Clearwell Caves 2025

An extensive natural cave system, set in a valley. Walk through the nine impressive caverns and mine workings with interesting mining equipment and geological displays throughout. Remarkably, the caves have produced artists' pigment for over 4,500 years and ochre pigments are still mined here today.

Contacts

Address: The Rocks, Clearwell Nr Coleford Royal Forest of Dean Gloucestershire GL16 8JR

Telephone: 01594 832 535
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Website: View website

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Open Days & Times

Thu-Mon 20 Feb-2 Mr; 12 Apr-5 May (not 1 May); 24 May-Aug; 25 Oct-2 Nov. 1000-1500. Visit website or facebook for more details and essential online booking.

Travel

By Bus: 31
By Rail: Lydney / 5 miles

Facilities

Parking
Refreshments
Souvenir Shop
Part disabled access

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The caves are a now a working mining museum where you see the impressive and atmospheric caverns the iron miners made. There are displays throughout telling the miners' story from the Stone Age up to the present day. Iron ore from the caves has made tools, weapons and machinery over the centuries, but iron ore also occurs as ochre powders used over the centuries to make artists' pigments. They still mine Red, yellow, purple and brown ochre here on a small scale today.