Booking terms & conditions

In these conditions, "we", "us" and "Cave Women" mean Team Outdoors, trading as Cave Women, based in the Peak District and operating across the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales. You can contact us by email at hello@cavewomen.co.uk or by phone on +44 7449 095368. "Leaders" means Emma, Claire and any other qualified instructor designated by us for a trip. "Trip" means any half-day, more advanced day, weekend or bespoke private trip we offer through our website or arrange with you. "You" means the person or people who make a booking with us.

1. Making a booking. To request a place, send us your preferred trip and date using our contact form or by email. We will confirm availability before any payment is taken. A booking is only confirmed once we have received your deposit and sent you written confirmation and our pre-trip information.
2. Deposit. To secure a place we ask for a deposit per person — currently £20 per person for day trips (half-day and more advanced days) and £50 per person for weekend trips. The deposit forms part of, and is deducted from, the total trip price.
3. Balance. The balance of the trip price is due no later than 14 days before a day trip, and no later than 6 weeks before a weekend trip. For bookings made inside these windows, full payment is due at the time of booking.
4. Late payment. If we do not receive the balance by the date due, we reserve the right to treat the booking as cancelled and to retain the deposit, unless we have agreed a delay with you in writing.
5. If you cancel. Cancellations must be made in writing (email is fine) and take effect from the date we receive them. The following charges apply to the full trip price:

   When you cancel	Charge	Your refund
   More than 28 days before the trip	Deposit only	Full balance refunded
   15–28 days before the trip	50% of the trip price	50% refunded
   7–14 days before the trip	75% of the trip price	25% refunded
   Less than 7 days before the trip	100% of the trip price	No refund

   Where possible we will try to offer an alternative date instead of a charge — see condition 8.
6. If we cancel. Very occasionally we may need to cancel a trip — for example due to too few bookings, leader illness, or unsafe conditions underground. In that case you may transfer to another date or receive a full refund of everything you have paid us. We are not liable for any other costs you may have incurred (such as travel or accommodation), so please see condition 11 on insurance.
7. Weather & cave conditions. Caves are live, water-filled systems. For safety reasons we cannot always confirm exactly which cave or route we will visit until nearer the time, and the final choice depends on recent weather and cave conditions. We may change the venue, route or itinerary — before or during a trip — to keep it safe and enjoyable. Mine trips follow established workings and are more predictable, but may still be altered for safety. Such changes are not grounds for a refund.
8. Transfers. Up until the balance becomes due you may transfer your booking to another date for an administration charge of £10 per person, subject to availability. Transfers requested after the balance is due will be treated as cancellations under condition 5.
9. Authority of the leader. Our Leaders make the final decision on all matters of safety. By booking you accept the authority of the trip Leader to make decisions affecting the group or any individual. A Leader may ask someone to leave a trip if, in the Leader's reasonable opinion, that person's health, behaviour or conduct puts the safety, well-being or enjoyment of the group at risk. No refund is due in these circumstances. If you choose to leave a trip before it finishes, no refund is due unless we agree otherwise.
10. Inherent risks. Caving and mine exploration are adventurous activities that carry inherent risks, including (but not limited to) uneven ground, falling, cold water, confined spaces, falling rock and changing water levels. You take part at your own risk. We will not be liable for any injury, illness, death or loss of property except where it is caused by our negligence. Our approach to safety is set out in the appendix below.
11. Insurance. We strongly recommend you have your own personal accident and, where relevant, cancellation insurance suitable for underground activities. We are not responsible for losses that would have been covered by adequate insurance.
12. Health & fitness. When booking you must tell us in writing about any medical condition, injury, disability or other factor that may affect your ability to take part safely. This helps us choose a suitable trip and look after you underground. Information you share is treated confidentially.
13. Age & supervision. Under-18s are welcome on suitable trips but must be accompanied by a booking adult who takes responsibility for them, and we may set a minimum age for certain trips. Please ask us before booking if you are unsure.
14. Kit & clothing. We provide the technical kit (helmet, headtorch and oversuit). You are responsible for bringing suitable warm layers, wellies and any personal items we list in your pre-trip information.
15. Governing law. These conditions, and any agreement between you and us, are governed by the law of England and Wales.
16. Acceptance. By making a booking and paying a deposit, you confirm that you have read, understood and accepted these conditions on behalf of everyone in your booking.

Appendix — our view on safety

1. Safety comes first. We will never compromise safety to make a trip feel more exciting than it needs to be.
2. Final say. Your views matter and we will always discuss decisions where we can, but the Leader's decision on any safety matter is final.
3. Pacing the group. Where a group has mixed experience, we run the trip at a pace suited to the least experienced member. Pushing people beyond their comfort underground rarely ends well.
4. Qualified leadership. Trips are led by suitably qualified leaders (including LCMLA-qualified leadership), with sensible group sizes and the right equipment for the system we are visiting.
5. Conditions. We monitor weather and water conditions closely and will change or postpone a trip whenever that is the safest course of action.

Questions about any of this? Get in touch and we'll be happy to talk it through before you book.