Caving is an adventure activity full of physical challenges and an outlet for a real explorer’s spirit, not to mention a great way to keep fit.

It is an experience of nature unlike any other - not just close to nature but within nature itself.

The experience is incredibly rewarding where magical sights, thousands of years in the making, sculpted rocks and the delicate formations are a joy to behold.

The caver may walk, twist and squeeze, they may climb, stoop and crawl, and they may plunge, wade and swim; ascending and descending through the wonderful spaces left between rock and water.

For the beginner there is a unique delight waiting to be discovered. For the experienced caver there is a world of subterranean labyrinths to explore .

https://newtocaving.com/ 

The safety and wellbeing of those participating in underground exploration is of paramount importance, and the British Caving Association (BCA) works hard to improve caving safety. 

Caving, like any outdoor pursuit, carries inherent risks. However, like many things, caving is safe if done properly. The BCA works hard to research and publicise the safest equipment and techniques for use in British Caving, and Lincoln Caving Club follows the BCA's best practices.

Lincoln Caving Club will provide you with the required safety equipment and our Try Caving Day leads are experienced cavers who have undergone training in cave leadership training in recent years.

Lincoln Caving Club has was formed in 1983 and has facilitated novice caving since formation. The caves used for Try Caving Days have been risk assessed. 

When we go caving, a callout time is provided and monitored by a club member, who will initate help should they not recieve a notifcation of the group being back on the surface.

https://newtocaving.com/caving-safely.php      https://british-caving.org.uk/our-work/safety/ 

Your Try Caving Day will be led by an experienced caver who has undergone BCA or BCA aligned caver leadership training. There will also be a second experinced caver in each group.

We will provide:

• Helmet and headlight

• Caving undersuit (trip dependent)

• Caving oversuit or overalls

• Knee pads

• Caving belt

• Caving harness and associated attachments

Club equipment is inspected regularly. 

You will need to bring:

• Spare change of clothes (including underwear)

• Towel

• Wellies (for caving)

• Gloves (cheap DIY type gloves are ideal)

• Chocolate bar (for mid-cave snack break)

• Lunch and drink

• It may be handy to bring a bin liner to put your dirty clothes in.

As a minimum, you will need a t-shirt to wear under the provided undersuit (if applicable to the trip).

However, please come prepared wearing:

• Walking trousers or joggers (old pair reccomended as they will likely get wet and muddy)

• A thermal base layer or t-shirt (caves generally hover around 10 degrees)

• A fleece (old one is ideal)

• Wellies

• Suitable socks to wear with your wellies.

Do not wear underground:

• Denim

• Trainers

• Walking boots (potential for damage)

Lincoln Caving Club follows the British Caving Association's policies regarding under 18's.

For Try Caving Days, we request that under 18's are accompanied by a parent or nominated guadian.

We will get in contact to discuss this with you if it is relevent.

Caving is a physical activty. For Try Caving Days, you will be ok if you can walk up a flight of stairs unaided without being out of breath. 

Caving will involve crawling at some point, potenially on your belly for a very short period. You may also be required to climb a caving ladder (whilst on a lifeline). As Try Caving Days are introductory, most of the trip will be walking or stooping (walking slighly bent over).

If you have a medical concern, reach out to us at lincscaving@gmail.com and we'd be happy to discuss.

No. As long as you are happy with the above FAQ answer you are good to go. We have members of our club who are in their 70's and have no problems with caving.

Our Try Caving Days are novice friendly. You can expect:

• Walking

• Stooping (walking slightly bent over)

• Hands and knees crawling

• Very short flat-out crawling (on your belly)

• Basic scrambles and climbs

• Walking up/down streamways

• General fun!

• Learn how cave are formed and a little bit about speleology (the science of caves)

• Cave ladder climbing (cave dependant)

Not all aspects of caving are for everyone, and every has the right to say no to anything they are not comfortable with, without judgement.

Yes, your leader will hold a Remote Outdoor First Aid certificate and will carry a first aid and safety kit.

A callout time is always left with a club member, along with the details of the trip (routes etc). Should the group not be back on the surface by this time, cave rescue will be informed.

If there is an incident underground, one of your leaders will exit the cave and request for assisitance.