Giants Hole

An attempt by a farmer to develop a tourist attraction has opened this, previously very difficult, cave up to novice cave explorers.

Whilst many cave systems in Atlas Obscura are touristic show caves, where the comfort and particularly the safety of the visitor are catered for, this cave is truly wild but it is one of the most commonly (and easily) visited wild caves in the country. Even with the barest of equipment, a bump hat and a flashlght (plus spares) , it is possible to explore the upper parts of this cave quite safely. Waterproof boots are advised , you will be walking in a stream. The trip down to the top of the  first large vertical drop  (pitch) will be a taste of real caving in a relatively safe environment ( I took my youngest son into the cave when he was 6).

In fact it was because of attempts to create a show cave by the farmer in the mid 20th century that the cave is so popular with novices. He blasted a passage to open up a difficult part of the entrance series to allow the public to reach the first large chamber. Prior to this, exploring the cave was a very serious undertaking requiring a lot of experience and with great logistical demands brought on by the need to dive through (or bail the water out of) a difficult water filled sump very near to the first chamber. This first chamber was named base camp chamber because it was here that the logistics were sorted out, past the difficult sump, prior to the serious exploration of the system. As it happens the landowner has been able to profit greatly from his efforts without finishing his project as cavers (spelunkers) are willing to pay an entry fee without him having to provide lights, safety rails or footpaths.

You need to park in the parking lot at the end of a rough farm track and pay the farmer his entry fee (about £3 there is usually a “honesty box”) then follow the well trodden  path  to the cave entrance where the stream enters the cave. Follow the stream down and look out for a distinct passage on your left about 2 feet above stream level. If you reach the point where you cannot go any further, when the stream forms a sump filled with rocks, you have gone slightly too far. Retrace your steps and look for the passage on your right. Follow the passage down and , if the stream is flowing you will start to hear a waterfall. Eventually you will emerge under a low arch into a large chamber. A low  waterfall, about a meter or so high, will be on your right. If the stream is flowing reasonably well the noise is fantastic.  Turn round and look at the arch you just emerged from. You need to remember it to get out of the cave. If you climb up the waterfall into the upper passages it is easy to get lost in a sort of vertical maze.

Follow the stream down, past some spectacular chambers with some nice cave formations, to the top of a large 20+ foot deep pothole (Garlands Pot) with the stream forming a waterfall into it. You will now be about 270 yards from the entrance. If you are not experienced and suitably equipped this is as far as you can go.

Do not be tempted to descend any ropes or ladders you see rigged in the pitch.

Not only will the descent itself  be dangerous if you do not know how to do it but below the pothole is an unnervingly  long passage (over 400 yards) called crab walk which you can only pass by walking sideways and there is a point in this passage (the vice) which narrows to an even tighter squeeze. Going downhill through the squeeze is not too bad but even for those of normal build getting out against  the steep uphill slope and fighting the rock can be very hard if you are not used to it. Many a novice explorer has found the prospect of crab walk too much and had to exit quickly ( with some being so phased that they realise that the sport is not for them and never return to a cave again).

Take a look at:

 http://blog.dudleycavingclub.org.uk/2003/12/giants-hole-derbyshire.htm

If there are cavers in the cave  spending a few minutes watching people descend or ascend the pitch is worthwhile.

Turn round and retrace your steps, the cave will look very different on the way out. The whole trip from entry to exit should take less than an hour. Do not climb the waterfall on the way out, look for the low arch to the right just before it. Your first decision on reaching the surface may well be to find a nearby adventure activity centre which can take you into the lower reaches of the cave. Why not just find the adventure centre first, let them deal with the logistics, lights etc, and have an experience that you will either treasure forever or will quickly want to forget.