Tourist caves

[graham]

Annoying Twit

if these trips go well for you, I would suggest a summer holiday in Belgium. There are a number of show caves in fairly close proximity in the Ardennes region, all of which are worth a visit. The Grottes de Han are of world class.

 

[Annoying Twit]

if these trips go well for you, I would suggest a summer holiday in Belgium. There are a number of show caves in fairly close proximity in the Ardennes region, all of which are worth a visit. The Grottes de Han are of world class.

If we do go overseas this year, it will probably be New Zealand. Might get a chance to look into a lava cave on Rangitoto Island though.

 

[big-palooka]

if these trips go well for you, I would suggest a summer holiday in Belgium. There are a number of show caves in fairly close proximity in the Ardennes region, all of which are worth a visit. The Grottes de Han are of world class.

If we do go overseas this year, it will probably be New Zealand. Might get a chance to look into a lava cave on Rangitoto Island though.

Hi there AT

Rangitoto is an interesting place to explore, being the remains of a volcano only 600 years old, but the lava caves may well disappoint you. There are some sea caves accessible in the vicinity of Auckland but not too impressive.

The tourist cave trips in Waitomo are reputed to be fascinating fun, but friends have said they're a bit clinical (they take your money and treat you like a tourist)

If you are going to New Zealand for any length of time, make contact with one of the clubs.  They often have family trips at weekends (suitable for beginners and kids(sometimes)) and you'd see some real sweet caves.  Try the Auckland Speleo Group - find them on the interweb - they are accomodating to Brit Cavers.

Paul C

 

[ogof addict]

Dan yr Ogof is the tourist cave that made me want to start caving. my parents took me there several times when i was a kid, though i havent been back since. the other tourist cave there is supposed to be very pretty too. Or there are the caves at Cheddar Gorge, which i remember enjoying when on a primary school trip.

have fun in Castleton 

 

[martinb]

snip
Another alternative is train to Ribblehead (with the Railway vaiduct that featured in Harry Potter).../snip

Sorry to be an annorak - but the viaduct featured in the Harry Potter movies is the Glenfinnan viaduct between Fort William and Mallaig.  :ras:

 

[droid]

Should be easy enough to tell the two apart, the Glenfinnan viaduct was made of concrete...

 

[Mrs Trellis]

The 260 bus runs Sundays and Bank Holidays from Edale station to Castleton village and back again calling at the Blue John Mine, Treak Cliff, and Speedwell show caves/mines. Also stops at the Odin Mine & Cave turning circle. Peak Cavern is a short walk from the bus station and from the visitor centre - well worth a visit. It's free to a valid rail ticket holder or with a concessionary bus pass (me!).

Personally I think the Blue John Cavern is the best show cave trip - over 100m vertically & horizontally, Blue John stone, t'owd man workings, natural formations and really big passage at the bottom. Only lacks an active stream passage.

Over in Cheshire there's the Alderley Edge Copper Mines Open weekend the weekend before Easter. More like caving with a helmet & lamp provided but warmer, drier and more comfortable than a natural cave.


http://www.derbyscc.org.uk/alderley/current_open_days.php

 

[Annoying Twit]

We enjoyed Poole's cavern. I was particulary taken with the big rock at the end with the very fine calcite formations on it. I've forgotten the name, but the formations which make small terraces, with tiny or larger pools.

Also interesting to go up on top of the hill up Solomon's Temple, so we were both inside and on top of the hill.

Though, the big problem was the dreadful service from the bus company. Waiting around for buses that never ran, and nobody manning the phones. That's going to make it difficult to go back.

 

[SamT]

Gour pools.

Theres a pretty good train service to buxton from Manchester is there not ?

 

[Annoying Twit]

The way to get to Buxton by train is Leicester -> Sheffield -> Stockport ->Buxton.

But, to go that way ends up costing over twice as much. Not impossible, but it becomes quite an expensive day out. For us anyhow.

One thing about the cave. I did find it quite tame. This is not a criticism of the cave as it's set up as a show cave and that's the kind of place I wanted to go to first. But, at no time did I have to duck that I remember. I also tried just to put my hand in the river. With the guide's permission. But, I couldn't reach it from the path. So, there's some scope to go somewhere, sometime, just a little bit more challenging.

 

[playoutside]

I travel a lot in to Derbyshire on buses and you do have to check the time tables very carefully
EG:
SH at the top of a column means it only operates on school holidays.
SD at the top of a column means it only operates on school days
I'm sure there are many more that i cant' think of at this moment and when you are traveling on publick transport  you have to just chill, relax and realise you are at there mercy and you will get there when you get there! when you are going slightly remote places like the Peak District look at all other roots that will get you home including trains  Via Sheffield, Chesterfield, Derby and NEVER plan to go home on the last bus

 

[Annoying Twit]

I don't want to go off-topic on a caving forum. But, we're quite experienced users of public transport, and are familiar with the ins and outs. But, the Transpeak service we went on really was much worse than typical public transport. It was a combination of all sorts of things going wong. We spoke to other people at stops and on the bus, and this is known as a very poor service. One man asked us to make a formal complaint, which we did. As he said, if people don't complain, there's not much likelihood of the bus company deciding to do something about the problems.

It's a pity. As the same service goes through Ashford in the Water. Though, I think we can get there by other companies that might run betteer. I've always wanted to swim in the River Wye, and while I can't remember the name, somewhere further up this thread there are recommendations of a cave or caves at Ashford.

 

[playoutside]

The Ashford Black Marble Mines There is a good description in Classic caves of the Peak District.
You do have to aply to the DCA for entery and would Probabbly have to produce a BCA Green card number (3rd party insurance)