What kind of caving activities does SUSS run?

SUSS (Sheffield University Speleological Society) runs a regular programme built around four things: evening caving trips in the Peak District, rope training sessions for newcomers, caving weekends away every other week during term time, and weekly pub meets with socials every few weeks. The club describes itself as one of the most active university caving clubs in the UK, with more than 60 years of caving in the UK and abroad, and states it welcomes new faces.

The regular activity schedule

What each activity involves

Evening caving in the Peak District

These are the club's most frequent trips — short evening sessions in the Peak District, which is the local caving area for a Sheffield-based club. They suit people who want to try caving without committing a whole weekend, and they are the natural first step for a newcomer.

Rope training for newcomers

SUSS runs rope training sessions specifically aimed at people new to caving. This matters because vertical caving — descending and ascending pitches on rope — is the part of the sport that most needs instruction before you go underground. If you have never handled caving ropes, this is the session to look for.

Caving weekends away

Every other week during term time, the club heads off for a caving weekend. That cadence — roughly fortnightly while university is in session — is the core of the club's trip programme and the main way members cave outside the Peak District.

Pub meets and socials

The club meets in the pub every Thursday, with socials every few weeks. These are the low-commitment entry points: you can turn up, meet members, and find out what is coming up before signing onto a trip.

Who this suits

The schedule works well if you are a student in Sheffield who wants frequent, low-cost caving without organising it yourself, and if you are a beginner — the evening trips and rope training exist precisely for people starting out. If you are not based in Sheffield, the club points to newtocaving.com for general information on caving and how to get involved.

Practical notes

• The page does not state costs, membership fees, or whether trips require payment, so check with the club directly rather than assuming anything is free.
• The site has a Subscribe page, but the page evidence does not describe what subscribing includes.
• Trip reports on the site are the best way to see what the weekends away actually look like before you commit.