UKH

Is there a guidebook for caving in the Peak District? Googling seems to bring up only very old books. I know nothing about caving, but have done a bit of exploring and Rummaging around 🙂

https://www.waterstones.com/book/caves-of-the-peak-district/iain-barker/joh...

Not available here but is the latest one. 

Also worth checking out UK Caving. 

Get yourself in a club. I was a potholer for over 30 years and several times the caving sec of a joint caving/climbing club. A lot of caves require a permit to be booked before you can get in and clubs are the best way to do this. Also great for the tackle required to get down the dreep systems and other bodies to help carry it all. They'll show you the ropes ( literally!) and it's not like climbing much at all apart from a few knots.

As well as the guidebook mentioned in a previous post there's quite a bit on here:

https://peakdistrictcaving.info/home/the-caves

Many popular caves in the Peak have an access arrangement that requires a visit to the owner and a small trespass fee (typically £1 - £3) - it's important to stick to these arrangement to ensure continued access.

British Caving Association start caving page is handy

http://www.startcaving.co.uk/

As said above - look to a club. Caving is still very much club based.

There based across the country, not just in caving areas. Most own or have access huts in caving locations

http://www.startcaving.co.uk/clubs/

The new guide had a very small print run and is hard to find. My copy got lost/nicked and I've failed to get another.

It was very comprehensive and could tell you about almost every grotty hole in the ground. (excluding mines)

I would also have a look at the https://thedca.org.uk/sssi-monitoring website which has a load of surveys which helps one find ones way in the dark.

NB. Read about Ivy Green cave in Stoney, take two lights and tell someone where you are going.

Cheers for the advice everyone. Going to be honest, I won't be joining a club, I'm too busy for another proper hobby lol. Going down a cave is something I'll probably do twice a year lol. The guidebook was more, so that I know which ones are OK to go down without causing potential access issues. 

I've actually been down the Stoney one mentioned by 'Brown' and a few others in the area, although we've given them our own names (such as 'Cock Cavern' over near electric quarry😂).

My favourite local rummage was an old mine behind Stoney playground, where we even found an old canteen and hospital area. 

I started the thread because I saw some bolted hatches in Cressbrook Dale and thought that it's time to get a guidebook because I don't want to upset any farmers. 

Lots of access info on the Peak District caving info site. As you say best to do some checking on the arrangements.

Most obvious one I know of up there is Wardlow Sough which requires a Derbyshire key (adjustable spanner). 

Wardlow sough only has about 40m of passage before a blockage.  Neptune mine is a bit further down the valley (just before the trees) and is much longer and more interesting, with some natural passage

Yeah, I was thinking that the Sough entrance is more noticeable than a specific recommendation. Only done Neptune once and seem to remember the entrance is less obvious. 

I'm being necessarily vague as, has been acknowledged by the OP, a bit of research wouldn't go amiss re: access. 

Im pretty sure I saw both of these access points. First had a black hatch, and the one just before the trees had a rust coloured hatch. Obviously I didn't have a spanner with me, but wasn't going to start opening hatches without checking access arrangements. 

I think if you are on access land and know how to use a Derbyshire Key you can have a good explore without upsetting people.

Just need to leave places secure (when you are inside as well) as I know that most of the gates are to keep out children and casual passer's by.