Underneath the mysterious Royal Forest of Dean lies something spectacular and unseen, an unfathomable natural cave system that has been mined for more than 4,500 years.
For many thousands of years ochre and iron ore has been mined at Clearwell Caves. You can still meet Freeminers here. For over a thousand years, Freeminers have held the ancient Forest of Dean birth-right that exclusively entitles them to mine for iron ore, coal and stone.
Our Story
Clearwell Caves were first opened to the public in 1968 when Ray Wright first began opening up the caverns to visitors. Ray remained fully involved with the Caves until he passed away aged 85, in 2015. Ray was a founding member of the Royal Forest of Dean Caving Club and Gloucestershire Cave Rescue Group (GCRG).
Clearwell Caves are a tribute to Ray’s original vision and his deep knowledge of the Forest of Dean, it’s history and its culture. Clearwell Caves still produce ochre on a small scale for sale in the shop and by mail order. Today you explore some of the impressive caverns worked over the centuries by many generations of iron miners. Displays reveal the Cave’s story from the Stone Age to the present day. Iron from the Caves has made tools, weapons and machinery through the ages, but ochre mined here has a considerably older use as a pigment. Although large scale working finished in 1945, Jonathan is now the last Forest of Dean Freeminer mining the red, yellow, purple and brown ochre found here. Clearwell Caves today is an important part of the Forest of Dean’s long story.
Ten caverns are open for you to discover this fascinating but hidden world. Once you have visited, if your interest has been whetted, try one of our Deep Level caving activities, exploring much deeper workings. The Clearwell Caves complex consists of six interconnected iron mines (Clearwell, Old Ham, Lambsquay, Old Bow, Oak Pit and New Dun) covering 230 acres, descending to almost 600ft, or 180m depth.