Goyden Pot
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Location
Goyden Main Entrance
Grid Reference: SE 099 761.
Altitude: 210m
Parking by the road next to the picnic tables further up the valley from Limley farm. Access is via the gate, field and second gate to the obvious entrance in the cliff face. Be sure to close both gates.
Access
General access is currently permitted by Mr. Church of Limley Farm, and there is no need to call.
Description
Warning Flooding - this cave can flood by wind pushing water over the dam of Scarhouse Reservoir as well as by rainfall. Check both the weather report and the level of water in Scarhouse reservoir before making a trip into Goyden Pot. Goyden can flood quickly and completely. If water is flowing into the cave and access is still possible then it is inadvisable to wander away from the main stream passage. If the water rises whilst in the stream passage then an exit can be made by Gaskills passage & Church Pot.
Overall
The main entrance leads to an impressive large chamber and stream passage with a labyrinth of passages leading off to one side. Two other entrances Limley and Church pots provide small but interesting through trips. Church pot is the flood escape route.
Detail Quite a lot of people find Goyden complex and confusing. The following guides will not only help you explore each section but also help you develop a knowledge of the overall system.
1. Main entrance to downstream sump 1 and exit via Church pot.
From the main entrance make your way for about 30m to where a walking size phreatic passage goes off left and another one is straight ahead. Note both join after a just a few metres and provide access towards the 'First Window' and Mud Hall. What is less obvious, at the start of the phreatic passages, is a low arch to the right and way through to the main chamber. Enter the main chamber and high up on the left is the 'first window' a stream falls from this in wet weather. Towards the right of this is a smaller 'second window'. Over to the right of the chamber is the bridge and walking on top of this to the other side gives a fine view to the stream below and across to the 'third window'. Going straight on and down under the bridge in the main chamber leads to the main stream passage. Note: most of the stream enters from a passage going back under the main chamber. This is Lesser Stream passage and link through to Manchester Hole. Follow the stream down the cascades, along, round the right hand bend to see a chain hanging down the right hand wall shortly before the left hand bend. Note this is the climb that leads up into Gaskills passage and Church pot the flood exit route. Follow the stream until the roof begins to lower. Stoop and crawl through this section until it is possible to stand up again. Note at this point Labyrinth passage goes off left which leads to Five Ways, Ten foot climb and the Labyrinth (a confusing maze of small passages). The passage going right leads after just a short section to sump1. Return back up the stream passage to where the chain hangs down. Climb up and then left into Gaskills passage. Straight on leads to the Pinnacle climb and Turf pitch which provides a bypass to sump 1 to enter Goyden 2. Both passages on the right provide access to Black Sheep passage and Church pot. The second passage is the easiest and soon passes a high aven on the right then just before it narrows passes a small crawl on the left, Gargett Way. After the narrow section a walking size passage leads to the first of the in-situ ladders. Climb this and then the rift that follows to the second ladder. Climb this ladder and the narrow awkward rift above to exit the cave via Church pot.
2. Main entrance to Mud Hall and exit via the Main Stream passage
From the main entrance make your way for about 30m to where a walking size phreatic passage goes off left and another one is straight ahead. Taking the left hand passage passes a dig on the left then joins the other passage. Just a few metres beyond this is a junction. Note: left provides access to Cap Left Crawl and Pillar pot while right leads to the First window and 10m drop into the main chamber. Straight ahead is a less obvious low crawl and the way forward to Mud Hall. Follow the crawl past a small dead end passage on the left and then turn left at the next junction. The way right leads to the second window and large drop into the main chamber. After the junction the passage enlarges to stooping height and goes by a passage on the left that connects with the passage leading to Cap Left crawl and Pillar pot sump. Soon after passing this passage climb down the small drop with care to enter a large passage. Right leads to the third window and drop into the main stream passage below. Note: at the window a ledge on the left hand side is the start of a long traverse that runs along the roof of the main stream passage and links with Upper Nurgatory. A ledge on the right hand side of the window is a traverse accross to the bridge in the main chamber. Going left from the climb down is a steeply ascending passage that can be followed up and through to Mud Hall. There are three possible exits to Mud Hall. Straight on for a short distance and then working your way down to the left with care leads to a series of switchbacks, traverse and climb down into Pyradine passage. Going forward down the mud slope in Mud Hall for a short distance then down through a narrow slot by the right hand wall leads into Upper Nurgatory passage. This connects with both Lower Nurgatory passage and the roof traverse above the main stream. Going all the way down the slope in Mud Hall leads to a muddy crawl, Limley Bypass. At the start of Limley Bypass is an aven which is the base of the second pitch in Limley pot. Follow the Limley Bypass crawl on and through the large plastic pipes then along the crawl beyond to the T junction. Left leads to Five ways and the Labyrinth whilst right leads to the main stream passage. Follow the passage right until the stream is reached. Left goes for short distance to the sump. Right leads under a low arch for short section then on into a splendid large walking size stream passage. Follow this pass the hanging chain on the left (flood escape route, Church pot) through to the main chamber and exit the same way in to complete the circular trip.
