Caving in Great Britain

There are four primary caving regions in the UK (and several minor areas). The area with the most vertical caving, and the longest cave in the UK, is the Yorkshire Dales in the north of England. Derbyshire (the Peak District), near Castleton, has the commercial Peak / Speedwell Cavern system, and several other well known caves. South Wales has many long cave systems including Ogof Ffynnon Ddu, Ogof Draenen, Ogof Daren Cilau, and Ogof Agen Allwedd. The Mendip Hills in southwest England has many famous caves including Goatchurch Cavern, Reservoir Hole and Swildon’s Hole.

A 10-day trip to England and Wales included a visit to Hidden Earth, Cwmorthin Slate Mine, Ogof Ffynnon Ddu, Ogof Draenen, Frozen Deep, Burrington Combe (Lionel's Hole, Pierre's Pot, Sidcot Swallet, Goatchurch Cavern, East Twin Swallet, Aveline's Hole), Cheddar Gorge, G.B. Cave and Swildon's Hole.

Cwmorthin slate quarry

In the north of Wales are a number of impressively large slate quarries. Cwmorthin is the largest of these and it has recently been converted into an underground via ferrata.

The Cwmorthin slate quarry in north wales is the longest and deepest in the world. Professionally guided trips can be arranged through Go Below: http://www.go-below.co.uk For more detailed information on caving techniques, caving gear, and cave projects, visit my website at: https://www.derekbristol.com Caves (and quarries) are delicate and potentially dangerous places.

ofof ffynnon ddu

OFD is the 3rd longest cave in the UK at 61 km, and it is the deepest cave at 294 meters. It is a spectacular cave system with three entrances, and it’s located just next to the South Wales Caving Club hut.

My apologies to the fine people of Wales for butchering your language. Your caves are amazing, and I'd like to return. I hope you will allow me back some day. Thanks to the South Wales Caving Club for their hospitality.

Ogof draenen

Ogof Draenen is in south Wales and was dug open in 1994 by members of the Morgannwg Caving Club. Several clubs were invited to come and help in the exploration and mapping, which progressed extremely quickly. Unfortunately there has been a lot of in-fighting and political strife over ownership and access to the survey data. This doesn’t diminish the amazing large passages and spectacular formations in this cave, which is the second longest in the UK at 70 km.

For more information about Ogof Draenen, check out Tarquin's excellent website: http://www.cavinguk.co.uk For more detailed information on caving techniques, caving gear, and cave projects, visit my website at: https://www.derekbristol.com Caves are delicate and potentially dangerous places.

mendip hills

A short distance outside of Bristol, England lies the Mendip Hills, which contains such famous caving destinations as Burrington Combe, Cheddar Gorge Fairy Caves Quarry, Wookey Hole and Swildon’s Hole.

For more detailed information on caving techniques, caving gear, and cave projects, visit my website at: https://www.derekbristol.com Caves are delicate and potentially dangerous places. For more information on wild caving, vertical caving techniques, and cave survey, visit the National Speleological Society website: https://caves.org To find a local grotto (caving club) visit: https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml White Nose Syndrome (WNS) is a disease that is devastating to bats.

Reservoir Hole

Within Cheddar Gorge on the southwest side of the Mendip Hills is Reservoir Hole. A major discovery was made in 2012 named the Frozen Deep, which contains the largest cave chamber in the UK by area.

Reservoir Hole in the Cheddar Gorge area of the Mendips in SW England contains one of the largest and best decorated cave chambers in the UK. It was discovered in 2012 following a more than 60 year history of digs. It has been characterized as the Lechuguilla Cave of the UK.