Going Underground – potholing and caves

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Show Caves & Potholing

The Peak District offers many opportunities to experience life underground in show caves or through potholing. From the splendour of show caves, such a Castleton’s Blue Johncavern; to the technical demands of Thor’s Cave, the region provides for the tourist, novice and professional alike.

Show Caves

One thing Derbyshire has in abundance is old mines and many of the modern show caves are partly natural and partly mined. This goes for all of the Castleton Caverns except Peak Cavern and also for Bagshawe Cavern at Bradwell and the Matlock show caves.
Show caves generally provide the opportunity for tourists to visit well explored caverns with a guide and in a safe environment with no specialist clothing or experience required.

There are a number of show caves in the area that you can visit.

Pooles Cavern
Green Lane
Buxton
Derbyshire
SK17 9DH
Tel: 01298 26978

Blue John Cavern
Castleton
Hope Valley
S33 8WP
Tel: 01433 620638

Peak Cavern – (Devil’s Arse)
Castleton
Hope Valley
Derbyshire
S33 8WS
Tel: 01433 620285

Speedwell Cavern
Winnats Pass
Castleton
Hope Valley
Derbyshire
S33 8WA
Tel: 01433 620512

Caving

Caving and potholing are, I think it’s fair to say, minority pastimes. Not for everyone but for those who want to explore further than the show caves the skills of potholing and caving are essential.

The Peak District actually only has a few natural potholes but there is an abundance of disused mines and caves some of which interconnect creating a great opportunity for underground adventures.

The two main potholes in the area are Nettle Pot which is about 170 metres deep and Eldon Hole which is not as deep but apparently more spectacular. There is a long list of caves to explore including Peak Cavern which is the largest and has an extensive system of tunnels etc beyond the show cave. Access for potholers is available a few weekends each year during the winter. Other caves within the Peak District include; Thor’s Cave, Oxlow Cavern, Reynard’s Cave, Dove Holes, Poole’s Cavern, Thirst House Cave, Giant’s Hole and Carlswark Cavern.

If you are ever driving through Stoney Middleton you may well see a group of people in overalls hard hats and head torches getting ready to go underground.

Access & Safety

You need permission to access most of the caves and mines in the area (see More Information for contact details) so you have to plan in advance if you want to come to the Peak District to go caving.

Caving is dangerous and should only be undertaken independently by well equipped experienced cavers or as part of a group being led by an experienced caver. It is very easy to get tired wet and cold underground and to have difficulty getting back to the surface. People do die in caves.

If however you are new to the sport and want to learn there are a number of organisations in the area that take groups underground to get a taste of the sport.

If you want to learn the skills of caving the following offer courses
Adam Evans Outdoor Instruction
Rock Lea Activity Centre
Aspire Adventure Activities

More Information

The guidebook to local systems is ‘Caves of Derbyshire’ by Trevor Ford and David Gill, published by Dalesman Books.

If you want to talk to someone about a visit to the area it’s worth sending the Derbyshire Caving Association an e-mail to secretary@theDCA.org.uk

Or write
c/o Sports Council
26 Musters Road
West Bridgeford
Nottingham

Caving Supplies in Buxton sell & hire gear and are a good source of local information.

“Caving Supplies”
19, London Road
Buxton
SK17 9PA
01298 71707