Nottingham’s caves have been included in a national network of walks to uncover the best hidden stories in Britain.
The Royal Geographical Society has created a website called Discovering Britain which includes over 200 downloadable walks, trails and viewpoints ranging from under a mile to 8 miles.
They cover every region of the UK and can be searched for based on location; with landscapes divided into urban, rural and coastal.
There are 545 caves in Nottingham but more are being discovered every year
Caitlin Watson, Head of Communications at the Royal Geographical Society said: “Nottingham may be world-famous as the home of Robin Hood but real-life adventures have taken place beneath the city’s streets.
“The city straddles a ridge of sandstone soft enough to cut by hand. Among the caves are a tunnel that helped Edward III to claim his crown, the cellars of Britain’s three oldest pubs, air raid shelters and even houses.
“Through Discovering Britain, we are hoping to encourage as many people as possible to learn more about Nottingham’s remarkable caves and the hidden stories behind all the UK’s landscapes.”
Nottingham’s caves have been around since at least the year 868 and have had a wide variety of uses through their history, including dungeons, air raid shelters and even homes.
They are still in use today with a pub, a bike storage area and a restaurant just a few of the modern uses.
The caves are also thought to be haunted by nobleman Roger de Mortimer after he was captured by the King’s men in what has become known as Mortimer’s hole.
The national network of walks is hoping to bring these little known stories to the masses.
The Royal Geographical Society’s President, broadcaster and writer Nicholas Crane, said:
“Discovering Britain offers the opportunity to discover something new. From mysterious lines along mountainsides and missing rivers, to the secrets hidden behind fake houses, its walks and viewpoints encourage everyone to learn more about our remarkable landscapes.
“We’re hoping to engage as many people as possible with Britain’s diverse landscapes, and the stories they tell about our changing environments, society and economy.”
