I came across this site researching the mines and caves in the UK for a trip Im planning in Sept/Oct 08.

Several friends of mine have visited the UK (some are living there now) and have suggested several locations for me to explore while on my travels there.

I noticed that many of the caves and mines are open access but keys are needed or locations gaurded until proven you are a caver. Its the same here so I wanted to get a start on talking to anyone I can and getting permissions, key access, and what I need to see some of the fantastic underground spots there.

I just wanted to post a hello and start breaking the ice with people and feeling out places and people to see and meet!
Feel free to check me out or ask questions.

Im not looking for tour guides since I would rather explore the locations myself than have someone lead me around but company would be welcome! I will be with my new wife who also has caving experience and we would like to meet some of the local cavers and swap stories & pictures, share info, and get out to some of the locations with or without company.

Just a quick rundown on my experience:
Ive been caving and exploring since 1986 and have pretty extensive skills in most aspects. I built and ran a community of 200+ active explorer/cavers in the midwest US (Minneapolis MN) until recently when I turned over running the forums to a trusted friend so I could have more time exploring things and less running the show. Anyone who has been an admin knows what I mean there!
Im one of the few members of Cave Clan (Australia) in the US and have several friends there.
I like beer and women and dark mysterious holes that look inviting and Im not the steriotypical asshole American!
Anyway nice to see a place like this and hopefully I will be able to meet up and at least have a cold frothy beverage with some of you and swap some stories if nothing else!

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On this site it is only mines we deal with here. Most are unlocked access, but as you say, with locations kept quiet. I am based near the Wiltshire stone mines, so would be happy to show you a couple.
As for caves, may I suggest UKCaving.com. They will be able to help with all aspects of caves, and help you out with access.

Hi GreyKat, welcome to the site,
What particular areas are you planning to visit in the UK? It would also be useful to know if you are bringing SRT gear.
As Clunk says, this site deals with mine exploring, however, there are many people on this site who are cavers and can also point you in the right direction.
As regards mines, i think that Wales has the easiest access to many of them, just turn up and in you go!
If your heading for Derbyshire then this site http://www.hitchnhike.co.uk/pdc/caveguides.htm  offers access details and useful routes through the systems

I'm happy to arrange for you to see the sites in Surrey, just south of London. Medieval underground stone quarries, and more recent ones with more 'industrial' features.

Thanks! I’m still figuring out the routes and areas and in what order but will be able to give some more specifics in the next few weeks as I get them nailed down. Just as a rough guesstimate we are flying into London Sept 22 and staying a night there to get over the jet lag and then probably heading South and looping around the country clockwise over two or three weeks. I plan on basing us in each area I want to visit anywhere from 1-3 days before moving on to the next place.

I am planning a at least a few days in Wilshire and would like to visit the Box Quarry and some other mines nearby and am going to try to get a room at the Quarryman’s Arms. I had good friend stay there a few years ago and he has nothing but good things to say about the people and places there. Is that close to where you are Clunk?

We do plan on bringing as much gear as we can but doubt we will be able to fit in full kits. I hope to meet up with people with some extra gear they are willing to loan out or just pick up what we need and ship it home. My wife has almost no SRT experience so anything requiring a drop in to access is likely off the list unless one of you can talk her into it better than I can!

Yeah, I know this site is mines only but I mentioned it like I did because where you find mine explorers you usually find cave explorers. My apologies if I offended. Where I’m located the two usually go hand in hand.

Peter it would be great to see some of the Medieval quarries and more industrial mines by you. We are going to be in the London area for at least 3-4 days near the very beginning or end of our visit. I will need some time underground there because I am really not looking forward to all the touristy locations I know I’m going to get dragged to!

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Hi GreyKat,
I trust your new wife is aware of the itinerary you are developing/preparing!!
😉

A day or some in north Wales is well recommended :)

We have medieval castles, the scenery of Snowdonia and... the largest slate mines you'll find 😉

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Of course she is! She will kill me if I make plans for being underground the whole trip but gave me the thumbs up for an explore here and there. She likes underground too! We have quite a few ladies here that like doing this. Is that unusual there?

I will post some shots of the ladies here later, I threw up some shots of mines around here on my profile for anyone interested.

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Peter it would be great to see some of the Medieval quarries and more industrial mines by you. We are going to be in the London area for at least 3-4 days near the very beginning or end of our visit. I will need some time underground there because I am really not looking forward to all the touristy locations I know I’m going to get dragged to!

Do you watch "Cities of the Underworld" on the History Channel? They recently spent several hours in the old Surrey quarries (probably ca. 1500-1600) filming for a programme due to air in the US at the end of October, and in the UK a few months later. They were recording evidence of ritual markings to protect against the supernatural, a very real fear in those days and taken very seriously.

