Caving information for Pridhamsleigh Cavern

Looking for an adventure that tests your confidence, teamwork and sense of discovery? Caving with Exeter Scouts is the challenge you’ve been waiting for.

What we offer

  • Expert-led trips: Qualified leader with extensive local knowledge guide every session, ensuring safety and maximising fun.

  • Progressive experience: From beginner-friendly cave walks to more technical squeezes and vertical descents, we tailor activities to ability and ambition.

  • Full equipment and training: We provide helmets, lamps, suits and specialist gear, plus practical instruction in ropework, navigation and cave conservation.

  • Local limestone systems: Explore Devon’s iconic caves—hands-on geology, hidden passages and memorable subterranean landscapes.

  • Team-building and personal development: Caving builds resilience, problem-solving and communication. Ideal for Scouts working towards activity badges and the Duke of Edinburgh Award, or for groups seeking a distinct outdoor challenge.

Why choose Exeter Scouts

  • Trusted Association: Part of a long-established scouting community with a strong safety culture and DBS-checked leaders.

  • Inclusive and supportive: Sessions are suitable for young people and adults of varying abilities; we adapt routes and pace to participants.

  • Lifelong skills: Participants gain practical rope and navigation skills, first-aid awareness and an appreciation of cave conservation.

  • Unforgettable memories: Caving is a unique shared experience that fosters friendships and confidence.

Practical details

  • Age and fitness: Suitable for older Scouts, Explorer Scouts and adults. Basic fitness and comfortable mobility are required; exact requirements discussed on booking.

  • Group sizes: Small groups for close supervision; pre-booking essential.

  • Costs: Competitive rates that cover instruction and equipment.

  • Booking and enquiries: Contact Exeter Scouts to check available dates, skill requirements and safety briefings.

Take the next step Ready to discover what lies beneath? Book a caving session with Exeter Scouts and give your group an extraordinary, safe and professionally guided adventure that builds skills and memories for life.Be sure to read all the way to the end. There is important information on the final page.

Location: Pridhamsleigh Cavern, near Buckfastleigh

For those who haven't been before, this is a nice, relatively easy “beginner” cave with some optional challenges.Explore the hidden world beneath Devon with Exeter Scouts — an unforgettable caving experience that builds confidence, teamwork and respect for the natural environment.

Why caving with Exeter Scouts?

  • Expert-led and safe: All activities are run by qualified, DBS-checked leaders with up-to-date first aid and cave safety training. We follow best-practice risk assessments and equipment checks so young people can challenge themselves with confidence.

  • Tailored for all levels: From introductory taster trips to multi-session skill development, our programmes suit Scouts and Explorer Scouts. We adjust routes, pace and teaching to match ability and age.

  • Develops real skills: Caving teaches navigation, problem-solving, communication and resilience. Participants learn rope work, map-reading, lighting techniques and how to move safely and respectfully underground.

  • Builds teamwork and leadership: Tight passages and group tasks require clear communication, planning and mutual support — ideal environments for developing leadership and cooperation.

  • Inspires curiosity and stewardship: Exploring caves reveals geology, fossils, underground streams and habitats seldom seen elsewhere. We emphasise environmental responsibility and Leave No Trace principles.

  • Accessible and inclusive: We work to make caving opportunities welcoming. Routes and support are chosen to maximise participation; reasonable adjustments are discussed case-by-case.

What you’ll experience

  • Safe, supervised descents into fascinating caverns

  • Practical skills sessions (ropes, knots, cave navigation)

  • Problem-solving challenges and team tasks

  • Hands-on learning about local geology, hydrology and conservation

  • Personal achievement badges and recognition opportunities

Practical details

  • Full kit provided for most trips; we advise sturdy footwear and appropriate layers

  • Sessions run year-round, weather permitting; key dates and booking info are available through Exeter Scouts

  • Small group sizes to ensure quality coaching and supervision

Invite your young person to step beyond the surface. Caving with Exeter Scouts is more than an adventure — it’s hands-on learning, lasting friendships and personal growth, all delivered safely by experienced leaders. Contact your local Exeter Scouts group to book a taster session and discover what lies below.

