For me and hundreds of real enthusiasts caving has become as much in life as a sport. It offers the prospects of escape from the pressures of everyday existence into a world of ultra fresh clear air and unpolluted environment coupled with team harmony and interdependence.

Access to most caves will usually involve a reasonably arduous excursion to a remote site, indeed it is just this need which normally serves to protect the cave environment.

For the beginner you should expect to start your caving experience on a very favourable tutor ratio, one to one being ideal and only a little dilution of this being acceptable.

On arriving at the cave entrance, having been previously prepared with suitable clothing and equipment by your leader, you may expect to have preliminaries of safety and environmental awareness explained to you before the expedition proper is allowed to commence. You will also be given every opportunity to pull out and change your mind at this junction, although to do so would I believe deprive you of one of life’s most thrilling and rewarding experience; the chance to see just what lies beyond, to witness the beauties, which are there for the seeing eye, of stalactite and stalagmite formations, crystal pools magnificently powerful subterranean waterways and perhaps most importantly the wonderful shapes of the passage ways themselves, which hollowed from the solid rock possess a beauty which no sculptor could be entreated to reproduce.

Then for those who dare, and most do having made the effort to get thus far, its on into the cave and into a completely new world.

If you have curiosity and a sense of adventure and are sufficiently motivated, this will be your first step towards hours spent clambering over boulders, abseiling down subterranean cliffs and, least attractive only to some, swallowing around in mud, swimming along flooded canyons or squeezing through narrow gaps like toothpaste from the tube.

Caving, so you will have noted, can provide attractions to most people and indeed does just that for many. But whether a Digging Trip, Sporting Trip or a Pretty Trip your expedition must be properly organised and supervised to ensure both your safety and the safety of the environment which is yours to enjoy but not plunder.

Written by Julia Williams who is Chairman of the Hereford Caving Club and is an extremely experienced and accomplished caver.

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