3. Main entrance to Mud Hall to 10ft climb, Five Ways and exit via Church pot
From the main entrance make your way for about 30m to where a walking size phreatic passage goes off left and another one is straight ahead. Taking the left hand passages passes a dig on the left then joins the other passage. Just a few metres beyond this is a junction. Note left provides access to Cap Left Crawl and Pillar pot while right leads to the First window and 12m drop into the main chamber. Straight ahead is a less obvious low crawl and the way forward to Mud Hall. Follow the crawl past a small dead end passage on the left and then turn left at the next junction. The way right leads to the second window and large drop into the main chamber. After the junction the passage enlarges to stooping height and goes by a passage on the left that connects with the passage leading to Cap Left crawl and Pillar pot sump. Soon after passing this passage climb down the small drop with care to enter a large passage. Right leads to the third window and drop into the main stream passage below. Note: At the window a ledge on the left hand side is the start of a long traverse that runs along the roof of the main stream passage and links with Upper Nurgatory. A ledge on the right hand side of the window is a traverse accross to the bridge in the main chamber. Going left from the climb down is a steeply ascending passage that can be followed through to Mud Hall. Once in Mud Hall go straight forward and just before the main mud bank descends towards the bottom of the chamber make your way left and back on yourself into the hole on the left. At the bottom go right, left, right left through the switchbacks. To the left of the deep pool climb up into the passage and then awkwardly clamber through the 'letterbox' shaped hole. Traverse across the pool using the thick rope provided and then along the rift to a climb down. Having climbed down make your way along Pyridine passage and through the waist deep water to the T-junction beyond. Note: Turning right takes you to another T-juntion with right to Labyrinth passage and left to Five ways. Turning left after the water takes you to the base of an in-situ small ladder at Ten Foot climb. Note: Up the ladder leads to Cap Left crawl, passages to Telegraph aven and also Twenty foot climb and New Stream sump. Turning right at the base of the ladder and following the passage leads to Five Ways. This is a small chamber with you've guesssed it five ways out and a very small stream running through it. Note: Five ways is a key chamber to remember and getting to know which passages leads to where is key in getting to know this part of the system, especially the way out! The stream flows out of one exit into the heart of the Labyrinth of passages whilst the passage to the right of the stream exit is the way out. Follow this passages and at the point the rift closes in duck left under the arch where very soon the going gets easier. This is Labyrinth passage. The first right would take you back to Pyridine passage whilst the second right would lead up and through pipes to Mud Hall. Straight on all the way leads to the main stream passage and T-junction. Left goes for short distance to the sump. Right leads under a low arch for short section then on into a splendid large walking size stream passage. Follow this to the point where there is a hanging chain on the left. Climb up and left into Gaskills passage. Straight on leads to the Pinnacle climb and Turf pitch which provides a bypass to sump 1 to eneter Goyden 2. Both passages on the right provide access to Black Sheep passage and Church pot. The second passage is the easiest and soon passes a high aven on the right then just before it narrows passes a small crawl on the left. Gargett Way. After the narrow section a walking size passage leads to the first of the in-situ ladders. Climb this and then the rift that follows to the second ladder. Climb this ladder and the narrow awkward rift above to exit the cave via Church pot.
