Caving activities
Opening times
Feeling more adventurous? We arrange deep level visits for pre-booked groups of around 10 people. We’ll supply miners’ helmets, lamps and an experienced guide. These trips are safe, great fun and very dirty! Call for details. AALA licensed.
From 16 February to 31 October, daily, 10am to 5pm (last entry).
Special openings Christmas Fantasy 1 to 24 December, and 27 to 31 December, 10am to 5pm. We can open at other times by prior arrangement.
Clearwell Caves The Royal Forest of Dean’s
Iron Mining Museum
A40
GLOUCESTER
ye
er W
MONMOUTH
Riv
36 A41
Cinderford 8
A4
Forest of Dean
31
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5 M
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ist
ol
1
23
To
Br
8
M4 To London
CLEARWELL CAVES P
CLEARWELL
M4
1
of disabled access
23
recommended
• Please call for details
B4
• Ample free parking • Stout footwear is strongly
28
M4
B42
A4
B42
ev
B4
Riv e
A4
rS
8
66
Lydney
B422
St Briavels
CHEPSTOW
Reach out and touch the mining heritage of the Royal Forest of Dean. Take the route made by miners over thousands of years as they followed the iron ore deep underground. These natural caves cover 245 hectares (600 acres) with miles of passageways and impressive caverns. At Clearwell Caves, you wander through nine large caverns – some big enough to hold parties for 350 people! Or come as a group and be led through the caves by one of our experienced and entertaining guides.
COLEFORD
A4
B42
28
see detail map
8
Coleford
CLEARWELL CAVES
Follow brown tourist signs from Coleford town centre
Group organiser Please call to book your guided visit. Schools and youth groups a speciality. Clearwell Caves Nr Coleford Royal Forest of Dean Gloucestershire GL16 8JR Telephone (01594) 832535 www.clearwellcaves.com Designed and produced by Heritage House Group, Norfolk D-91742-3/09
Caving and mining exploration details can be confirmed by calling the Licensing Authority on 02920 755715
family adventure • A impressive caverns • Nine • A great underground experience
BAT ChURN
BLACKSMITh
The story of iron years ago of years, up to the present day, is told in displays throughout PILLAR ChURN the caves. AND LAKe BLACKSMITh
TeA ROOM
BAT ChURN OLD ChURN
LeVeL OF ShOP AND eNTRANCe ChRISTMAS ChURN
eXIT TO ShOP
Above ground
Christmas fantasy
We have a fascinating gift shop selling unusual TO and WORKING gifts, books mineral jewellery, and you can FACe also buy the ochres mined here. Enjoy delicious snacks in our café MINeRS’ or, if the COeweather is fine, there is a large picnic area.
Enjoy Clearwell Caves, then come back again during December when they are transformed into a magical world of light and sound. A very special family event.
OLD ChURN
eXIT ShOP FROZeN WATeRFALL TheTOformation of iron deposits millions of ChURN andPOTTeRy how it has been mined for thousands ChURN
FROZeN WATeRFALL ChURN
POTTeRy ChURN
BARBeQUe ChURN
TO WORKING FACe
PILLAR ChURN AND LAKe
MINeRS’ COe
BARBeQUe ChURN ChAIN LADDeR ChURN
TO DeeP WORKINGS
AREA BELOW GROUND LEVEL
AREA BELOW GROUND LEVEL
VISITOR CENTRE
VISITOR CENTRE
Iron ores have been mined at Clearwell Caves for thousands of years. You can still meet local Freeminers here – men whose ancient birthright entitles them to dig for minerals within the ‘Hundred of St Briavels’ and the Forest of Dean. The iron from these caves has been used over the centuries to make tools, weapons and machinery. Some iron ore occurs as powdered oxides – red, yellow, purple and brown. Highly valued as pigments, we still mine them here today.
ChAIN LADDeR ChURN
Recommended by the Daily Telegraph
TO DeeP WORKINGS
10°C 50°F
Whatever the weather, the temperature underground is always a constant and comfortable 10°C (50°F).