Peak District Punter Trip Required

[GemmaJones]

Hello! I've not done much caving in the Peak District and want to know if there is a Peak District equivalent to Skirwith or Yordas please. So either abandoned show caves or caves with a big chamber that you can go into for a quick look without breaking the bank. Thank you! Gemma

 

[paul]

I would suggest Jug Holes or Hillocks Mine to start with.

 

[Les W]

Giants as far as Garlands is worth a look... 

...although you did mention not breaking the bank...  :-\

 

[GemmaJones]

Thanks Jug Holes and Hillocks Mines are in my relatively unused guide book so I will have a read. Are there any near Hathersage which is where we will be based by any chance please? I think Giant's is too much like real caving. I've not been down Giants which is pretty rubbish as it is pretty much the classic trip of the Peak isn't it- in fact there is only JH and Lathkill ticked in the guidebook but I'm sure I've done a couple of others too...the guidebook was made before Titan was found. I'm trying to do some fake caving with fake cavers to be honest!!

 

[bograt]

Carleswark, Gin entrance to Eyam Dale shaft, About closest to Hathersage ( barring Bagshaw & Castleton)

 

[Les W]

Giants is pretty much walking with some scrambling over rocks in a few places (from my failing memory) as far as the top of Garlands. originally it was going to be a show cave. Still, at ?3 each for 10 minutes it probably isn't worth it...

 

[AR]

If you're just wanting to show a biggish hole to non-cavers, there's  always Walker's Grotto in Bradwell Dale?

 

[Katie]

The problem with Walkers grotto is that the farmer is currently not caver friendly, so I wouldn't if I were you!

 

[matthewjc]

Id part with the scheccles and have a wander down to Garlands Pot, Base Camp Chamber and Boss Aven are way more impressive than grotting around Carlswark or Hillocks...

Matt

 

[matthewjc]

And you can extend the trip if they are keen (and slim) with a wander upstream from Base Camp Chamber towards the sadly vandalised downstream end of sump 1....

 

[SamT]

took my two lads, 4 and 6, to Giants as far as the top of garlands.  No probs.  Boss Aven is proper impressive to a newbie caver.

Agreed, way better that scrotting about is carlswark and hillocks which offer little in the way of inspiration.

Bagshawe is another, though not as 'nice' or as clean as Giants.  Walking/stooping all the way to the Main drag by the dungeon.  Walls are, on the whole, muddy to the touch so you'll get muddy scuffs on clothes etc. plus a couple of knee deep muddy pools to wade through.  (unless you just go down the steps to the chamber at the bottom which is perhaps slightly un-inspiring to say the least and could be done in 5 mins or less)

 

[cavermark]

Windy Knoll is an impressive entrance.

 

[bograt]

Smallish entrance with impressive chamber just inside; Ilam Rock Cave, take a walk down Dovedale and bag a few more play caves, circular up Manifold, Thors Cave and a few more. A pleasant days walk bagging a number of tick offs on your way, unfortunately quite a trip from Hathersage.

 

[JAM]

If a bit of crawling about doesn't bother you, try Moorfurlong mine and cavern.  It's not far from Bradwell so you could tick Bagshaws and this in one go!! You could also pop your head into Suicide cave up wynnats pass, castleton. 

 

[underground]

If a bit of crawling about doesn't bother you, try Moorfurlong mine and cavern.  It's not far from Bradwell so you could tick Bagshaws and this in one go!! You could also pop your head into Suicide cave up wynnats pass, castleton.

With respect I'm not sure I'd want to take a trip of ten punters down the ladder, and to be fair it soon becomes a bit punter unfriendly - unless things are very different in the last ten years...

I'm guessing here that 'not breaking the bank' means: 1. Not paying a guide 2. Not buying any kit.
Whether that extends to not paying a trespass fee or hiring lamps would be for the OP to say, but to my mind the Giant's suggestion is bang on, wet feet to be expected but you could make it to Garlands and back quite happily (and throw in the speleomorphology etc. lecture along the way) for a nice trip.

Bagshawe is like

 

[JAM]

Well they're old enough to do their own research.  Gemma asked for suggestions that lay geographically close to Hathersage. I'd say I tick that box and I tick the "dont break the bank" box too. 

How about making some further additions to the list instead of giving your opinion and reiterating choices that have already been said, or is this too difficult?

 

[underground]

Well they're old enough to do their own research.  Gemma asked for suggestions that lay geographically close to Hathersage. I'd say I tick that box and I tick the "dont break the bank" box too. 

How about making some further additions to the list instead of giving your opinion and reiterating choices that have already been said, or is this too difficult?

Well someone also came here asking for an answer, which constitutes part of that research - and the 1994 Caves of the Peak District guidebook tells absolutely bugger all of use in that vein. I'd say that - in spite of recommendations, if 'Giant's is too much like real caving' then whatever boxes you tick, suggesting Moorfurlong is fucking ridiculous.

And frankly, no, it's not too difficult to suggest my opinion, as I did it above. Based on my opinion.

Don't get upset when someone disagrees with you, eh?

 

[Jenny P]

You could always do the old Upper Series in Giants - everybody forgets about that and rushes on past.  It's got quite a bit going for it.

 

[Mrs Trellis]

Not strictly a cave but Old Tor Mine may fit the bill.  Iirc key from National Trust, Edale (possibly collectable and returnable to an address in Castleton).

 

[pwhole]

I'll second that on the Upper Series in Giants - all the stuff up above Boss Aven is superb, with even galena veins in-situ. Don't fall though. And the mini-Crabwalk from Base Camp Chamber to the sump (which is in itself like a mini-Main Rising) is really good fun, though tight. I had to climb up quite high to get through comfortably. But that could add an hour or two to a Garlands-limited trip, easy.