Forest of Dean

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Regions \ Forest of Dean

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Geology 3 Caves 4 Mines 4.1 Show Mines 5 References 6 External Links

Introduction

Area Map

The Forest of Dean is a wonderful part of Britain, located on the English/Welsh border, about 15 miles south-west of Gloucester.

It was once famously dismissed as "not worth a special visit" by a caving author , but a lot has changed since he wrote those lines. The area boasts the tenth longest cave in Britain with the Wet-Sink/ Slaughter Stream Cave system; the well-acclaimed prettiest cave in Britain with Otter Hole; and some of the most arduous caves in Britain with Ban-Y-Gor and Cross-Joints Swallet.

The area is also famous for it's extensive networks of old iron mines; which range from bone-dry, gently dipping systems such as Old-Ham and Old-Bow; to steeply inclined and very wet systems, as at Perseverance and Wigpool.

Geology

Caves

• Ban Y Gor
• Big Sink
• Clinker Bottom Cave
• Coldwell Swallet
• Miss Grace's Lane Cave
• Otter Hole
• Redhouse Lane Swallet
• Symonds Yat Caves
• Symonds Yat Swallet
• Wet Sink/Slaughter Stream Cave

Mines

Mines are included in this section since many of the mines follow natural cave.

• Bixslade Stone Mine
• Old Ham
• Noxon Park Iron Mine
• Westbury Brook Iron Mine
• Wigpool

Show Mines

• Clearwell Caves

References

• Oldham T., Jones K., Taylor P., "The Caves Of The Forest Of Dean".
• Stratford T., Caves of South Wales, ISBN: 1871890039.
• Appleing D., "Caves of the Forest of Dean" ??????

See also Publications

External Links

• RFDCC web page. Describes many of the caves in the Forest, as well as a list of places to stay for visiting clubs.