The Beauty of Skyrim - Caves and Mines
⚪ Last updated 2014⚠️ Install Order · 3 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
Preview
🔍 Analysis
- 👍 5.0% endorsement rate — high engagement, a strong quality signal
- 🏆 #266 of 453 Models and Textures mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
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Thanks to hodilton for making this comparison video.
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Thanks to BDMods for their video footage.
Description
This mod is a part of the Beauty of Skyrim Mod Series and does change the appearance of the caves and mines in Skyrim. It adds new high resolution textures to many surfaces, giving the locations a more detailed and realistic look.
Version History
Version 1. 1
- Fixed the ugly stretched texture of several cave rocks
- Changed the cave ground and mine ore textures
- Added new moss texture to the cave roof
Version 1. 2
- Removed cave rock UV fixes to restore compatibility with SMIM
- Changed the cavebasewall01 and cavebasewall03 textures
- Added new cavebaseground01 texture to the landscape folder (see screenshots for comparison)
- Fixed/Improved several normal maps
Version 1. 3
- Added new high resolution textures to the ice caves
- Updated and improved many of the existing textures for caves and mines
- Improved the UV mapping of many rock meshes for all cave types
Installation
Unzip the archive and extract the files into your Skyrim/Data directory.
If you have installed Skyrim Flora Overhaul, you will have to overwrite two files in the data/textures/landscape/dirtcliffs directory (dirtcliffsroots01.dds, dirtcliffsroots01_n.dds). The appearance of SFO roots will not change.
This mod is not compatible with other mods that change cave textures.
However, it is fully compatible with Glowing Ore Veins 300 by ByblosHex.
FAQ
Q: Is this mod limited to caves and mines or do you plan to retexture more locations in the future?
A: I am constantly working on new textures. Look at the "Recommended Mods" section for further high-res texture mods.
Q: What are the hardware requirements to use this mod.
A: You should have at least 4 GB of system memory and 1 GB vram.
Q: How the comparison screenshots were made?
A: The comparison screenshots were taken with the default settings and without any ENB preset. All other screenshots use ENB presets. The Bethesda HighRes DLC was always activated.
Recommended Mods
The Beauty of Skyrim - Dungeons adds new high resolution textures to the dungeons of Skyrim.
Ruins Clutter Improved adds new high-res textures to common
The Beauty of Skyrim - Caves and Mines is a texture overhaul that replaces cave and mine surfaces with high-resolution textures for a more detailed, realistic look. With over 8,400 endorsements, it's a popular choice for players wanting visual upgrades without gameplay changes.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Community favorite with 8,418 endorsements—clearly a lot of players dig it.
- High-res textures make caves and mines look noticeably better without changing gameplay.
- Simple texture replacer—no new mechanics or quests to worry about.
⚠️ Cons
- Last updated in 2014—might have compatibility issues with newer Skyrim versions or other mods.
- Only covers caves and mines, so other areas won't get the same visual boost.
For Skyrim players who want to enhance the atmosphere of underground areas without overhauling the whole game. If you're a texture enthusiast or just want your caves to look less dated, this is a solid pick. Skip if you're looking for gameplay changes or a full visual overhaul.
💡 Beginner Tips
- Use a mod manager like Nexus Mod Manager or Mod Organizer 2 to install and manage this mod easily.
- If you're on Skyrim Special Edition, check if the mod has an SE version or use a conversion tool—this one is from 2014 and may need tweaking.
- Place this mod lower in your load order if you use other texture mods to ensure it overwrites correctly.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Skyrim LE Mods
- Author
- raiserfx
- Version
- 1.3
- Downloads
- 168,291
- Endorsements
- 8,418
- Category
- Models and Textures
- Created
- 1/28/2013
- Updated
- 9/7/2014
🔧 How to Install Skyrim LE Mods
Download from Nexus.
📖 Full step-by-step install guide for Skyrim LE →
Visit the official mod page for specific installation instructions for this mod.
🎮 Need cheat codes or console commands? Check ur gaming wiki for Skyrim LE commands, item IDs, and more.
Keep browsing — more Skyrim LE mods await