Try not to make your time in Surrey clash with "Hidden Earth" weekend 26th-28th September! In fact, if you are around and want to meet the 'cream' of UK caving (probably gone sour and curdling!) why not book yourselves places at HE? It is always an excellent social gathering and loads to see and learn.

Do you watch "Cities of the Underworld" on the History Channel? They recently spent several hours in the old Surrey quarries (probably ca. 1500-1600) filming for a programme due to air in the US at the end of October, and in the UK a few months later. They were recording evidence of ritual markings to protect against the supernatural, a very real fear in those days and taken very seriously.

Try not to make your time in Surrey clash with "Hidden Earth" weekend 26th-28th September! In fact, if you are around and want to meet the 'cream' of UK caving (probably gone sour and curdling!) why not book yourselves places at HE? It is always an excellent social gathering and loads to see and learn.

I love that show! Im glad they changed hosts too, the original guy was kinda over dramatic but thats my opinion.
The markings sound really interesting, do you have any links to info or photos? I went to college for Archaeology & Anthropology so tossing me some info like that is like dangling the carrot! Finding cultural remnants in places is always fascinating, documenting and protecting them is the hard part, especially when they are left in situ.

Thanks for the tip off to Hidden Earth! I found the site link (http://hidden-earth.org.uk) and will check it out. I'm not really particular on meeting the cream of the crop, just going out and getting into the underground with some people and have a good time. That and maybe setup a few long exposure shots here and there and pop some bulbs. I might swing in if I'm there and buy the shirt though! I like getting different club or event shirts and wear them while exploring a place or chillin with friends.

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I'm not really particular on meeting the cream of the crop, just going out and getting into the underground with some people and have a good time.

Well that's us mine explorers to a tee.

BTW welcome to the forum fiend :flowers:

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I probably didn't mean you should go to HE to rub shoulders with 'the elite' - I have never been to such a levelling experience as HE - apart from NAMHO meets of course! It is such a friendly conference. Those who think themselves 'elite' probably wouldn't 'lower' themselves to attend HE anyway!

As for images (which is much more interesting) have a browse in the WCMS gallery, starting here

http://www.wcms.org.uk/cgi-bin/wcmsgallery.pl?site=5;page=1 

For inscriptions, meaningful or otherwise, look for images 106-109
464
467
469
2129
2132-4
2276
2279-81
2291-99
2307
4125-8
4544

I could post up a 'slideshow' url but then you would miss all the other pics, some of which include me, unfortunately.

Some intriguing markings there Peter, particularly the fylfot and labyrinth together - what date is given to these, late 16th/early 17th century?

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Fylfot? We always call that the curved swastika. Those inscriptions are associated with names and dates from the 1720s. The crossed Vs and numbered quarry faces date from the 16th century we believe.

Some interesting shots on that link Peter thanks!
The fylfot (swastika-pelta or Solomons Seal) have been around since the bronze ages. The seven path labyrinth was well known in the 1700's and can be seen in a lot of places. Has it been determined that they were for superstitious reasons Peter?

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We can only guess. There are no contemporary records or any clues underground. Any theories of yours will be no worse than mine. 🙂 All the evidence suggests that the visitors responsible for the symbols in the 1720s were casual visitors and not quarrymen.

I also wanted to ask if this list of pubs is fairly current or not:

http://www.caving.uk.com/Resources/Pages/pubs.html 

Also can anyone tell me if the 2003 (or maybe its 1993 I dont have it right here) version 2 map of the Box mines is still considered accurate? Its three pages with suggested routes on back and was obtained at the Quarryman's Arms by a friend who gave me his copy to use.

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Fylfot is the English name for the curvilinear swastika, I know it well as I used to spend a lot of time on the moors above Ilkley where there is a fine Bronze age example carved on the edge of an outcrop. There are also carved labyrinths of suggested Bronze age date in the UK, not to mention turf mazes in this shape that go back to Tudor times, usually called something like "Troy town" or "the walls of Troy". However, we're digressing a bit here! :offtopic:

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Thanks, AR. Good stuff! 🙂

Also can anyone tell me if the 2003 (or maybe its 1993 I dont have it right here) version 2 map of the Box mines is still considered accurate? Its three pages with suggested routes on back and was obtained at the Quarryman's Arms by a friend who gave me his copy to use.

Yeah they'll still be good to go.

As for pubs 2 recommendations:

Box: Quarryman's, its the obvious choice.
Mendip: The Hunter's Lodge, Some say its the center of the uinverse, All we know is that Roger serves a good pint!

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