Hello everybody, not sure where to post but anyway I have been researching caving for about 6 years now and have done some common caves in west black mountain several times, I have also spent countless hours in Gower and black mountain searching for obvious sites of undiscovered caves, although I don't have the time anymore for that. I have also done the Dinas Silica mines. Basically could someone recommend me a nice and easy cave to do, don't mind travelling as I'm in Llanelli, i was thinking of porth ar Ogof but the information I can find about it warn of danger in wet weather such as water flooding to the roof, I'll be introducing a friend into caving so it can't be that arduous

Thanks

Bridge Cave is very near PYO, I don?t think it floods in wet weather? Quite an impressive little river chamber too.

Alternatively, get in touch with SWCC for one of their beginner weekends? That?ll take you into OFD.

For things further East, Agen Allwedd, Pen Eryr, Eglwys Faen etc. get in touch with Brynmawr CC

So are some caves gated and maintained by different caving clubs, also do club's share keys with each other or Not?

Thanks

Unfortunately some caves are gated, with keys held with caving clubs.

Keys can be shared between clubs, subject to the relevant access policies.

Hi Walshy,

Why not try looking at https://newtocaving.com

Lots of good info and plenty of contacts for local caving clubs who can help introduce you and your friend to caves and caving 

You'll find a wealth of knowledge within local clubs which will be far more valuable to you than a few cave names recommended over the Internet.

I'm a bit gutted there isn't a club closer to me, and which one to choose is a little daunting as there is quite a few in South Wales. As a side note, what do experienced cavers wear to stsy dry? Ive always worn clothes I am comfortable in as I don't mind the water...

Thanks

The clubs tend to be where the caves are, not necessarily where the members live. Many clubs have a hut or bunk-House where people stay when caving for the weekend.

My advice would be to join one of the larger clubs like SWCC to give you a chance to meet plenty of people. You may end up joining another smaller club as you get to know more people.

As far as gear goes, if it is a wet cave, no point trying to stay dry

An old/second hand wetsuit is ideal if it's going to get very wet... Though there are a number of specialist caving equipment suppliers around the country. In South Wales, your best bet is Starless River, who have a mobile shop that visits the different caving regions.

PeteHall said:

Hi Walshy,

Why not try looking at https://newtocaving.com

Lots of good info and plenty of contacts for local caving clubs who can help introduce you and your friend to caves and caving 

You'll find a wealth of knowledge within local clubs which will be far more valuable to you than a few cave names recommended over the Internet.

Click to expand...

It's a great site    FYI - the list of clubs will be extended and updated in the next couple of weeks along with other improvements to the contacts page. 

How many people are currently active within SWCC? Also it's a beautiful day today and which ever cave I choose I hope I see some other savers

Hello Walshy.

SWCC is probably one of the most active clubs in the UK with members spread all over the world.  Hard to say how many members are 'active' because members have their own projects all over the place; digging on Gower, filming on Mendip, cave diving and just generally doing fun caving.  What do you want to get involved with? At the moment a large group of us are heading out to Spain to do some big sporting SRT caving in Cantabria through the next week. The trip happens most years in April, no reason why you shouldn't be on it next year if you want to be.

Attend Penwyllt any weekend and you are likely to find people there who have travelled from all over the UK; I was there yesterday and there were people from Cardiff, the Cotswolds, Essex, South Devon and the very far end of the Gower...  If you are based in Llanelli you are right on the door step!

Drop in one weekend and make yourself known.  If you have a look at the calendar on the club's website you will be able to work out which weekends are busy and when you are likely to meet lots of people...  Committee weekends are especially good for this.  The next 'provisionals weekend', when you would be more than welcome and are pretty much guaranteed a good caving trip in OFD, is the first weekend of June.

Application forms for Provisional membership are in the blue folder on the wall in the lobby at Penwyllt.  Feel free to pick one up!

L

Hi Long Drop, thanks for such a detailed reply. I read on the SWCC website that to become a full member two members must put a recommendation forward to become a full member, I'm mainly looking to learn more about cave systems in general such as the hydrology and geology of how they form and so on, also I'd really like to have a go at SRT and more about methods of exploration in caves, I also have interest in DSLR photography in caves because of the beauty of it. I think I will fit in well, I do work full time as I'm sure most of us do so I hope I will have the time for a club. And of course I'd really like to see OFD and Dan Yr Ogof, I really enjoy seeing decorated passages. Also how much is BCA cave insurance

Thanks

Hi mate!

Just a quick echo that I?ve read the whole thread, clubs are definitely the right way to go!

I?m not a member of SWCC but you won?t go wrong with it!

Don?t worry about working full time and having time for it, I?d say that?s the situations most members are in and there isn?t really a schedule the club runs you have to keep to!

You just turn up to what you fancy

BCA insurance is ?17.50


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That sounds amazing mate, what about gear? Is it bought it does a club lend any?

I actually don't know what SWCC does.

My club used to lend gear but you generally get your own pretty quickly.

Hi Walshy155.

I would recommend that you come to the Provisional's  weekend at SWCC on, Friday 1st June to Sunday 3rd. Just bring a sleeping bag and pillow case, all your food for the weekend, plus your caving gear of course and join as a provisional, you will get at least two trips in over the weekend.

As Long Drop says, then come along on committee weekends and you are almost guaranteed a couple of trips.

Living in Llanelli SWCC would be the ideal club for you. OFD really is something special, you could spend years exploring it and still find new places. I have recently become a member and can't wait to get exploring.

There are ungated caves on the Black Mountain you could do without joining a club, the best ones for beginners are probably Llygad Llwchwr, Ogof Foel Fawr, and Ogof Pasg. I would still advise against going in without a copy of the survey and some local knowledge mind you. ogof.org.uk is great resource for info on South Wales caves.

No need to spend a lot of money on kit starting off, my first caving trips were in a cheap painters style overall from Screwfix I bought for a tenner, served me well for a good few trips before it wore through. Then added a cheap fleecey onesie, wellies, helmet, gloves.

I have done the Llygad system 1 and 2 a few times I really enjoy LL2, I learned a lot in cave photography in that cave using a DSLR, I've had a peek in lesser known caves around west black mountain, such as the Drws Nef dig and a few other smaller digs, whoever dug them made some real progress but halted for some time and I'm not sure why, have yet to do Foel Fawr never found the entrance or maybe I did but didn't intend to do any caves that day, last weekend I did Porth Ar Ogof, which was interesting but wasn't impressively decorated, and that is probably the biggest reason why I'll join a club to see the more awe inspiring caves such as the ones mentioned.

Also for gear I normally wear riggers and anything I feel comfortable and warm in