The Derbyshire Caving Association

Working for Cavers

The DCA is a volunteer organisation working for and with cavers to maintain access to, preserve and record the underground world of the Peak District and surrounding area.

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DCA volunteers posing by a newly installed mine shaft lid

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Access

Whether it is maintaining a fence or stile, installing a new lid, managing access to a site, or just talking to landowners about what is under their property, the DCA works hard to ensure continued access to caves and mines. We maintain an online access database at peakdistrictcaving.info.

More about our access work.

Conservation

DCA preserves and secures cave and mine sites throughout its area. We are focussed on the conservation and protection of the delicate underground world for future generations to enjoy. We work with bodies like Natural England and the National Trust to protect caves and educate the caving community and wider public.

More about our conservation work.

Equipment

DCA has trained and insured installers that place resin anchors into the local caves and mines for use by anyone. We follow a nationally agreed set of protocols with other Regional Caving Councils and are a member of the BCA Techniques & Equipment Working Group. To learn more about this area of our work see the Equipment pages.

Projects

DCA preserves and secures cave and mine sites through its project work. This is often an essential activity to ensure access can be maintained. Projects range from stile repair to completely rebuilding shaft tops. Volunteers are always welcome to assist with our current and future projects.

More about our projects work.

Training

The DCA runs a range of very cheap or totally free caver training workshops throughout the year. There are a diverse mix of workshops on topics like SRT skills, cave photography, mine hazards and navigation. We also support caving clubs with their own training by running ‘train the trainer’ events. See the training pages for details of upcoming workshops.

Membership & Meetings

Joining the DCA to support and participate in our work is easy. If you are a member of a DCA affiliated club you are already supporting us, but you can also join as an individual member. Details of how to join are here.

See our meetings page for information about upcoming meetings and to find the minutes of previous meetings.

Recent News

News from Peak District Caving (the Cave Registry)

  • Warning for Whalf Climbing Shaft
    Whalf Climbing Shaft has been blocked with rock. It seems someone has disassembled the wall surrounding the shaft and thrown it down, potentially damaging the ginging. At present there is no way to descend the shaft. DCA will be working with other local caving groups to facilitate a solution, but the shaft lining may have… Read more: Warning for Whalf Climbing Shaft
  • Peak Speedwell System
    The updated Peak Speedwell System survey has just been published. PDCi
  • Access changes for Clatterway Levels
    See website for details PDCi
  • Access changes for Clatterway Levels
    **important** Clatterway has become dangerously unstable, one or more rocks in the roof that have to be squeezed past, in flat out crawls, are now loose, wobble and are likely to fall. It is strongly advised NOT to attempt Clatterway until DCA/PDHMS have inspected and hopefully made repairs. PDCi
  • Access changes for Eyam Dale House Cave
    There has been a change to the access for Eyam Dale House Cave. Please refer to the updated access section on the Cave Registry prior to your next trip here, PDCi
  • Access changes for Watergrove Sough
    Updated access info PDCi
Peak District Caving info