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Where am I? DCC > ALDERLEY EDGE > CURRENT ACTIVITIES > VISITING THE MINES
HOW TO VISIT THE MINES
There are two types of visitor to the Alderley Mines! There are those with little or no experience of mining who are taken on guided trips and there are those who are experienced and want minimal leading. If you are of the former group, read on, but if you are of the latter, you may still want to read the general guidance or jump straight to the details of trips for more experienced visitors. To find out more about Open Days, click HERE. To find out about safety in caving and mining in general, click HERE.
LOCATION MAP
Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland
The car park costs £2 a day for cars and £5 a day for
coaches. NT members get free car parking on production
of a current membership card. (NOTE: If you are
planning to visit with a coach or high vehicle, please
contact the National Trust in advance on 01625 584412 to
arrange for the car park barrier to be lifted.)
There is an excellent tea room behind the Wizard which serves home-made cakes, tea, coffee, etc. at weekends and an ice-cream van in the car park on most days.
For a more detailed map of the area, follow this link to the main Alderley mines page. (Photo: visitors, a bit overdressed, waiting outside the Surgery.)
FOR LESS EXPERIENCED VISITORS
ACCESS
All the mines except West Mine and the Scout Hole are under property owned by the National Trust and of these, Wood Mine, Brynlow Mine, Cobalt Mine, Engine Vein, the Hough Level, Doc Mine and Saddlebole Mine have been leased to the Derbyshire Caving Club. The National Trust has granted permission to the DCC to take visitors around the mines covered by the lease subject to certain conditions. Visitors are generally taken around Wood Mine and occasionally Engine Vein. Visits to the Hough Level or Brynlow can only be made by experienced cavers.
TYPES OF TRIPS
Within reason, we can adapt the type of trip to suit your needs. Most visitors want a general trip around the mine and to be told about the history and geology but not in too much detail. However, we can arrange for leaders who specialise in particular aspects of the mines if you make this clear when arranging the visit. We can also make the trips more or less "adventurous" depending upon the age and ability of the group. Some years ago, we used to organise birthday parties in the mines but with the change in legislation concerning young visitors, these are no longer generally available.
RESTRICTIONS
Anyone normally fit and 18 years of age or older may visit the mines leased by the DCC provided that they are in a party led by a member of the DCC. Persons under 18 may do so provided an indemnity is signed by a parent or guardian or Local Education Committee. Persons under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian or some other suitably authorised person, for instance a Scout Leader or Teacher.
EQUIPMENT
The DCC will lend a helmet and miner's cap lamp to each visitor. No other special equipment is required and visitors are discouraged from bringing extra items such as torches and cameras which may hinder their tour around the mines.
CLOTHING
Good footwear is essential and wellington boots are recommended. Waterproof clothing is not required but old clothes which will not suffer from contact with sand and mud are advisable. The temperature in the mines is cool, but constant. Dress as if for an autumn day!
HAZARDS
There are a some hazards but the parts of the mine visited have been selected to minimise risk. The guide's instructions must always be followed. The route can be varied according to the interests and abilities of the party. Visitors with medical conditions (such as asthma, angina, epilepsy, etc) must ensure that they have the appropriate medication and should advise the leader in advance.
MINERALS
No mineral specimens of any kind may be taken from the mines. This is a condition of the lease and also means that the minerals remain in situ for subsequent parties to see. Photographs may be taken without any restriction, but photographers are asked not to delay the rest of the party unnecessarily. Photographers must be aware of the extra risk to their equipment when taking it underground.
COST
The cost of maintaining the mines and lighting equipment is borne by the DCC so donations from visitors are expected. Most visitors believe that £5 is appropriate. Donations will not be accepted from persons under 18 unless accompanied by a parent as the Club is not licensed as an Adventure Activity Centre.
ARRANGEMENTS
Planned visits to the mine led by volunteers are available on Tuesday nights and some other times of the week. To find out more, contact the person named below. The meeting place for such trips is at the large car park close to The Wizard on the Macclesfield Road, Nether Alderley (SJ 8595.7722) or at the Surgery opposite The Wizard. As an alternative to an organised trip, you can visit on Open Days which are held twice a year; for further details, click HERE to go the Club's webpage about Open Days. See MAP for location of the Wizard.
CONTACTS
Paul Stubbs: telephone contact 0161 493 3132
[PLEASE NOTE that this contact is for 'leisure trips' only and other visitors are asked either to e-mail the Club () or to use the telephone number on the 'legal' page on this website.]
FOR MORE EXPERIENCED VISITORS
Issues such as general access arrangements, mineral collecting, restrictions are covered above. As far as possible, the Club will try to accommodate more experienced visitors. However, the National Trust impose certain conditions regarding leaders who must be DCC members. If you are interested in a general tour or a visit to a specific part of the mines, please contact the Club (). If you just want to join in with the Club's activities, feel free to turn up on a Tuesday night or a Sunday and take your chance. Contact me if you want to speak to some of the regular diggers to see what is likely to be going on when you visit. We usually meet at the Surgery, opposite the Wizard, or in the main car park (see MAP).
If you are planning to join a West Mine trip, contact the Club at the e-mail address above. You will need to be an insured caver or become a Guest Member of the DCC for which an application form can be downloaded HERE.
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