Giant's Hole
Encyclopedia
Giant's Hole is a well-known cave near Castleton in Derbyshire
, consisting mostly of large
passages. It is part of the Karst topography
of the area. There is a complex system connecting the caves to Oxlow Cavern
and Maskhill Mine to the south. The Entrance Series is easily accessible making it a favourite with novices and groups. The stream that flows into the entrance can be followed through the cave, bypassing three sumps, to the East Canal, Giant's Hole's terminal sump. There are several major tributary passages and a high-level fossil series that provides an alternative route through the cave and makes up part of the classic "round trip". East Canal has been dived to a depth of 24 metres (78.7 ft) in drought (but water levels are normally much higher). The connection to Oxlow Cavern is a serious undertaking and many cavers have underestimated the difficulty of the passage.
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, consisting mostly of large
passages. It is part of the Karst topography
Karst topography
Karst topography is a geologic formation shaped by the dissolution of a layer or layers of soluble bedrock, usually carbonate rock such as limestone or dolomite, but has also been documented for weathering resistant rocks like quartzite given the right conditions.Due to subterranean drainage, there...
of the area. There is a complex system connecting the caves to Oxlow Cavern
Oxlow Cavern
Oxlow Cavern is a part-natural and part-mined cavern near Castleton, Derbyshire, England. It is situated on the south side of the road running from the A623 at Sparrowpit to the Winnats Pass, west of Castleton, and is almost opposite Giant's Hole on the other side of the road...
and Maskhill Mine to the south. The Entrance Series is easily accessible making it a favourite with novices and groups. The stream that flows into the entrance can be followed through the cave, bypassing three sumps, to the East Canal, Giant's Hole's terminal sump. There are several major tributary passages and a high-level fossil series that provides an alternative route through the cave and makes up part of the classic "round trip". East Canal has been dived to a depth of 24 metres (78.7 ft) in drought (but water levels are normally much higher). The connection to Oxlow Cavern is a serious undertaking and many cavers have underestimated the difficulty of the passage.