Carnglaze Caverns
WHERE
Liskeard
What it’s like
Underground slate caverns with a lake to explore, plus a woodland river walk above ground.
You head down into a retired slate mine, helmet on, to wander through caverns that open out into huge echoey spaces and finish at an underground lake. It's the kind of thing that sounds like a five-minute novelty and turns into twenty or thirty, especially if anyone in your group gets interested in how a working slate mine actually looked. Kids get their own adjustable safety helmet, though they warn the smallest heads might swim in them, so a cycling helmet from home is a decent backup for toddlers.
Above ground there's a woodland walk along the river, about twenty minutes of it, with benches if anyone wants to sit and watch the water rather than push on. It's fairly wild underfoot and steep in bits, so it's not one for a buggy, and the lower caverns and gardens have similar limits if reduced mobility is a factor. The upper cavern, the Rum Store, is fully accessible though, and that's where most of the events happen.
One thing worth knowing before you go down: it's a steady 10 degrees underground all year, which means it feels chilly in summer and almost cosy in winter, but you'll want a proper jumper either way. No food or drink underground, though you can bring a picnic for the gardens outside, and they'd rather you didn't eat your own snacks in the café area.
Booking ahead is cheaper and, on busy days, the only way in. They cap numbers underground and don't sell tickets on the door, so turning up on spec is a gamble that doesn't often pay off.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- School-age kids who'll enjoy the history; helmets can swamp toddlers
- Last entry
- 3:30pm
- Booking
- Advance booking is cheaper. Essential at busy periods to avoid disappointment
- Parking
- Free on site with dedicated low mobility spaces
- How long to allow
- 20-30 minutes for caverns, 20 minutes for woodland walk
- Picnics
- Bring your own picnic in gardens and outdoors
- Wheelchairs
- Upper cavern fully accessible for wheelchair users
- Dogs
- Not allowed underground. Dog waste must be cleaned up
- No concert or event tickets are sold on the door, so advance booking matters most on busy days.
- Dogs aren't allowed underground, and you'll need to clean up after them outside.
- The site is a genuine retired slate mine, so keep kids on the paths and off the loose slate.
- The Terraced Gardens allow a short stroll with benches, though they're not fully accessible throughout.
Plan your visit
How long does a visit take?
Around 20 to 30 minutes for the caverns, more if you want to soak up the mining history. The woodland walk adds another 20 minutes or so.
Do we need to book?
Booking online is cheaper and, when it's busy, essential. They don't sell tickets on the door, so it's worth sorting before you arrive.
Is it cold underground?
It sits at 10 degrees Centigrade year round, so it can feel chilly in summer. A warm jumper and sensible shoes make a real difference.
Can we bring food?
Nothing underground, but a picnic is fine in the gardens outside. They'd still rather you bought drinks from the café than brought your own into that area.
Is it accessible for wheelchairs or buggies?
The upper cavern is fully accessible, but the lower caverns and underground lake are reached by old stone steps. The woodland walk is steep and wild in places, so it's not buggy-friendly.
Do kids need to wear a helmet?
Yes, an adjustable safety helmet is provided for children, though they can be too big for very young ones. Bringing a cycling helmet from home works well for toddlers.
Is there parking?
Parking's free on site with dedicated low mobility spaces, plus an overflow car park a short walk away on busy days.
What time is last entry?
Last entry is 3:30pm, with opening hours running 10am to 4pm Wednesday to Sunday plus bank holidays, and seven days a week during school holidays.
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