Oxlow Cavern

Oxlow Cavern is a partly natural and partly man-made cave near Castleton in Derbyshire. It lies on the south side of the road from the A623 at Sparrowpit to Winnats Pass, almost opposite Giant’s Hole. A short distance away is Maskill Mine, which connects underground. The entrance is a 17.5-metre mine shaft that leads down past an old mining level. Beyond this, the cave opens into a large natural vein cavity. The cave is known for its deep vertical drops and spacious passages. Two pitches drop 70 metres below the entrance to a col where routes split. To the east, a descent reaches the vast East Chamber. To the west, the West Swirl Passage slopes down at 45 degrees to the massive West Chamber. A passage at the far end of the West Chamber links to Maskhill Mine. The fourth pitch involves a climb in the West Antechamber wall, leading to a crawl into the New Oxlow Series. Explorers find a series of large chambers and tight connecting passages. The East Chamber and West Chamber are the largest open spaces. The West Swirl Passage is notable for its steep slope and impressive scale. The New Oxlow Series offers a long, narrow and wet route to Giant’s Hole. Survey work by JS Beck and others has mapped these challenging underground routes.