Clubs & Groups

ADITNOW
The leading independent website for mine exploration and historical research in the UK. You just wouldn't believe the wealth of information available here, from photos to old documents.

BRITISH CAVING LIBRARY
The national caving research and reference library based in the Peak District, with a searchable database and an audio archive.

CAMBRIAN CAVE REGISTRY
A searchable database of Welsh caves.

IRISH CAVE DATABASE
Database of caves in the Republic of Ireland.

MATIENZO CAVES
An incredible wealth of data concerning the Matienzo region of Spain, covering all the expeditions, with loads of surveys and photos.

MENDIP CAVE REGISTRY & ARCHIVE
Data and photographs on caves and mines in the Somerset and Wiltshire area.

NORTHERN SSSI CAVE CONSERVATION MONITORING SCHEME
A joint project between northern cavers and Natural England to monitor and care for caves within SSSI boundaries in the CNCC region.

OGOF DRAENEN
Source data for the Ogof Draenen survey, based on Survex.

OGOF FFYNNON DDU
A superb interactive site devoted to the classic Welsh cave of Ogof Ffynnon Ddu: take a virtual tour through its well known and little visited passages.

PEAK DISTRICT SSSI CAVE CONSERVATION MONITORING SCHEME
A joint project between Derbyshire Caving Association and Natural England to monitor and care for caves within SSSI boundaries the Peak District region.

PEAK SPEEDWELL SYSTEM
From surveys to access information on the caves of this incredible system in Derbyshire, encompassing Peak Cavern, Speedwell Cavern, Titan and James Hall's Over Engine Mine, an amazing amount of data can be found here.

SOUTH WALES CAVES
Brendan Marris' site photographically documenting the caves of South Wales on Google maps.

WILD PLACES PHOTOGRAPHY
Our sister site featuring photography by Chris Howes.

Clubs

Standard abbreviations are aa (all abilities) and nmw (new members welcome). Please stay in contact – the final number corresponds to the issue of Descent with the most recent update. To add your club link, please check the details in Descent and that your club website links to Descent have been updated from the old Caving.UK address to www.wildplaces.co.uk, and send us a request.

BIRMINGHAM CAVE & CRAG
Welcomes new faces, aa. Friendly club, reg. UK trips and overseas. Meets 3rd Wed of month, 9pm, The Globe, 35 Blews Street, Birmingham B6 4HN. (219)

BRACKNELL DISTRICT CC
Friendly group meets every Thur, 9pm, Jack of Newbury, Binfield. aa welcome. Regular UK trips; overseas trips, Yorks weeks, SRT. (204)

BRADFORD PC
Visitors welcome at Brackenbottom, Horton-in-Ribblesdale. Traditional Dales longhouse: kitchen, changing & drying rooms, hot showers, bunkrooms, nr pub. (217)

CHEDDAR CC
Friendly club, nmw, aa. Trips locally and further afield. Meetings 3rd Sun of month, Kings Head, Cheddar. (214)

CHESTERFIELD CC
Friendly club, nmw (18+), aa. Meets 8.30pm 1st Tue of month, The Market, New Square, Chesterfield. (223)

CRAVEN PC
Yorks Dales. Freq. club trips, camping, walking, overseas expeditions, club accom., aa welcome. (207)

CROYDON CC
Friendly, active London-based, cottage in Ystradfellte, S. Wales, reg. trips. Meets 9pm 1st Thur of month, Plough & Harrow, King St, Hammersmith. (202)

DEVON SS
Friendly club, Buckfastleigh near caves, pubs and shops. Two dorms sleep 12 & 4. Changing area, showers, drying room. £4.50/night. Meets Weds for caving or social (9pm, Welcome Inn, Haven Banks, Exeter); see website for details. (217)

DUDLEY CC
Meets 8.30pm every Thur, Ruiton Mill, Vale St, Upper Gornal, Dudley. Reg. trips, all areas. (207)

EARBY PC
Friendly, north-west England-based club, meets Wed, 9.30pm, Golden Ball, Colne, and usually on the last Sat evening of the month at the New Inn, Clapham. (218)

GAY OUTDOOR CLUB
Monthly trips, all levels; expeditions, mountaineering, climbing, walking, nmw. (220)

GLOUCESTER SS
Small, friendly, sociable club. Active digging/exploring caves and mines, Forest of Dean and wider afield, all welcome. (176)

LINCOLN CC (LSCC)
Est. 1983, Nmw, full training/eqpt provided, trips all regions/overseas. Meets 2nd Sun, 8pm, The Victoria, Union Rd, Lincoln. (210)

MASSON CG
Nmw (18+), aa. Cave and mine exploration, UK and abroad. Active, friendly club. Training and basic kit provided. (207)

MENDIP CG
Long established, excellent accommodation, tackle & cave access. Nmw, aa. (209)

MORGANNWG CC
Founded in 1984, meets every Wed in Cardiff. (219)

MORLEY PC
Friendly, well-established Leeds/West Yorkshire-based club, CNCC affil., nmw, aa, training provided. Meets 1st Tue of month, 9pm, Commercial Inn, Churwell, Morley. (181)

NEWBURY & DISTRICT CC
Small, friendly club meets 8pm 1st Thur of month, Royal Oak, Ecchinswell. Trips to Mendip & S. Wales, occ. further afield, nmw, any level. (219)

NOTTINGHAM & LEICESTER LOST WORLD CC
Small, friendly club. Monthly trips to Derbyshire, Mendip, South Wales and Yorkshire Dales. E-mail Andrew Hitchcock. (221)

OXFORD UNIVERSITY CC
Long established, offers members training and chance for UK exploration and joining overseas expeditions, aa. (212)

RED ROSE CPC
Bull Pot Farm in the Yorkshire Dales: ideal for caving on Leck and Casterton Fells. Groups of 12 at weekends, more midweek, are welcome. (211)

ROYAL FOREST OF DEAN CC
Meets 8.30pm first Mon of month (9.30pm Weds after caving), The Rising Sun, Moseley Green, nr Parkend. Digging, away trips, aa, nmw. (200)

SOUTH WALES CC
Meets every w/e in own cottage, Swansea Valley: reg UK/foreign trips, nmw, aa. (185)

SPELEO VERCORS
UK-based club specialising in caving in the Vercors, France. (214)

THURSDAY NIGHT CLUB
Yorkshire cave photographers meets 4.30pm every Thurs during winter, Devils Bridge, Kirkby Lonsdale. (218)

WAYA CC inc. ISG
Based Surrey/Hamps border & Mendip, nmw, aa. Meets monthly. (216)

WEALDEN CMS
South-east based active, friendly club, aa welcome. Meets 1st Wed of month, 9.30pm, Railway Arms, Merstham, Surrey. Mendip bunkhouse and superb new cottage in South Wales. (218)

WESSEX CC
Heart of Mendip nr Eastwater, 10 min walk to Hunters'. Large bunkroom, 2 dorms sleep 32 & 12. Excellent cooking facilities, hot showers. (220)

WESTMINSTER SG
Active, London-based club; cottage in S. Wales. Nmw, aa. Pub meets 1st & 3rd Tue of month, central London. (202)

YORK CC
Friendly, informal group of young, enthusiastic cavers. Reg. day trips, w/e away & digging. Nmw of all ages with some experience. (213)

YORKSHIRE SUBTERRANEAN SOCIETY
Friendly club with regular meets twice/month in Yorks & other areas + expeditions & Try Caving. Some of the best accommodation in the Dales at Helwith Bridge, sleeps 40: drying room, central heating, big kitchen. (224)