The Blue John Stone Experience at Treak Cliff Cavern (Full Day/5 hours)

Treak Cliff Cavern is a genuine wonder in the heart of the Peak District. Treak Cliff Hill is the only place in the world where Blue John Stone occurs naturally. The self-guided audio tour will explain how Blue John Stone was formed, miners in the 1750s constructed a tunnel using only hand tools to reach the Blue John Stone deposits within the hill, and you will see incredible veins of the stone across the cavern roof and hear about the recent discovery of the ‘lost vein’ of Blue John Stone that had been hidden for almost 70 years. Your audio-guide will point out fossils in the limestone rock which formed the hillside above you some 330 million years ago. The tour descends deeper into the hill where you will experience the water worn chambers of natural limestone cavern formations. Multi-coloured flowstone adorns the walls of Aladdin’s Cave. We also have some of the finest stalactites in the Peak District that decorate Fairyland and the Dream Cave. The most famous formation being “The Stork”. The walking tour lasts around 45 minutes and you can stop and take photographs and go at your own pace. As you come out of the Cavern the view of Castleton and the Hope Valley stretches for 10 miles in front of you. Our small museum houses a wealth of historic Blue John Stone treasures collected by the owners, and displayed for everyone to enjoy. Discover more about the formation and history of the Cavern and the family who care for it today. You can browse our shop to choose Blue John jewellery, and items made in our onsite workshops, or choose rocks and minerals from all over the world!

This Experience gives you the opportunity to work with our craftsmen and gives you a 'hands on' unique experience of Blue John Stone. 
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 Stone. Once you have discovered your piece you will go into the workshop, where our craftsmen will help you clean and assess what you have found. You will then have the chance to turn your chunk of Blue John into a polished or natural specimen.
In the afternoon you will set an item of silver jewellery with Blue John Stone. Choose from a ring, a pendant, a tie slide or go free style and create a free form pendant on a leather cord

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 Experience running order:

• Arrive at the cavern entrance for 10.00am to be greeted by your host for the day who will show you the museum and workshops.
• Staff will help you decide in which order to do your experience, and choose your silver jewellery setting to work with later. 
• Taking the audio tour.
• Prospecting for your Blue John Stone, washing and sorting your finds, time with the craftsmen to create your chosen projects from Blue John Stone.
• Lunch (bring this with you)
• Creating very own piece of unique jewellery.
• 
  Before you arrive, please download the Treak Cliff Cavern app in advance of your visit.  You may want to bring a portable power bank or headphones to use with your smartphone or tablet when you come to visit.

All Cavern tours are self led. 
The Cavern tour is approximately 45 minutes.
The temperature underground is a constant 11° centigrade/ 52° Fahrenheit.
There are 80 steps leading up to the cavern entrance.
There are 196 steps in the Cavern with no more than 30 in one place. 
There are low and narrow points with the lowest being 4 foot 6 (137cm) in the entrance tunnel. 
Allow plenty of time to travel and park in Castleton, especially so at weekends and school holidays.

We look forward to welcoming you.
 
Inclusions
What's Included
🥤 Drink - Hot and Cold drinks available all day
🧰 Equipment - Workshop equipment and tools, Blue John Stone, Sterling Silver jewellery blank, overalls, gloves, head torch, goggles
📋 Other - Self-guided audio tour (using your own Smart phone)
 
What you'll need
🧤 Warm Clothing - The temperature inside the Cavern is a constant 11 degrees Centigrade.
☂️ Waterproofs - Water drips from the cavern ceilings all the time, but you should dress for the weather conditions at the time of your visit, because the entrance is on a steep exposed hillside, 10 minutes climb from the car park. We provide overalls, but you may wish to bring a change of trousers and shoes/boots as the mining areas are muddy.
🍴 Food - Packed lunch
📋 Other - Suitable footwear, Your smartphone with the Treak Cliff Cavern App for the audio tour. You may want to bring a portable power bank and headphones.