Peak District Caving

login
HomeThe CavesCastletonSuicide Cave

Suicide Cave

Entrance of Suicide Cave

Access

On National Trust Land. Normally no restriction on access and no prior permission needed, however, do not enter with mobile phones for lights, and please wear helmets. Movement in the boulder chokes has been observed in the past - please take care! Please do not leave litter, light fires or use the site as a toilet, as the whole area is a SSSI and very sensitive. Fires inside the cave are very dangerous and could cause asphyxiation or cave collapse. Please report any damage in this cave to DCA immediately.

This site is part of the DCA SSSI Conservation Monitoring Scheme.
See the DCA website for competition details.

Warning

10th October 2017. Several cracks at the head of the far pitch have resulted in serious instability, and a large slab has had to be deliberately brought down for safety reasons. Further collapse is possible, and as such the P-hangers in this area have been removed. Extreme care should be taken if visiting this section from the passage below, as any collapse will be fatal. The National Trust has installed a chain barrier and warning sign at the inner end of the entrance chamber to persuade the public not to proceed any further into the cave.

References

Elliot, D. (1945), , Caves of Northern Derbyshire. Part 5., pp.25-27. Survey.,
Cordingley, J. (1976), , S.U.S.S.Jour. Vol.2. No.5., p.9. Survey., Sheffield University Speleological Society
Barker, I. & Beck, J.S. (2010), , Caves of the Peak District, p. 133, DCA
Cooley, C. & Jackson, D. (2010), Suicide (It Almost Was), TSG 19, pp. 45-48., Technical Speleological Group