The GSG publishes the GSG Bulletin twice a year. This is Scotland’s only speleological journal, providing information on current exploration and research. Newsletters are produced every two to three months online, as required. Both publications are free to members.
Over the years the GSG has been responsible for producing a number of cave guides to Scottish caving regions. The latest glossy publication, with full colour, is the 3rd edition of Caves of Assynt. Photocopies of earlier, out-of-print guides, such as the Appin Cave Guide, Caves of Schiehallion and The Caving Songs of Mendip may also be available.
Other publications authored by members include Scotland Underground by Alan Jeffreys (Oldham, 1984), Caves of the Southern Highlands (Salvona/Young, 1988), A Guide to the Awe-Inspiring Raasay Fissures (Salvona, 2009), Decades in the Dark (Edited, Jeffreys, 2011) and Hidden Inside the Highlands (Jeffreys, 2023). Articles in both the caving and popular press also testify to the activity of the Group.
GSG Newsletters
GSG Newsletters are compiled and circulated to members every couple of months. They deal with club news and more immediate topics that are not suitable for inclusion in the GSG Bulletin, and are supplemented by emails to members when the need arises. An example of a recent newsletter can be seen here:
GSG Bulletins
The first issue of the GSG Bulletin was published in June 1963. Issues of Volume 1 appeared at two-monthly intervals. Thereafter, the frequency was curtailed to two each year (March and October). By 2024, almost 150 issues have now appeared, serving as the only Scottish journal dedicated purely to speleology and cave exploration.
For most of this time, Editorship was in the hands of Founder Member Alan Jeffreys, except for a period between 1980 and 1987 when Peter Dowswell and Ivan Young took over. Thereafter, Jeffreys resumed the role and is still the current Editor. The Bulletin contains articles about cave discoveries, historic club activities, academic research, literary topics and miscellaneous items with a caving connection.
Caving Guides
A new updated and much-extended third edition. Published in 2022 (Tim Lawson & Peter Dowswell).
The first (1972, Alan L. Jeffreys) and second (1988, Tim Lawon) editions are out of print
Hidden Inside the Highlands. First edition published in 2023 (Alan L. Jeffreys)
Caves of Schichallion. Published in 1980 (Peter Dowswell).
Caves of Skye. Published in 1995 (Peter Ryder).
Caves of Durness is in preparation. Caves of Appin is planned… a small booklet Appin Cave Guide was published by GSG member Ivan Young in 1978, with a supplement added in 2003; this is still available via the GSG.
Caves of Applecross and Kishorn. Published in 2007 (Ritchie Simpson & Dave Morrison).
Occasional GSG publications include:
□ The Caving Songs of Mendip (1976, revised 1990: Roger Biddle)
□ The Grampian Caving Manual (1978: Jim Campbell) (out of print)
□ Buddy Reading: an anthology of GSG verse (1996: Alan L. Jeffreys)
□ Decades in the Dark: 50 years of Scottish caving (2010: Alan L. Jeffreys)
□ A Wanderer in Dens and Caves of the Earth: essays in honour of Jim Salvona (2016: Alan L Jeffreys)
Order a GSG publication
