most of the year, you won't see water on the surface! The stream usually flows underground. This beck is actually a continuation of Dry Gill, which is a stream that sometimes appears and sometimes doesn't. It comes from the Stump Cross Caverns system, about 1.4 miles (2.3 km) north-east of the start of Trollers Gill.

Caves and Mines

There are several caves hidden in the gorge. The biggest one is a deep hole called Hell Hole. It's like a giant well, 55 metres deep, and has 210 metres of passages you can explore. People first explored this cave in 1896. Trollers Gill also has an old mine. People used to dig for lead there, and later for fluorspar (a type of mineral). The mine was last used in the 1960s.

Old Stories and Legends

Trollers Gill is famous for its spooky legends!

The Barghest Dog

One old story says that a scary, mythical black dog called the Barghest lives in the gill. This creature is so powerful that it can turn you to stone just by looking at you! Some people think that this Barghest story might have given the famous writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ideas for his book The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Trolls in the Gorge

Local stories also say that trolls used to live in the gorge. That's why it's called Trollers Gill! These trolls were believed to push stones down from the high sides of the gorge onto anyone traveling through it.

TV Show Connection

There's even a children's TV show called Roger and the Rottentrolls that got its name from Trollers Gill. However, the show wasn't actually filmed there. It was filmed at Brimham Rocks, which is another cool place nearby.

Images for kids

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  Entrance to Trollers Gill when it's dry

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  Entrance to Trollers Gill when the stream is flowing strongly