Hi all,

I've got a 10 year old lad who would like to go caving or mine exploring. Ive never been caving or mine exploring myself so I though it would make a nice trip for me and my lad. Can anyone recommend any good places with guides etc? I live in West Yorkshire and don't really want to go further than the Yorkshire Dales or Peak district.

Thanks all for any suggestions.

Oh dear. This is a slippery slope and you may find that you end up like the rest of us. "Just the one mine" and before you know it you'll be sucked in. :)
I'll send you a PM with some contacts at the weekend, unless beaten to it.

There are quite a few child-friendly caves in the Peak District: it's where each of my children did their first few trips from the ages of 7 or 8 onwards. There have been a number of very useful threads on ukcaving about taking children caving - equipment, clothing, caves to choose, etc.

Hi all,

I've got a 10 year old lad who would like to go caving or mine exploring. Ive never been caving or mine exploring myself so I though it would make a nice trip for me and my lad. Can anyone recommend any good places with guides etc? I live in West Yorkshire and don't really want to go further than the Yorkshire Dales or Peak district.

Thanks all for any suggestions.

Try this;

http://www.peakdistrictleadminingmuseum.co.uk/visit-us/temple-mine 

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Or here;

http://www.goodluckmine.org.uk/ 

If you find you 'get the bug', plenty here will take you further --- :thumbup::thumbup:

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exspello's suggestions are excellent. However if you are prepared to venture further into the Peak District there are the more commercial options of Castleton, namely, Treak Cliff, Blue John, Peak Cavern and Speedwell Mine which has the added attraction of part of the trip in a boat.
Buxton too should not be overlooked. Poole's Cavern is also well worth a trip.

There is also the option if you think it's for you and your son of joining a group or society such as the Peak District Mines Historical Society. PDMHS gives, through its newsletter and website, members the chance to join both underground and overground trips to non commercial venues. If you go to Temple Mine and the Museum you will be able to get full details there.

While you are in the Peak District there are a couple of freebie above ground sites that are well worth a visit. Magpie Mine near Sheldon and High Rake Mine at Windmill, which is on the road between Tideswell and Bradwell

Tread carefully and take care, Peter.

Don't know if it's too far for you, but there is the Derbyshire Caving Club open weekend at Engine Vein Mine, Alderley Edge this weekend (23rd & 24th April).

There are guided tours going every half hour between 10am & 4pm both days. Park at the National Trust car park adjacent to the Wizard Inn off the B5087 road between Alderley & Macclesfield.

Down Gaping Gill on the winch in the summer holidays?

Thanks for the replies everyone! There are some good suggestions. I'll have a good look through the suggestions. I'll take my lad to a couple of them and see what he thinks.

Gaping Gill on the winch is highly recommended. There are two winch meets this year, Bradford pothole club (28th May - 3rd June) and Craven pothole club (20-29th August). Anyone can go down - it's £15/person. Get there early (like 8am) or you'll either queue lots or not get down at all. Fantastic day out, very well worth it. Bunk rooms and camping in Clapham / Ingleton so you could stop the night before.

http://www.bpc-cave.org.uk/wp/gaping-gill/ 

http://www.cravenpotholeclub.org/gg_contentpage.aspx?Page=GapingGill.Visit&Group=GapingGill 

There are plenty of guided Dales caving trips - just google it. If you fancy going further afield (ie North Wales), you really couldn't beat a trip with Go Below in Cwmorthin. Have a look at their website - that should inspire you!

The usual advice once you've decided a venue is generally based around keeping things fun and relatively pleasant. Also let them set the pace and duration to a certain extent.

6 hour trips in neck deep sewage best left for the second or third trip......

My daughter used to come on lots of trips but is now 17 and is less keen these days 😞

Cap house colliery/ national coal mining museum is not far from Brighouse and it's free and kids can go under ground

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I live in West Yorkshire (Leeds) and often head over to North Wales you'd be more than welcome to come with me one day.

I might head over to the open weekend at Engine Vein Mine this Sunday its fairly local to me.
Thanks for letting me know about it.

My (youngest) daughter used to come on lots of trips but is now 17 and is less keen these days :(

Eldest daughter now has a child of her own so I'm waiting for a chance to take the granddaughter underground 😉