What to expect

Waterfall Swallet is a large natural limestone hollow, or doline, measuring roughly 60 metres by 40 metres and more than 8 metres deep. A stream enters the hollow from the northwest, falling in a series of three steps before disappearing into the limestone below. The combination of the waterfall, steep rock faces and moss-covered surroundings gives the site a dramatic, almost hidden-away character.

The waterfall is particularly impressive after heavy rainfall, when the stream carries more water into the swallet. In drier weather, the flow can be considerably smaller, with much of the water disappearing underground through the limestone. The area also has an interesting connection to the region’s historic lead-mining industry, with evidence of former mining activity recorded around the swallet.

A visit to Waterfall Swallet is best combined with a walk around the surrounding Eyam Edge and countryside. The site itself is relatively small, and the steep, uneven ground around the hollow can be slippery, particularly when wet. The cave system beneath the swallet is liable to flooding and contains tight and unstable sections, so underground exploration should be left to experienced cavers with appropriate equipment.