Bath Swallet

Experienced cavers only should attempt Bath Swallet - this isn't your gentle tourist cave with handrails and lighting. Located on the Mendip Hills near Winscombe, it's a proper underground challenge that demands serious kit and know-how. The entrance drops straight down a narrow shaft, making it clear from the off that this is technical caving territory.

What makes Bath Swallet special is its connection to the larger Charterhouse cave system. Once you're down the initial pitch, experienced cavers can explore a network of passages that eventually link up with other caves in the area. It's proper limestone country here, with all the squeezes, climbs and watery sections that come with it.

Families with young kids should absolutely look elsewhere - this is strictly for cavers with vertical skills and proper equipment. Even experienced walkers without caving experience won't get much from it beyond peering down the entrance shaft. You'll need ropes, harnesses, helmets and lights, plus someone who knows the system.

If you're staying at one of the nearby holiday parks like Cheddar Woods Resort or the campsite at Petruth Paddocks, this could add some underground adventure to a Mendip break. But honestly, unless you're already into serious caving, you're better off exploring Cheddar Gorge's show caves instead. Bath Swallet rewards the committed, but it's not for casual visitors.