Caving Adventures in the Forest of Dean

When I was invited to join fellow bloggers for an adventure weekend in the Forest of Dean, of course I was buzzed. Driving down from Edinburgh, I had no idea what activities I would be up to until I got there. Dressing in a boiler suit and heading underground was not what I expected. But our caving adventures with Clearwell Caves ended up being my favourite activity of the weekend. Intrigued to do it yourself? Read on to find out what you’re in for.

Where are the caves?

Our knowledgeable guide Jonathan helped us get suited and booted in our jumpsuits, and led us into the forest. We could see fields and trees for miles, but no rocks or any inclination to caves. So where are they?

200m below the surface, that’s where. The caves were used for years for iron ore mining, and now sit empty. There are secret entrances to the caves all around the Forest of Dean. Most are gated for safety and environmental protection, so only organised caving adventures can access them. The gate we found ourselves standing over literally looks like the gate to hell. But in we went.

And what is it like inside?

Dark. Darker than you would ever imagine. And I’m scared of the dark, so that was fun. It takes a while for your eyes to adjust, but everyone has a head torch each and you quickly acclimatise to your environment.

It is also cold. The temperature dramatically drops too and you will have a new found love for your cosy, dirty overalls. You’re moving lots though, clambering over and round various stalagmites and stalactites, so you don’t feel it too much.

Though it is deathly quiet in the caves, you may not be alone. Don’t get scared, I’m not talking about ghosts; our caves were filled with lesser horseshoe bats! Beautiful and highly protected, we admired these creatures from a distance. Most were still in hibernation, and waking them too early could cause them to die of starvation. For that reason, it is also illegal to take their photos!

How are they formed?

While you might be spending most of the time watching your footing, make sure you look up too. The roof of the caves we were in were formed by old sea beds. Incredibly fascinating and quite daunting, thinking it was once under the sea!

There were a few tight squeezes too! Some we were all able to fit through. For the final squeeze, the boys were taken an alternative route as only the girls could fit through!

If you’re planning some caving adventures:

• Use a guiding company – We passed some pretty hairy drops into oblivion, and it can be easy to get lost. So please do not go on your own, unless you are experienced. For the Forest of Dean, I can highly recommend Clearwell Caves – it was a flawless excursion from start to finish.
• Sturdy footwear & helmet – You will likely be provided a helmet by your guiding company, but make sure you follow the advice they send you. Having the right gear will make it all the more enjoyable.
• BE BRAVE! – It might be cold and dark, but it is a phenomenal experience. You’ll be witnessing incredible areas of the planet that not everyone gets to see, and you’ll have no crowds to battle with!

If you’re visiting the Forest of Dean, I’ve written this guide to help plan your visit. Let me see what you get up to – I’m on Instagram and Facebook!