4. Main entrance to sump1, Five ways, 10ft climb, 20ft pitch, High Rift and return
From the main entrance make your way for about 30m to where a walking size phreatic passage goes off left and another one is straight ahead. Note both join after a just a few metres and provide access towards the 'First Window' and Mud Hall. What is less obvious at the start of the phreatic passages is a low arch to the right and way through to the main chamber. Enter the main chamber and high up on the left is the 'first window' a stream falls from this in wet weather. Towards the right of this is a smaller 'second window'. Over to the right of the chamber is the bridge and walking on top of this to the other side gives a fine view to the stream below and accross to the 'third window'. Going straight on and down under the bridge in the main chamber leads to the main stream passage. Note most of the stream enters from a passage going back under the main chamber. This is Lesser Stream passage and link through to Manchester Hole. Follow the stream down the cascades, along, round the right hand bend to see a chain hanging down the right hand wall shortly before the left hand bend. Note this is the climb that leads up into Gaskills passage and Church pot the flood exit route. Follow the stream until the roof begins to lower. Stoop and crawl through this section until it is possible to stand up again. Note: The passage going right leads after just a short section to sump1. Turn left and follow Labyrinth passage. Note: Go past two passages on thew right. the first leads up and through plastic pipes to Mud Hall, whilst the second leads to Pyridine passage. Keep going until a small pool of water in the passage. Note:: Look carefuly to your right and you will see a small bedding this is the entrance/exit of New Stream passage. From the pool carry on along Pyridine passage for short distance to what looks like a T-junction and dick under the arch to the left and carry on along this passage into Five Ways chamber. This is a small chamber with you've guesssed it five ways out and a very small stream running through it. Note: Five ways is a key chamber to remember and getting to know which passages leads to where is key in getting to know this part of the system, especially the way out! Make a note of the way back out from this chamber just in case you have to turn back and exit. The exit from the chamber is the passage to the right of the stream exit. Proceed up the chamber and into the passage where the stream comes from whcih leads to Ten Foot climb with in-situ ladder. Up the ladder and into the chamber with stalagmite boss. Note: Left leads to Cap Left crawl. Duck under the arch to the right into a fine rift with calcite formation. Note: Left leads to Old Year passage. Turn right by the cacite flow into Sand tunnel. Follow this down to the junction. Straight is a large passage, Clay tunnel with large mud banks that leads to Telegraph aven. The way on is turning right into a stooping height passage that soon lowers to unpleasant crawl in water. Once out the water climb up into the passage right and follow past fine examples of chert nodules to Twenty Foot pitch. Climb down using a rope. There is a rope in-situ but explorers are advised to use their own rope for safety. At the base of the climb follow the passage to the Baffle Plates with it's many holes in the fins of rock on to the aven, High Rift at the end of the passage. Note: In the roof of the aven is a walking size passage the Beet Route one of the most interesting passages within Goyden. Turn around and return by the same route. Remember: The way out of Five Ways is to follow the passage to the right of the passage where the stream exits the chamber.
5. Main entrance to 10' Climb 20' pitch New Stream sump and back via New Stream passage
From the main entrance make your way for about 30m to where a walking size phreatic passage goes off left and another one is straight ahead. Note both join after a just a few metres and provide access towards the 'First Window' and Mud Hall. What is less obvious at the start of the phreatic passages is a low arch to the right and way through to the main chamber. Enter the main chamber and high up on the left is the 'first window' a stream falls from this in wet weather. Towards the right of this is a smaller 'second window'. Over to the right of the chamber is the bridge and walking on top of this to the other side gives a fine view to the stream below and accross to the 'third window'. Going straight on and down under the bridge in the main chamber leads to the main stream passage. Note most of the stream enters from a passage going back under the main chamber. This is Lesser Stream passage and link through to Manchester Hole. Follow the stream down the cascades, along, round the right hand bend to see a chain hanging down the right hand wall shortly before the left hand bend. Note this is the climb that leads up into Gaskills passage and Church pot the flood exit route. Follow the stream until the roof begins to lower. Stoop and crawl through this section until it is possible to stand up again. Note: The passage going right leads after just a short section to sump1. Turn left and follow Labyrinth passage. Note: Go past two passages on the right. the first leads up and through plastic pipes to Mud Hall, whilst the second leads to Pyridine passage. Keep going until a small pool