Caving in Derbyshire for the 1st time

[angelmaz11]

Hi all,

I know I could probably read through the posts for half an hour and find some answers to my questions, but this is the easier (and yes lazy) option.

I am going up to Derbyshire for the 1st time this weekend and was wondering what ppl know about recent weather conditions, RADON levels, access, goodwill fees, state of P-anchors, loose boulders etc etc, that might be of interest to me about the following caves:

P8  (permission from Perryfoot Farm)
Eldon Hole (call at Laneside Farm, Mr. H Furness on A623)
Oxlow - Maskill exchange (permission from Oxlow House Farm)

I've got the "Caves of the Peak District" book, but you never know what time does to certain descriptions written in 1991.

Thanks

 

[Cave_Troll]

Phangers have been invented since COTPD was written. Oxlow-Maskill would bennifit from buying a rigging topo from Hitch'n'hike. All our Phangers are ok

Radon levels, we don't worry about them so you shouldn't

 

[graham]

All our Phangers are ok

So are ours 

 

[Katie]

I could be wrong but I dodn't think you needed to ask anyone to descend Eldon - anyone know any better?

Also P8 and Oxlow will both cost you a pound per person, payable when you ask permsission and perryfoot and oxlow.
All 3 are p-bolted. As to weather if it carries on as it today for the rest of the week all will be fine. Eldon and Oxlow will be fine no matter what the weather. Lots and lots a rain should put you off P8

I don't know about Radon levels - but derbyshire cavers rarely worry about it. Only outdoor centres whose employees do trips very very often.

Think this is all correct!

 

[damian]

I could be wrong but I dodn't think you needed to ask anyone to descend Eldon - anyone know any better?

According to the new BCA Handbook (section written by DCA at the end of March):

No need to contact farmer for routine trips. Approach from Perry Dale up Eldon Lane and park at top end, just beyond Sweetknoll House; follow footpath from here. Do not use surrounding fence posts as belays.

 

[SamT]

Agree with all of the above.

No need to worry about radon.
Not sure about Access to Eldon hole.
Only P8 suffers from high water, but that looks unlikely at the moment.
Call into Hitch and Hike to get hold of rigging topos for all 3 caves. They used to do natty little laminated "pocket" ones, for about a pound or two a piece.

All the info you need should be
here
http://w01-0504.web.dircon.net/caveguides/eldon_hole.pdf
here
http://w01-0504.web.dircon.net/caveguides/p8_jackpot.pdf
and here
http://w01-0504.web.dircon.net/caveguides/oxlow_cavern.pdf