Those interested in subterranean exploration should visit Poole’s Cavern, one of the most popular caves in the Peak District. Poole’s cavern is a natural Limestone cave located close to the town of Buxton. The cavern lies within the boundaries of Derbyshire and was formed over 2 million years ago, being granted the status as a site of special scientific interest.
Visitors to Poole’s cavern have the opportunity of walking through a number of chambers which extend to around 310 metres, all of which are traversable on foot and do not require specialist caving equipment. There are however numerous opportunities within the park to try caving, which should only be undertaken with adequate supervision. The chambers inside Poole’s cavern have a range of interesting names which include the Roman Chamber and the Poached Egg Chamber. Interesting features of the cave system include a number of large stalactites and stalagmites as well as a number of stalactites of a porous composition.
The name Poole’s cavern stems from one of the area’s most notorious outlaws Poole, who used the caverns as his lair. Poole robbed travellers passing through the area in the 15th century. The Caves are also one of the oldest tourist attractions in the Peak District, opened in 1853 by the 6th Duke of Lancaster. The caves were however closed briefly in 1965, reopening again for visitors in 1976.
Visiting Poole’s cavern can also be combined with a walk in the area which is rich in natural woodland. Entrance to Poole’s cavern costs £8.80 for adults and £5.00 for children. There are also family tickets available for £25.00, as well as concession tickets available for £7.80. The cavern is open during the summer months from 09.30 to 17.00, and is open just on weekends during the winter from 10.00 to 16.00. You can purchase tickets here.