Clearwell Caves

Clearwell Caves is a spectacular natural cave system and ancient iron and ochre mine located 100ft beneath the Royal Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire. It has been mined for over 4,500 years and currently operates as a working mining museum, art space, and adventure destination.

Essential Visitor Information
Where it is: Located at The Rocks, Clearwell, Coleford, Gloucestershire, GL16 8JR. It is roughly 1.5 miles south of Coleford town centre.

What you can do:
Self-Guided Exploration: Walk a 550-metre route through 10 awe-inspiring caverns with geological and mining displays.
Adventure Caving: Try “Semi-Deep” or “Deep Level” caving trips (2–3 hours) that involve crawling and scrambling in areas not normally open to the public.
Surface Facilities: Visit the Lamproom Café for cakes and snacks, browse the gift shop for minerals and handmade ceramics, or use the outdoor play area.
Duration: A standard underground visit typically takes 45–60 minutes, but you should allow 1.5–2 hours in total to include surface facilities. Adventure caving requires 2–3 hours.
Best Suited To: Families, history lovers, and explorers. It is a great all-weather attraction, remaining a constant 10°C regardless of outside conditions. Note that pathways are steep and uneven, making it unsuitable for those with significant walking difficulties or mobility scooters.

What Makes it Unique?
Living History: It is the last working ochre mine in Britain. You can still meet “Freeminers” who exercise an ancient birthright to mine minerals today.
Distinctive Colours: Natural red, yellow, and rare purple ochre give the caverns a unique atmosphere.
Screen History: The caves are a popular filming location, featuring in Doctor Who, Merlin, and His Dark Materials.
Underground Events: The caverns host unique theatre, music, and seasonal events like the famous underground Christmas experience.

Booking Tips & Offers
Advance Booking: Online booking is highly encouraged and often essential during school holidays to secure a time slot.
Group Rates: Guided tours are available for pre-booked groups of 15 or more. While the guide fee is approximately £50, it offers a more tailored experience for educational or social groups.
Special Offers:
Children under 4 enter free of charge.
Essential Carers receive free entry when accompanying a full-paying disabled person (evidence required).
Seasonal events like Easter and Halloween often include free-to-enter competitions or prize draws with your standard entry ticket.
Clothing: Wear warm layers even in summer and sturdy footwear with good grip due to the constant underground temperature and uneven terrain.