Caving Peak District
It’s rough, it’s tough, it’s the real thing!
The Peak District region of Derbyshire has a wonderfully diverse range of caving, potholing and mine exploration possibilities for all ages abilities.
Our privileged access arrangements to some underground cave venues and our levels of technical expertise mean that, the underground experiences we offer can rarely be replicated.
Acclimbatize caving Instructors and Leaders are trained to impart geological, historical and environmental information with the aim of bringing the underground environment to life. This approach to cave leadership enriches the cave experience for our clients.
Derbyshire benefits from a rich history of metal and stone mining. Join us and step back in time to understand how the Peak District played a crucial role in the industrial revolution and uncover the rich industrial heritage of the area.
Caving provides a powerful group experience in which participants can work co-operatively in an environment which may be physically or emotionally challenging. Individuals will often implement team decisions in response to changing circumstances.
The activity provides genuine opportunities for people to take on leadership roles and achieve success both at a group and personal level.
Key Learning: Safety Equipment, Safety Instructions, Team Work, Decision Making, Leadership Opportunities, Assisting Others, Environmental Awareness. Caving Peak District
(Level 1) Typically, introductory caving trips will take place in underground cave systems which are predominantly horizontal in their nature.
Our usual formula for delivery is to begin the day with a look at caving guides and underground (maps) surveys. Prior to setting off underground, we equip you with helmets, lighting, oversuits and boots.
You will then explore a variety of subterranean cave passages under expert instruction.
Some caves considered to be ‘level 1’ have sections where climbing / scrambling is required to negotiate sections of cave passageway – these can be protected by use of the leaders rope from above.
Our instructional staff will bring the underground environment to life by imparting information about the structure of limestone, the origin of caves (formation and development), how the caves were discovered and subsequently explored. Most cave leaders seem to have a natural leaning towards story telling which can add a ‘further dimension’ to your underground experience!
(Level 2) Still suitable for beginners so called ‘Level 2’ indicates that caves will have vertical sections. These vertical sections of cave are negotiated by a variety of more advanced caving techniques such as abseiling during descent and by rope (lifeline) protected ladder climbing when returning to the surface.
Vertical caving offers a superb variety of adventurous underground challenges. These trips usually take a full day in duration and may be more physically committing.
Appropriate technical skills training may be completed above ground before venturing into the cave system.
The Peak District affords the opportunity to explore numerous abandoned mines. The sites we use are all inspected and approved for group use by a qualified mines inspector.
The use of such places with groups provides a rare backdrop from where the most powerful learning can be fully experienced in this dynamic environment.
We offer cavers the opportunity to join us in exploring some of the biggest, deepest and most spectacular caves in the country. We visit many classic systems, which may otherwise be beyond the present scope of our clients for logistical or technical reasons. Some previous vertical caving is necessary.
The association logos throughout the pages of this website represent membership of the highest professional bodies at both national and international levels. Click on any of the logos below to view our safety and quality information.
