A Trip to Creswell Crags

I think the best thing we can say about this is:  if you didn’t join the trip, make an effort to do it on your own.  Amazing.

Creswell Crags has the only ice age art in the British Isles. Whilst the art was originally discovered in 2003, there is little doubt that discoveries and research by archaeologists will continue for many years to come.

Having booked in at reception and enjoyed much needed refreshments in the excellent café, we had a couple of hours to explore the gorge, the wonderful museum and of course, the gift shop.

Intrepid Explorers

At 2pm we assembled by the stuffed hyena to meet our guide Sarah, before donning hard hats and headlights.  We walked to the largest cave, Robin Hood’ where sixteen of us were to spend the next hour entering deeper and deeper underground.

With 60,000 years of history the caves have been home to neanderthals, humans, lions, hyenas and other creatures.  The gorge has also been home to woolly mammoths and hippos.

Our guide was knowledgeable, friendly and entertaining. The only downside was having to walk on a very uneven floor, downhill, bent double with only our headlights to show the way!  Fortunately we returned unscathed to move to the next chamber which is home to a large number of apotropaic marks.  These marks were believed to keep witches and other evil spirits at bay and one of our members was particularly excited as he has recently been studying them in some depth.

Finally emerging into daylight, we re-joined the rest of the group and were driven back by our now regular coach driver Paul, arriving in Helmshore about 6.15pm..