The Caves of Erith

Short Trips Rarities #4.2

Released: 30 January 2026

Listened: 4/28/26

After years of thinking I was never going to get my hands on this one, it came out in 2026 as part of the "Short Trips Rarities: The Eighth Doctor Collection." This one is a Christmas story, and a bit on the longer side for a short trip, although the time is mostly spent building atmosphere rather than a complex plot. The Doctor wants to attend a lecture by a scientist friend; Lucie wants to check into a B&B to watch The Sound of Music on Christmas. The B&B owner has a teenage son who's obsessed with the local bat population. When he goes missing, the Doctor and Lucie search for the inevitable evolved bat-creatures the boy has been working with. The Doctor knows how this story goes, but manages to solve the problem with diplomacy this time. It's a nice Christmas story, but a little longer than it needs to be.