Getting there

The cave entrance is on private land. We meet in a safe space a short walk away.

Use your favourite navigation app to the lay-by here:

● what3words swipes.octagon.villas

● google https://maps.app.goo.gl/PWaHnsL7vL192oh79

NOTE: don't try to navigate directly to the cave, as it will likely encourage you to stop on the A38 and walk over the hill directly to the entrance. This is not a good idea!

What to wear/bring

● Arrive wearing loose and comfortable clothes that you don't mind getting damp/muddy (the mud should wash out).

● Footwear -- wellington boots are ideal as they will get wet and muddy; you could wear sturdy hiking boots for ankle support but be prepared to have to clean them!

● A towel and change of clothes for afterwards, including spare footwear

● A bag for wet/dirty clothes

● A drink and snack for afterwards

An oversuit, helmet and torch will be provided

Activity information

There is useful information from the Scout Association here:

https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/caving/. Some of the information is aimed at adults running trips but some is useful for participants too. I usually share this link with parents as I think it will help people know what to expect if they have never been caving before.

We have photos from some previous trips on the 2nd Exeter X/twitter account:

● https://x.com/2ndExeterScouts/status/1790123872936689955

● https://x.com/2ndExeterScouts/status/1767303309335892097

● https://x.com/i/status/1964965756673851663

● https://x.com/i/status/1964966808966050228

These photos are online, so can be shared with parents if needed. As with the activity information page, I think this helps people get an idea of what to expect.

Attendees

You can bring any combination of adults and Scouts/Explorers you like, subject to the following:

● you bring at least one adult so that, together with me, we satisfy normal ratio rules for the age group.

● there is a maximum group size of 8 (including me), so you can bring up to 7 bodies.

● there is a minimum group size of 4 (including me), so you need to bring at least 3 bodies.

NOTE: the numbers here are dependent on whether I bring another adult with me.

There are other adults in the County who need to attend trips to build up a log for their own Adventurous Activities permit application. We can confirm this at the time of organising a date.

Cost

We need to pay £5 per person to hire kit from another group in Torbay, for all adults and young people from your Group. That money is used to maintain their kit.

We need to pay a £1.50 per person “trespass fee” to pay the farmer, for all people attending.

We will send an invoice from 2nd Exeter Scouts after the event to cover this cost for those who attended. For example, if seven people attend from your Group we will invoice £35 for kit hire (7 @ £5 each), and £12 for the trespass fee (8 @ £1.50 each). We will then pay the trespass fee to the farmer and the cost of kit hire to Torbay Scouts.

Important information from scouts.org.uk

From https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/caving/, to follow Scout Association rules,

you/we/I must always do the following:

● Complete a risk assessment

I will share my risk assessment for the activity before the event. If there are other hazards/risks that you would like to document then you are welcome to create your own.

● Have the right ratios of number of adults to provide suitable supervision Subject to the rules about maximum and minimum group size, mentioned above, normal ratios apply for the age group.

● Set up an InTouch process

You need to arrange an InTouch process using an adult member of your Group who will not be going into the cave. I will need to know the name and contact number for that person.

● Know what to do in an emergency I will arrange an emergency call-out person, who will contact cave rescue in the event of an incident. This person will liaise with your InTouch contact. I will share this person’s details with you before the event.

● Share information with parents and carers with an activity information form I usually share the link to the activity information page above, and photographs of previous trips from social media, and collect consent via OSM. Please make sure you have asked for health/medical information as well as any other details you require for your InTouch processes. Please share any medical details with me before the event in case I need to consider adaptations to the event.

● Get approval from your Lead Volunteer. This means your “Group Lead Volunteer”.

Adventurous Activity Permit

If you need to satisfy yourself, or anyone else, that I am permitted to run the activity you should be able to find me on the membership system if you search for caving permit holders. My membership number is 0000957565.

At present, Pridhamsleigh Cavern is the only cave on my permit. I hope to get more added in the future!