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Treak Cliff Cavern
is located in a rural area on the side of a steep hill. Due to
the natural contours of the hillside above and below ground, the
cavern is not suitable for wheelchairs. Walking disabled can be
accommodated and extra helpers where necessary are allowed into
the cavern at no charge.
Entry Restrictions
Children under 16 years must be
accompanied by a responsible adult. Admission is by guided tour
only and there must be a minimum of 2 people for a tour to run.
If you are visiting on your own please call 01433 621487 to
check availability.
Disabled
Access.
As a general rule, if visitors are able to climb the hillside to
the cavern entrance they will be able to visit inside the
cavern. Each guided tour moves at the pace of the slowest
visitor and people can take their time. There is also a full
colour guidebook. A personal loop system for people with hearing
difficulties is available for the guided tour but please allow
plenty of time prior to the start of the tour to set this up.
Also available for those with hearing difficulties are laminated
picture & word guides specially produced by the Silverdale
School Deaf Unit. There is reserved parking for disabled
visitors.
The cavern site is
accessed via a public footpath and steps with handrails from the
roadside car park & is exposed to all weather conditions. There
are 80 steps in blocks of 4, with handrails (not barriers), and
seats at intervals leading to the Cavern Entrance. The entrance
is approximately 276m above sea level and the exit is
approximately 306m above sea level. The car park is a graveled
area parallel with the road. Parking is free to cavern visitors.
Parking on the tarmac road is in marked parking bays only, which
at the current time is free. A coach turning circle is provided
500m up the road at Odin.
The underground
temperature is 11 degrees centigrade. There is no underground
river inside Treak Cliff Cavern and therefore the risk of
flooding is negligible. The entrance tunnel is low and narrow in
places for 38metres. Parents using backpack baby carriers are
advised to remove the baby whilst walking through the entrance
tunnel. Pushchairs and prams cannot be accommodated underground
but can be left in the bag area at the entrance. Inside there is
a climb of 100 steps in easy stages, pausing to look at features
explained by the guide. There is a gradual climb down of 45
steps to see the stalactites, which must be climbed up again on
the return out of the cavern.
There is a shorter
low tunnel to reach the outside, and a steep walk back down the
exit path with the occasional step to reach the site buildings.
There is the return to the car park of the original 80 steps.
There are handrails (not barriers) mostly everywhere including
access paths to the toilet facilities, which also include steps.
Anti slip path covering is installed. Steps and paths inside the
cavern are concrete and are always wet. Anti slip measures are
installed here also. The cavern floor is constantly wet due to
the natural underground environment; therefore suitable footwear
must be worn within the Underground Area. Be aware that the most
‘sensible’ footwear can cause an individual to slip. Appropriate
hazard warning signs are in place, and safety
information is
given by the guide at the beginning of each tour. Handrails are
provided throughout and visitors are advised to use them.
Group Visits.
Visiting Group leaders, especially those with school and educational
groups are entirely responsible for the numbers and behavior of
their individuals whilst on site, including enforcing No Smoking
by the students especially in the toilets. Inside the Cavern
visitors are not allowed to leave the concrete paths/visitor
route or to take any rock or mineral samples, nor to interfere
with switches, locks, doors, fire extinguishers and other safety
equipment. School authorities will be invoiced for damage caused
by any individual from their group. A minimum of 2 adults is
required with each group going underground, one of whom must be
at the back to ensure people keep together.
Group leaders must
be aware of the numbers of people/students they are responsible
for, and they must be able to account for them in an
emergency at Treak Cliff Cavern site. If anyone leaves the tour
before the end, they MUST inform the guide, and report to the
entrance area back at the surface.
Underground, the
guide expects the teachers/leaders to control the behavior of
their students/group members. The guide has full authority to
take an unruly group back to the surface at any stage of the
tour. Should an accident occur, the guide has responsibilities
to all the tour members. The guide shall work with group leaders
to take appropriate action. Common sense will prevail
throughout.
Treak Cliff Cavern
has safety procedures that are carried out by staff in the event
of power failure or other emergency.
To
avoid overcrowding, for visitor comfort and to allow students to
carry out written work and to hold handrails whilst underground,
bags/rucksacks should be left in designated areas at the cavern
entrance, entirely at their owner’s risk. Valuables such as
money and cameras should not be left in the bags. During school
visits we try to limit the number of students in the shop at any
one time to avoid overcrowding and we request that school bags
are not taken into the shop. Group leaders are expected to
supervise their students in the shop.
For general safety
reasons do not allow anyone in your group to climb on walls, sit
on the tables, run around in the entrance area and especially
not to run down the exit paths.
Dogs are welcome in
the Cavern on a lead and Photography is permitted.
Treak Cliff Cavern
complies fully with all relevant health and safety laws and is
routinely visited by HSE and local council inspectors.
If you have any
further questions please call any day 01433 621487 10am to 3pm.
We look forward to
welcoming you to Treak Cliff Cavern, Castleton.
We
provide
a personal loop system for people with hearing difficulties. |