of water in the passage. Important: Look carefuly to your right and you will see a small bedding. Crawl in until a stopping height passage is gained. Take note of what it looks like and especially the way back out to the small pool of water. From the pool carry on along Pyridine passage for short distance to what looks like a T-junction and dick under the arch to the left and carry on along this passage into Five Ways chamber. This is a small chamber with you've guesssed it five ways out and a very small stream running through it. Note: Five ways is a key chamber to remember and getting to know which passages leads to where is key in getting to know this part of the system, especially the way out! Make a note of the way back out from this chamber just in case you have to turn back and exit. The exit from the chamber is the passage to the right of the stream exit. Proceed up the chamber and into the passage where the stream comes from whcih leads to Ten Foot climb with in-situ ladder. Up the ladder and into the chamber with stalagmite boss. Note: Left leads to Cap Left crawl. Duck under the arch to the right into a fine rift with calcite formation. Note: Left leads to Old Year passage. Turn right by the cacite flow into Sand tunnel. Follow this down to the junction. Straight is a large passage, Clay tunnel with large mud banks that leads to Telegraph aven. The way on is turning right into a stooping height passage that soon lowers to unpleasant crawl in water. Once out the water climb up into the passage right and follow past fine examples of chert nodules to Twenty Foot pitch. Climb down using a rope. There is a rope in-situ but explorers are advised to use their own rope for safety. At the base of the climb follow the passage to the Baffle Plates with it's many holes in the fins of rock on to the aven, High Rift at the end of the passage. Note: In the roof of the aven is a walking size passage the Beet Route one of the most interesting passages within Goyden. Turn around and head back towards the Baffle Plates slowly inspecting the right hand wall for a small rift. Enter the rift which looks too small keeping to the top section until it is possible to descend using the rope. Climb down with care using a rope (rope in-situ but explorers are advised to use their own to ensure safety) until a tricky manoeuvre is required to get into New Steam passage and avoid dropping into the sump! A crafty techniques is to slide into the passage using the ledge on the left hand side. Follow the passage upstream until to you recognise the way out through the bedding left sussed out on the way in or until you can't go any further and back track a little to spot the bedding. Crawl through the bedding to stand up by the pool of water in Labyrinth passage. Turn left and down to the main stream passage. Left goes for short distance to the sump. Right leads under a low arch for short section then on into a splendid large walking size stream passage. Follow this pass the hanging chain on the left (flood escape route, Church pot) through to the main chamber and exit the same way in to complete the trip.
6. Main entrance, Pillar pot sump,Cap Left crawl and exit via Main Stream passage
Enter main entrance and then turn left at the first junction. Follow the passage for about 15m to another junction. Note: Right leads to the 'First window' pitch into main chamber. Take the left turn and under the arch often blocked by flood debris. Then walk a few paces to the T-junction. Note: Right leads to the Third window and Mud Hall. Take the left along Timber passage an apt name with all the flood debris this passage collects. Almost immediately is the entrance on the right for Cap Left crawl. It may be blocked by the wood debris and need excavating which never takes long. Before follwing this passage you may wish to carry straight on all the way ignoring a passage on the right which is a short muddy grovel that at present leads no where. The passage ends at a clean washed pot, Pillar pot and sump below. This sump has been dived 45m and connects with Manchester Hole. Back at Cap Left crawl enter the crawl head first and begin the long crawl through to Cap Tunnel. Eventually the crawl opens out into a fine walking size passage cap Tunnel. Straight ahead is a low passage to blocked sump that connects with Mud Hall. Left along Cap Tunnel ducking under calcite flows and false floors leads to a junction and stalgmite boss. Note: Left under the arch leads to Old Year passage, Sand tunnel-Clay tunnel- Telegraph aven, and Twenty foot pitch-New Steam sump. Going straight ahead leads to the top of Ten foot climb (ladder in situ). At the base of the ladder passages lead right and straight ahead. Note: Right goes to Pyridine passage and climb up into Mud Hall. Go straight ahead and through into Five Ways. A stream flows into thwe chamber wher entered and exits via one of the five passages. Take the passage to the right of the stream exit. Follow this until the rift closes in and duck under the arch on the right into Labyrinth passage. Follow this until you reach the main stream passage. Left goes for short distance to the sump. Right leads under a low arch for short section then on into a splendid large walking size stream passage. Follow this pass the hanging chain on the left (flood escape route, Church pot) through to the main chamber and exit the same way in to complete the circular trip.
