Where am I? DCC > ALDERLEY EDGE > CURRENT ACTIVITIES > VISITING THE MINES
HOW TO VISIT THE MINES
All visits to the mines have to be arranged with a DCC member. To find out more, read the rest of this page, ring Paul on 0161 493 3132 or visit the Museum when it is open at weekends. All visitors (and members) have to comply with certain conditions including listing the names of all those who go down the mines. If you want to get the list prepared in advance of your trip, you can download a blank copy here: VISITOR LIST
 If
you have little or no experience of
mining, we can take you on a guided trips. For more information,
read on. |
 If
you are experienced in visiting caves and mines, 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, read about details of future Open Days
and how to book trips. |
 For
visits by Scouts (including Beavers and Cubs), please refer to the special
page for Scout organisers. |
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 |
 For more about caving with the DCC other than at Alderley Edge, visit
our caving web pages. |
The car park costs
about £3 a day for cars and more 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 over-dressed, 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. There is a page on this website about safety in caves and mines.
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
DOWNLOAD THIS INFORMATION
Click HERE
FOR MORE EXPERIENCED VISITORS
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.
| © Copyright DCC and Nigel Dibben: 2012 | Last updated: 29/01/2012 |
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