Caving in the Peak
- Thread starter Groundhog
- Start date
Pete K
Well-known member
I'm pretty sure a friend of mine was up at Eldon Hole this week without any issue.
I'm sure you've seen the closure list on the DCA website / Facebook. We'll try to chase up all the landowners this week and see if anything has changed. I hear P8 is okay again, despite the rope still being across the car park, but DCA will need to confirm this.
There are lots of other places which are not closed as far as we know, but the selection of a trip that avoids having to go to a farm house for a key or permission might still be a good move for the time being.
Eldon, Hillocks, Knotlow all good options for SRT. But with venues limited and number of cavers increasing, expect to have to change your plan if a venue is already occupied and it won't be possible to social distance.
For anyone reading who has not seen it, the DCA's current guidance is here: https://www.thedca.org.uk/
The current closure list is:
Ashford Black Marble Mine
Bagshawe Cavern
Devonshire Mine
All sites on Peakshill Farm (Giant's/Snelslow)
All sites on Perryfoot Farm (P8 etc...)
Peak/Speedwell system, including JH & Titan.
Best thing to do is check the DCA cave registry and social media before you go on a trip to see if there is a covid-19 closure in place.
I'm sure you've seen the closure list on the DCA website / Facebook. We'll try to chase up all the landowners this week and see if anything has changed. I hear P8 is okay again, despite the rope still being across the car park, but DCA will need to confirm this.
There are lots of other places which are not closed as far as we know, but the selection of a trip that avoids having to go to a farm house for a key or permission might still be a good move for the time being.
Eldon, Hillocks, Knotlow all good options for SRT. But with venues limited and number of cavers increasing, expect to have to change your plan if a venue is already occupied and it won't be possible to social distance.
For anyone reading who has not seen it, the DCA's current guidance is here: https://www.thedca.org.uk/
The current closure list is:
Ashford Black Marble Mine
Bagshawe Cavern
Devonshire Mine
All sites on Peakshill Farm (Giant's/Snelslow)
All sites on Perryfoot Farm (P8 etc...)
Peak/Speedwell system, including JH & Titan.
Best thing to do is check the DCA cave registry and social media before you go on a trip to see if there is a covid-19 closure in place.
DCA
Active member
In response to a query about P8 earlier.....
UPDATE 18/6: All sites on Perryfoot Farm (P8 etc...)
The landowner is permitting caving again, but asks that you do not call at the farm for permission. They are waiving the trespass fee for the time being so you don't need to go into the farm. DCA notices will need to be removed from the car park in the next few days but access is okay as of now.
If you become aware of a change in access situation at one of the Covid-19 closed sites or anywhere else, please let DCA know so that we can update the access details online. There is a submit report link on the DCA homepage www.thedca.org.uk
Pete Knight, DCA Projects Officer, posted on behalf of the DCA
UPDATE 18/6: All sites on Perryfoot Farm (P8 etc...)
The landowner is permitting caving again, but asks that you do not call at the farm for permission. They are waiving the trespass fee for the time being so you don't need to go into the farm. DCA notices will need to be removed from the car park in the next few days but access is okay as of now.
If you become aware of a change in access situation at one of the Covid-19 closed sites or anywhere else, please let DCA know so that we can update the access details online. There is a submit report link on the DCA homepage www.thedca.org.uk
Pete Knight, DCA Projects Officer, posted on behalf of the DCA
Groundhog
Member
Good news about P8. I think I'll wait till it dries up a bit. I know P8 is sporting in the wet but at my age I prefer it dry!
Some pals and I will be down Eldon on Wednesday. Keeping apart of course. If anyone else was thinking of doing it Wednesday let us know and we can pick another day.
Stay safe everyone
Some pals and I will be down Eldon on Wednesday. Keeping apart of course. If anyone else was thinking of doing it Wednesday let us know and we can pick another day.
Stay safe everyone
Groundhog
Member
We had a pleasant trip down Eldon yesterday. It was nice and cool down there! Only two of us went down so distancing was no problem.
I had forgotten just how well decorated it is. Maybe the last time I was there was before I got my new light. I think I got some good photos but I won't know until I get my camera back. Somehow it found its way into my mates car.
At the foot of the shaft there were several young jackdaws huddles in a corner obviously scared by us. I am hoping that their parents are feeding them and that when fully fledged they will fly out. Does anyone know if this is a regular occurrence? Might be good idea if folk avoided Eldon for a few weeks so that they can fledge undisturbed.
I had forgotten just how well decorated it is. Maybe the last time I was there was before I got my new light. I think I got some good photos but I won't know until I get my camera back. Somehow it found its way into my mates car.
At the foot of the shaft there were several young jackdaws huddles in a corner obviously scared by us. I am hoping that their parents are feeding them and that when fully fledged they will fly out. Does anyone know if this is a regular occurrence? Might be good idea if folk avoided Eldon for a few weeks so that they can fledge undisturbed.
Mark Wright
Active member
Mark Richardson and I rescued a couple of jackdaws that were at the bottom of the Eldon Hole entrance shaft when we did the filming for Britain?s Ancient Tracks with Tony Robinson.
Their wings were quite muddy and would probably have struggled to fly out themselves.
We stuck them in a tackle bag and brought them out.
They looked very pleased to be back on the surface.
Mark
Their wings were quite muddy and would probably have struggled to fly out themselves.
We stuck them in a tackle bag and brought them out.
They looked very pleased to be back on the surface.
Mark
Groundhog
Member
What time of year was that Mark? Were they fledglings do you think?
It would be difficult if not impossible to catch these birds. They were very active, fluttering about all round the bottom of the shaft.
Perhaps someone should go down and feed them. Or perhaps just let nature take it's course.
It would be difficult if not impossible to catch these birds. They were very active, fluttering about all round the bottom of the shaft.
Perhaps someone should go down and feed them
. Or perhaps just let nature take it's course.
Mark Wright
Active member
I think it was September.
Mark
Mark
pwhole
Well-known member
Looks like it's still watchable with a C4 account:
https://www.channel4.com/programmes/britains-ancient-tracks-with-tony-robinson
https://www.channel4.com/programmes/britains-ancient-tracks-with-tony-robinson
pwhole
Well-known member
It does give an excellent idea of the rate of deposition though, which is probably more useful in the long run.
Does anyone know why the flowstone up there is so especially sparkly - visible in the plaque shot? There's a large sloping lump just before the traverse to the pitch head if going downwards that looks like it is studded with diamonds, and it has a very 'rough' texture. This is just a crop from a larger photo but it's visible even at a distance.
Does anyone know why the flowstone up there is so especially sparkly - visible in the plaque shot? There's a large sloping lump just before the traverse to the pitch head if going downwards that looks like it is studded with diamonds, and it has a very 'rough' texture. This is just a crop from a larger photo but it's visible even at a distance.
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