Does anybody happen to know how this hole responds to rain? I've read a Yorkshire Rambler's Club trip report from the 1950's which recommends that you don't visit after heavy rain or when the ground is saturated etc but doesn't go so far as to say that the cave is actually impassable, certainly not the first half of it anyway.

Cheers!

No idea, although I watched a video a while back and the suggestion was in high water people wouldn't get through the entrance pipe, this was whilst they were stood next to a dash of flood debris at chest-head height.

Cheers Dunc.

Apparently the quarry have been in touch to say its underwater which makes it a no-brainer of a decision anyway!

Fairy holes is not 'underwater' however it is gated.  Its always been known as a very wet cave though, the majority of it is waist deep water.

Apparently it was the day we had a permit! The few days beforehand were probably the filthiest of the year.

Reviving an old topic as it's still relevent...

We have a permit to visit this cave, this upcoming Saturday

Can anyone comment on the following...
a) Is wearing a wetsuit advisable?
b) How it responds to rain (other than what it is already mentioned)? It looks like there is a lot of heavy rain today & tomorrow, followed by showers on wednesday, before a dry settled period (forecast for now atleast).

Only personal opinions but here you go.
Personally I would wear a wetsuit. The place is a very long stream-way and you are in and out of deep pools for a very considerable distance. At one point before the Choir there is a very wet low section which I was convinced was off route but wasn't. It's also very easy to underestimate the general difficulty and length of Fairy Holes, remember it's a proper Northern Dales cave and use the old yorkshire ramblers description as it's a good basis for general route finding of the non quarried away parts.
Oh and the cave is definitely not somewhere you would want to mess about with heavy rain forecast

There are a few pictures if you google blackshiver flickr or alternatively download the Northern Dales chapter of The caves and karst of the yorkshire dales.

Hope that helps.

We went in July this year after very heavy rain on the Friday, overnight and early Saturday on an improving forecast. The Wear was still very low and stayed low all day despite the rain and there was no discernable change in the water level in the cave - also low. Wetsuit handy if you want to flounder about in the 'sump' or you like splashing through the pools without worrying about getting slightly wet but not essential. Splendid caving unencumbered with tackle and plenty of it. Mainly walking with a short section of crawling/stooping before the Sarcophagus. Well worth it.  Route finding easy with excellent modern description supplied with permit.

PS Short damp crawl mentioned above can be avoided by climb up, short crawl and stroll down boulders but quicker just to splash through the crawl.

Thanks for the replies blackshiver & psychocrawler - both very useful 

Great pics blackshiver!

This is what it looked like the day after we installed the gates in 2009, the ground had been very wet, then there was a big downpour, it responded very quickly.

Wow. 

Erm, smug "told you so" seems appropriate, a nicely captured picture there which will hopefully keep people both aware and safe........