Celebrating 20 years at Stump Cross (with a very golden giveaway)

In 2003, Stump Cross Caverns changed hands. Under the new direction of Lisa Bowerman, it transformed into the show cave complex that you can visit today – a jewel in the crown of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Now, 20 years on, Stump Cross is celebrating in style with a gold tooth giveaway.

Early days

Lisa says that the first change – and challenge – on taking ownership was turning it into a family home.

With three energetic under-sixes in tow, she had to turn the small on-site flat into a viable living space. All the while, she was getting the hang of running a business – and a unique one at that.

But this was just the beginning of a sequence of changes and improvements that turned Stump Cross into the visitor attraction it is today.

How Stump Cross has changed

Stump Cross is, Lisa says, "unrecognisable" from the place she bought. "The only thing that hasn't changed much is the caves themselves."

What once was a lecture room is now a cosy cinema-for-hire that can accommodate up to 55 guests. Visitors can book the cinema for screen parties and either bring a film or choose one from the Stump Cross library. This can then be enjoyed in stunning 4K.

The whole place has been given a new lease of life. Take the Time Cafe, which Lisa is justifiably proud of. She describes it as "a very beautiful place to relax and take in the amazing views over the Yorkshire Dales National Park".

The kitchen is manned by a qualified chef who "cooks and bakes everything from scratch".

Meanwhile, the Time Out Pod is a chill-out room for private diners that can double up as a corporate event space.

Events and experiences

The star of the Stump Cross show is the caves – a magical place filled with stalagmites, stalactites and other glittering formations.

But it also hosts a range of unique events and experiences that make it a great destination for a family day out in Yorkshire.

There's a resident Cavewoman – your friendly Stone Age guide who hosts children's games, fossil digs and more. These are great fun for the kids – but are also designed to teach them about the subterranean world.

Then there's the Dark Skies calendar of events. The Yorkshire Dales are crowned by some of the darkest skies in the world – so Stump Cross is the perfect place to gaze at the stars, hot chocolate in hand.

This is just the tip of the stalactite – the schedule is updated throughout the year.

What can visitors expect?

Stump Cross visitors, Lisa says, can expect "a good Yorkshire welcome".

"We pride ourselves in welcoming and engaging with our visitors to ensure they have the best day out ever. On arrival at the caves, you check into the gift shop and then one of our knowledgeable cave briefers will give you a brief history and health and safety talk before sending you on your self-guided tour.

"We have some fabulous information boards down there and an audio tour that can be downloaded on arrival. You then get to wander around the ancient show caves, taking in the magical beauty of the stalagmites, stalactites, columns, pillars and iron curtains."

Then there are the show-stealing rock formations nicknamed the Sleeping Cat, the Wedding Cake and the Organ.

All in all, she promises "a Yorkshire day out that spans the generations" – perfect for "young and old alike".

Stump Cross is home to some fascinating characters, too. There's Cavewoman, of course – but also Tom Stead, a lead miner from the 19th century. He'll tell you all about the geology, geography and social history of the caves.

Finally, there are regular visits from the Yorkshire Fossil Hunter. He can tell you all there is to know about where and how to find fossils – and he brings with him a gorgeous selection, including an Ichthyosaurus skull. Wow!

What next for Stump Cross?

Stump Cross's owners are keen to bring the caves into the 21st century while preserving and maintaining their ancient beauty for generations to come.

They've installed gravel paths to make the chambers and passageways easier to navigate – and they're committed to making the underground light show even more spectacular.

Lisa explains: "The lighting is post-war and has been added to. Our aim is to take it all out and start again with new state-of-the-art lighting."

This is both to improve energy efficiency and to protect the caves as much as possible – a crystal-clear example of how seriously they take their custodian role.

Co-director Oliver Bowerman is "pretty much in the driving seat" when it comes to this lighting project. This frees up time for Cavewoman to take Stump Cross into the classroom.

As well as the ongoing lighting project, Lisa and the team "plan to attend and host lots of networking over the next 12 months" – because, after all, no cave is an island.

The Great Gold-Tooth Giveaway

To mark 20 years of ownership, Stump Cross is giving away 20 prize gold teeth.

Lisa explains: "Mickey Finn, our trusty Megalodon, has lost 20 teeth – and each one marks a year at Stump Cross.

"These teeth can be found in the dirtbags at Stump Cross. You then take the dirtbag to our sluice and wash away the dirt to reveal the treasures from around the world, which you can take home with you."

So not only can your kids be lead miners for a day, panning for real gems – they could also go home with a glittering gold tooth. Shiny!

If you're looking for a family day out in the Yorkshire Dales, why not visit Stump Cross Caverns? You can expect education, entertainment – and the chance to win a Megalodon's golden tooth.

It's easy to book your tickets online.