7. Main entrance, Five Ways, 10ft climb to Telegraph Aven and return
From the main entrance make your way for about 30m to where a walking size phreatic passage goes off left and another one is straight ahead. Note both join after a just a few metres and provide access towards the 'First Window' and Mud Hall. What is less obvious at the start of the phreatic passages is a low arch to the right and way through to the main chamber. Enter the main chamber and high up on the left is the 'first window' a stream falls from this in wet weather. Towards the right of this is a smaller 'second window'. Over to the right of the chamber is the bridge and walking on top of this to the other side gives a fine view to the stream below and accross to the 'third window'. Going straight on and down under the bridge in the main chamber leads to the main stream passage. Note most of the stream enters from a passage going back under the main chamber. This is Lesser Stream passage and link through to Manchester Hole. Follow the stream down the cascades, along, round the right hand bend to see a chain hanging down the right hand wall shortly before the left hand bend. Note this is the climb that leads up into Gaskills passage and Church pot the flood exit route. Follow the stream until the roof begins to lower. Stoop and crawl through this section until it is possible to stand up again. Note at this point the passage right leads after just a short section to sump1. Turn left into Labyrinth passage. Go past the first left which leads to Mud Hall via crawl and plastic pipes. Go past second left which if you keep to the left leads to Pyridine passage and then Mud Hall. Note: When you reach the pool of water a bedding on the right leads into New Steam passge. The way on is straight ahead to the T-junction. Turn left under the arch into easy going crawl through to Five Ways. From Five Ways exit the top of the chamber near to where the stream enters. An easy going crawl leads to the base of a short ladder, Ten Foot climb. Up this and continue until you reach the stalagmite boss and junction. Note: Left leads to Cap Tunnel and Cap Left crawl. Turn right under the arch. Stand up and note: left leads to Old Year passage. Continue straight on past the calcite flow into Sand Tunnel. Pleasant walking size passage leads to a junction. Note: Right leads to to a stooping size passage then crawl through to Twenty Foot pitch and High Rift. Continue straight on into Clay Tunnel with it's mud banks and muddy ducks. The muddy ducks are often sealed off during winter periods and only open during long dry spells. After working your way around and over mud banks and through the ducks and then through a squeeze and short awkward climb the base of a an aven is reached. This is telegraph aven with it's orginal scaling pole still in place. Note: The pole is very rusted and dangerous and must not be climbed. At the top of the aven is a passage leading to a climb down into a chamber, Crater chamber. In the base of the chamber is a small stream that sinks into the choke. A climb out of the far side of Crater chamber leads up the slope into an aven with very loose and unstable boulders some of which are of considerable size. Return from the base of Telegraph aven and exit via the Main Entrance or Church Pot.
8. Main entrance, Roof Traverse, Upper/Lower Nurgatory, Mud Hall, Church Pot
From the main entrance make your way for about 30m to where a walking size phreatic passage goes off left and another one is straight ahead. Note both join after a just a few metres and provide access towards the 'First Window' and Mud Hall. What is less obvious at the start of the phreatic passages is a low arch to the right and way through to the main chamber. Enter the main chamber and high up on the left is the 'first window' a stream falls from this in wet weather. Towards the right of this is a smaller 'second window'. Over to the right of the chamber is the bridge and walking on top of this to the other side gives a fine view to the stream below and accross to the 'third window'. Traverse across the ledge on the left hand side into the third window using the P hangers in place. Alternatively climb along the ledge on thwe right hand side to the point where the gap over the chasm above the stream way is least. Rig a traverse rope over the gap using the wire for assistance. Note: The wire is only there to help steady people as they rig there own traverse line. It must not be used as the safety line. Continue from this point to traverse along the roof securing the rope with the in-siue bolts and natural threads. Upper Nurgatory passage is the first passage to go off left. Note: If the traverse is continued Lower Nurgatory is the second passage to go off left through a squeeze. Enter Upper Nurgatory passage and make your way along the crawl to a junction where a small passage goes off on the right. This can be followed for a few metres to give access to Lower Nurgatory either by the squeezing down the slot in the floor or continuing around the corner and down through a muddy tube. Once in Lower Nurgatory the passage can be followed a few metres then through a squeeze to the roof of the main stream passage. Going the other way leads to a welcome aven where it is possible to stand up. From the aven it is possible to climb up high to within 5m of the surface. There are a few chocked passages at the base of the aven and also a voice connectin with Mud Hall. Back at the the junction with Upper Nurgatory the crawl continues through to a rift. Climb up and squeeze through into Mud Hall. Turning right leads down the mud slope to Limley Bypass. Follow this through the plastic pipes into Labyrinth passage. Turn right and go down the passage to the main stream. Left goes for short distance to the sump. Right leads under a low arch for short section then on into a splendid large walking size stream passage. Follow this to the point where there is a hanging chain on the left. Climb up and left into Gaskills passage. Straight on leads to the Pinnacle climb and Turf pitch which provides a bypass to sump 1 to enter Goyden 2. Both passages on the right provide access to Black Sheep passage and Church pot. The second passage is the easiest and soon passes a high aven on the right then just before it narrows passes a small crawl on the left. Gargett Way. After the narrow section a walking size passage leads to the first of the in-situ ladders. Climb this and then the rift that follows to the second ladder. Climb this ladder and the narrow awkward rift above to exit the cave via Church pot.
History
Extended 1888 by G V Gaskell; 1912-34 by the YRC; 1959 by the CPC; 1966-73 by ULSA/YURT; 1977-1985 by CUCC; 1993-present by Black Sheep Diggers.
Reference
- Northern Caves Volume 1, Wharfedale and the North-East. Nidderdale section page 151-157
