My Weekend Photo – Featuring Poole’s Cavern, Buxton.

When Mark suggested visiting a cave my claustrophobia alarm went on high alert.

We had just stayed on the fourth floor on a hotel near Birmingham and my legs had quite the work out climbing all those stairs in a bid to avoid going in the lift.

A cave didn’t seem like it would be my thing AT ALL. The lovely man who greeted us when we arrived at Poole’s Cavern, near Buxton, understood my concerns. As a fellow claustrophobic he reassured me that all would be well. And he was right.

I’m sure the cavern is a great place to visit at any time of year (it’s two million years old!) but with Christmas lights twinkling the entire way through it was magical.

During our time there, a special visit Santa experience was taking place. This had sold out almost as soon as the tickets went on sale in September but, escorted by a friendly guide, we were able to bypass that bit (although Freya got a wave from Father Christmas which made her day) and venture further into the cavern.

Apparently, according to Wiki, it is named after an outlaw who once used the cavern as a lair. It has a fascinating history dating back to the Bronze Age but it was already a tourist attraction in 1683.

Staffed with very friendly informative guides (Freya asked one what the different between a gnome and a dwarf was and he gave a great answer), the whole experience was interesting and fun. It’s jaw dropping when you think how old it is.

If you are ever up that way, it is well worth a visit. We then climbed up to Solomon’s Temple, which is on the same site.

Wishing you all a merry Christmas and happy new year!