ADMINISTRATION:
Photos
by John Moss
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Caves,
Caverns
& Mines
Day Trips in the Northwest of England
and Derbyshire
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The
Caves of Derbyshire
Some
of the deepest and most challenging caves suitable for potholing
in Britain are to be found in and around the Hope Valley at
Castleton in the Peak District National Park.
For
the less adventurous there are show caves and caverns with
supervised tours. Some of them follow.
Poole's
Cavern
Buxton
Country Park, Green Lane,
Buxton,
Derbyshire.
Tel: 01298-26978.
An impressive natural cave formation with spectacular stalactites
and stalagmites. Many large galleries, and suitable for people
of all ages. Open daily Easter to November from 10.00am to
5.00pm (closed Wednesdays) - but check times haven't changed
before you set off.
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The Great Rutland
Cave
Poole's Cavern,
Buxton
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The
Heights of Abraham Country Park & Caverns
Matlock
Bath, Derbyshire.
Tel: 01629-582 365.
Two
great caverns set 1000 feet up a hill, and a return cable
ride! Cavern guided tours and a Masson Pavilion exhibition.
Picnic
and play areas, woodland walks, nature trails, restaurant,
café, bar and shop on site.
Blue
John Cavern
Castleton,
Derbyshire.
Tel: 01433-620 638 & 620 642.
An historic
cavern containing the first known mined deposits of the Blue
John mineral for which the locality is famous.
It was
worked by the Romans more than 2,000 years ago. Very large
pieces have been mined intact, and several are used to make
large tables on display at the Ollerenshaw Collection in Castleton
Village.
Guided
visits through many colourful caves, including the Crystallised
Cavern and the Waterfall Cavern, the latter being a massive
stalagmitic formation.
There
is also a small exhibition of 19th century miner's working
implements.
Treak
Cliff Cavern
Castleton,
Derbyshire.
Tel: 01433-620 571.
Claimed
to be some of Britain's finest stalactite and stalagmite formations,
imaginatively illuminated to often startling effect.
Guided
visitor tours through a quarter mile of galleries, chambers
and passages. The cavern mine contains rich veins of the Blue
John mineral, mined here since 1750.
The Pillar
is the largest piece of Blue John left in the cavern.
About
half a ton of mineral is still extracted each year.
Speedwell Cavern
Castleton,
Derbyshire.
Tel: 01433-620 512.
Located
at the foot of the Winnats Pass, the Speedwell Cavern is in
many ways a unique cavern experience, as visitors are rowed
through the 200 year old lead workings by boat.
A complex
labyrinth of passageways, cut by hand with primitive tools
to extract lead, there is a complex network of passageways
and caverns.
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