THIS EXPERIENCE HAS LIMITED AVAILABILITY IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH ONLY. This Experience gives you the opportunity to work with our craftsmen and gives you a 'hands on' unique experience of Blue John Stone, not available anywhere else. This is the only place in the world where you will be allowed to explore in the mines and work with specialist Blue John craftsmen. You will get suited and booted and expect to get muddy, as we take you underground to prospect for your very own piece of Blue John mineral. Once you have discovered your piece we will take you into the workshop, where our craftsmen will help you clean and assess what you have found. You will then have the choice to turn your chunk of Blue John into a polished or natural specimen. In the workshop you select an item of silver jewellery. Choose from a ring, a pendant or a tie slide. Included in the experience is the self guided audio tour of Treak Cliff Cavern on your own smartphone. With the app previously downloaded onto your Smart phone, you follow a marked route through the cavern, with the information delivered to your phone via Blue tooth beacons as you move along.  Online booking limit slots to your group only, so you have a private tour. enabling you to focus on the stunning cave and the audio tour. The walking tour lasts around 40 minutes and you can stop, take photographs and gaze at the rocks around you. You will see the underground wonderland of stalactites and stalagmites, rocks, minerals and fossils, and our beautiful unique Blue John Stone!
Be aware we are on a steep hillside so there is no wheelchair access to or inside the Cavern, and some areas underground are low and narrow. We look forward to welcoming you.
Just a couple of things to bear in mind before your visit. Depending on the weather it can be very cold up here so please do dress for the weather and if its been raining leading up to your visit it may also be very wet in the cavern itself. Whilst your here for your full day experience you will be going into the mining areas of the cavern so please do bring some sturdy boots or wellies you don't mind getting wet and dirty and even maybe a change of shoes. Overalls, gloves, helmets and torches are provided.

Itinerary

Arrive at the Cavern buildings for 10.00am to be greeted by your host for the day who will show you the museum and workshops. Our friendly staff will help you decide in which order to do the various elements of your experience, and choose your silver jewellery setting to work with later on. Elements include; prospecting in the mining areas for your Blue John Stone; taking the Audio Tour; washing and sorting your finds from prospecting; workshop time with the craftsmen to create your chosen projects from Blue John Stone. Since each piece of Blue John Stone has distinctive pattern and colour combinations, you’ll be creating very own piece of unique jewellery. Before you arrive, please download the Situate app from the App store, so you can read about Treak Cliff Cavern in advance of your visit if you want to.  You may want to bring a portable power bank or headphones to use with your smartphone or tablet when you come to visit. We look forward to welcoming you.
National Park Experiences is a curated collection that brings the stories of our National Parks to life. Each experience offers an authentic insight into the landscape and special qualities of a National Park.