Caving in the Peak District

Although the fringes of the National Park contain gritstone caves and mines within sandstone, the main region for subterranean exploration is the White Peak - the area of the Peak District where the exposed rock is a pale grey limestone.

The White Peak can be quite neatly divided into different caving areas, each one having its own particular style. It does not take much time to travel between the areas so don’t feel you need to stick to one.

CASTLETON AREA
Containing some of the deepest mines, longest systems and most varied caving, Castleton is a honeypot for cavers and tourists alike. You’ll regularly see cavers walking through the streets of the village making their way up to Peak Cavern.

The TSG caving club has a base in the heart of Castleton providing beds, cooking and changing facilities for members, as well as being the occasional shopfront for the mobile caving retailer Starless River. Cave shoppers will also find the well-equipped Hitch N Hike not far away at Bamford. As well as the large Peak/Speedwell system, Castleton makes a great base for visits to the deep James Hall (JH) mine, Oxlow and Maskhill Mines and of course, Titan. Newer cavers, or those wishing to keep their feet on the ground, can enjoy the horizontal sections of caves like Giant’s Hole, Gautries Hole and the nearby Bagshawe Cavern in Bradwell.

STONEY MIDDLETON AREA
Stoney Middleton is perhaps most well known for its high limestone cliffs and hard rock climbing. Shunning the sun and heading underground in this area will give you a good grounding in hard, sharp and soggy caving. The valley sees some of the highest numbers of novice trips in the Peak District and is home to Carlswark Cavern, a horizontal route with the option of a couple of different through trips.

The Dale is also home to some of the harder, more physical expeditions: places like Streaks Pot, Layby Pot and Yoga Hole. All are fun, challenging and wet places developed along an old bed of oyster fossils. Don’t forget the knee pads if visiting this area!

The Derbyshire Pennine Club have accommodation in the heart of the village of Stoney Middleton, but the Dale is positioned quite centrally within the White Peak making travel easy.

MATLOCK AREA
Further south in the White Peak is the town of Matlock and the adjoining Matlock Bath, home of old spas and petrifying wells. Matlock is perhaps best known for its lead mining history and the surrounding areas contain some excellent trips into these man-made caverns.

Devonshire Mine is a short walk uphill and is an interesting place to visit. The mine contains the site of an old showcave as well as a labyrinth of predominantly horizontal passages to explore. Meanwhile, a short drive away is Jugholes Mine, a secluded through trip involving large chambers, muddy crawls, boulder mazes and a climb out to daylight at the far end. The more adventurous or experienced explorer may also wish to read up on the huge Masson or Wapping mines nearby too.

Matlock Bath is also the home to the Peak District Mining Museum, a very worthwhile diversion from being underground. This excellent museum is located on the banks of the river Derwent with copious fish and chip restaurants and trinket shops nearby. It feels very much like a seaside town here.

MONYASH & LATHKILL AREA
The small village of Monyash is a good base for exploring both local mines and also the nearby Lathkill Dale. There is a rich history of mining in this area and some classic vertical and horizontal trips nearby. Monyash is also the home to the Orpheus Caving Club and their club hut, providing another good base for caving trips. The nearby Hillocks and Knotlow Mines are an interconnected system with a number of vertical trips. Different routes drop down from the surface via both a series of short technical pitches or a huge old engine shaft. A number of exchange trips are possible for bigger parties. Water Icicle Close Cavern is another worthwhile stop. Recent extensive discoveries and ongoing digging make this a very interesting location.

Lathkill Dale is home to some more challenging locations. Caves such as Critchlow, Cales Dale and the Lathkill system are all serious and very weather-dependent excursions that make up some of the most physically arduous caving in the region.

There is also more relaxed caving in places like Mandale Mine and some excellent surface remains of the old lead mining industry.

SOME NOTES ON CAVING
Caving and mine exploration should really only be undertaken by those who have the knowledge and skill to keep themselves safe in the underground environment. Each cave or mine is unique and they will each require a different set of skills to visit safely.

Some trips are simple and horizontal and will require little more than a fleece and some boots, but others demand specialist caving clothing and vertical caving equipment and, of course, the knowledge of how to use it. Old mines can have false floors and bad air, while caves can be confusing to navigate and can flood with little or no warning. It is essential to read up on any trip you plan to make.

Take the opportunity to join a club or hire a professional caver for some basic training if you think that caving is an activity for you.

• Always research your trip beforehand, identifying the equipment you’ll need and, most importantly, whether the cave or mine is safe to visit in particular weather conditions.

• Always leave a call out with a responsible person on the surface. Ensure they know how to ring cave rescue and give them details of your route, group and have a cut off time for your safe return. For more information visit the Derbyshire Cave Rescue Organisation website www.derbyshirecro.org.uk/

Caves and mines are exciting, magical, alien and ultimately beautiful places that few will ever visit. Look after yourself and also respect the underground environment; it is far more fragile than it may appear. Cave safe!

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