We had a trip down Calf Holes yesterday, following the latest CNCC update we parked at Low Birkwith Farm.
We spoke to the farmer there who was very friendly and said we used to park up at High Birkwith, his comments were that he got on with the High Birkwith farmer okay ( farmer to farmer ) but the High Birkwith farmer didn't like people !
Once we'd been through Calf Holes and de-rigged, we walked back down to the old parking area and followed the footpath left ( towards Birkwith ). At this point a flock of sheep was being driven up the hill from High Birkwith towards the gate, while most of us kept back, one offered to open the gate, the sheep were driven through and the farmer passed on a quad, not saying anything.
Once the gate was shut we were watching the sheep being driven by the dogs up the track and another farm vehicle came down the hill, they spoke to the farmer on the quad briefly and headed down, we opened the gate for this vehicle too, but they got out to close it.
The farm vehicle stopped and we were asked where we were going, we said we were just going to have a look at Birkwith, we were told in no uncertain terms we couldn't go in there, nobody goes there anymore and the stile has been removed. They said we could go in Calf Holes but that was all.
So we abandoned any further caving and headed back to the cars.
I can't verify if the stile to Birkwith has been removed but it's worth knowing in advance as any attempted access would require climbing over walls.
Calf Hole is still a great easy trip, although made slightly harder as I couldn't remember the way through as it's a while since I've been !
We spoke to the farmer there who was very friendly and said we used to park up at High Birkwith, his comments were that he got on with the High Birkwith farmer okay ( farmer to farmer ) but the High Birkwith farmer didn't like people !
Once we'd been through Calf Holes and de-rigged, we walked back down to the old parking area and followed the footpath left ( towards Birkwith ). At this point a flock of sheep was being driven up the hill from High Birkwith towards the gate, while most of us kept back, one offered to open the gate, the sheep were driven through and the farmer passed on a quad, not saying anything.
Once the gate was shut we were watching the sheep being driven by the dogs up the track and another farm vehicle came down the hill, they spoke to the farmer on the quad briefly and headed down, we opened the gate for this vehicle too, but they got out to close it.
The farm vehicle stopped and we were asked where we were going, we said we were just going to have a look at Birkwith, we were told in no uncertain terms we couldn't go in there, nobody goes there anymore and the stile has been removed. They said we could go in Calf Holes but that was all.
So we abandoned any further caving and headed back to the cars.
I can't verify if the stile to Birkwith has been removed but it's worth knowing in advance as any attempted access would require climbing over walls.
Calf Hole is still a great easy trip, although made slightly harder as I couldn't remember the way through as it's a while since I've been !