The Ultimate Pennines Site

THE ULTIMATE PENNINES WEBSITE

Throughout the Pennines there are penty of caves and mines that can be visited. Caves and mines range from those that are open to the general public through caves that can be visited without the need for specialist equipment to those that are only accessible to the serious, well-equipped explorer. Information here about caving clubs, shops and getting started.

CAVE & MINE EXPLORATION
IN THE PENNINES

PHOTOGRAPHS OF CAVES
PHOTOGRAPHS OF MINES

THE PEAK DISTRICT

The southermost part of the Pennines is the Peak District. Designated a National Park in 1951 it is the United Kingdom's oldest National Park. Mainly in Derbyshire but with parts in Staffordshire, Cheshire, Great Manchester and West and South Yorkshire the Peak District is not far from some of Englands major population centres.

VISIT THE PEAK DISTRICT

THE DERBYSHIRE PEAK DISTRICT
THE SOUTH-WESTERN PEAKS - CHESHIRE & STAFFORDSHIRE
THE NORTHERN PEAKS - GREATER MANCHESTER & YORKSHIRE

THE SOUTH PENNINES

North of the Peak District is the South Pennines, an area of upland shaped by the Industrial Revolution and home to the mill towns of east Lancashire and West Yorkshire. The area was also home to the Brontë Sisters, Emily, Charlotte and Anne who's novels were inspired by the bleak landscape of the moors around their home town of Haworth. Other towns here include Hebden Bridge, Todmorden and Barnoldswick.

VISIT THE SOUTH PENNINES

THE FOREST OF BOWLAND

Branching off from the main Pennine Hills is the Forest of Bowland, mainly in Lancashire but bordering onto the Yorkshire Dales in the north-east. The Trough of Bowland is the finest drive in Lancashire and to the south is the Ribble Valley with it's secluded villages and rolling countryside. Also included here is Pendle Hill, home of the imfamous witches who were hanged in Lancaster for witchcraft in 1612.

VISIT THE FOREST OF BOWLAND

THE YORKSHIRE DALES

Established as a National Park in 1954 and extended in 2016, the Yorkshire Dales is at the heart of the Pennines and has something for everybody. Bordered by the M6 to the west and the A1 to the east the Dales are easily accessible by car, bus or train and has something for everybody. The Yorkshire Dales is one of Britain's main caving areas. Hill walking, mine exploration, rock climbing, steam trains, quaint villages, and plenty of heritage can also be enjoyed here.

VISIT THE YORKSHIRE DALES

THE THREE PEAKS AREA
THE WESTMORLAND DALES
THE NORTHERN DALES
THE EASTERN DALES
SKIPTON & ILKLEY MOOR AREA

THE NORTH PENNINES

Some of England's remotest countryside can be found here in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which is worthy of National Park status in it's own right. Straddling the counties of Cumbria, Durham and Northumberland and featuring England's highest fells outside the Lake District this unspoilt landscape bears the scars of the heavy mining industry that once dominated this area and has the best mine exploration available in England.

VISIT THE NORTH PENNINES

NIDDERDALE

Adjoining the eastern side of the Yorkshire Dales is Nidderdale, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which missed out on joining the Dales when the National Park was expanded in 2016. At the heart of Nidderdale is Pateley Bridge and nearby are Brimham Rocks and How Stean Gorge. Nidderdale is also home to it's fair share of caves and mines for the adventurous explorer as well as several reservoirs.