A Yorkshire Caver in Mendip!

[undergroundHP]

Hi all
So I am a Northern Caver but this weekend I have to go to a wedding down in the Mendips and have a spare few hours..... .
That gives me an idea and plan to get a cave out of area .
I will have a good few hours and open to any recommendations. Or if anyone is going out Saturday morning and they are willing to have a Yorkshire man tag along that would be great.

Thanks

 

[marsrat]

Swildon's (you'll need a rope w/ SRT kit or a ladder) down to sump 1. Decent fun

 

[PeteHall]

If you want a fun trip, go to Swildon's and follow you nose/ the water, until you reach the 20 foot pitch. Then head back upstream and explore all the oxbows and loops and alternative routes. There are loads of different routes you can take through the upper series and you'll easily fill a few hours and have plenty of fun without bothering to go down the pitch.

If you want some classic Mendip, the type that puts off most Yorkshire types, go to Eastwater and try getting your head around the geology being tilted at 45 degrees.

If you'd prefer to be squeezing about in your wetsuit, Stoke Lane Slocker is a fantastic trip. Follow the water down to the 2nd sump, then head back over the top and follow your nose through some huge and decorated chambers, emerging close to the downstream side of the first sump. The sump can e a little intimidating, but if you like water, you really can't beat this as a trip and it'll be quite pleasant with the warm summer water.

 

[JoshW]

If you want a fun trip, go to Swildon's and follow you nose/ the water, until you reach the 20 foot pitch. Then head back upstream and explore all the oxbows and loops and alternative routes. There are loads of different routes you can take through the upper series and you'll easily fill a few hours and have plenty of fun without bothering to go down the pitch.

Hell yes! The upper series is so overlooked with people holding sump 1 a some sort of holy grail that needs to be rushed to.

Love exploring all the nonsense little oxbows and seeing how they all link up

 

[mikem]

Long and short dry ways to right of wet way and oxbows to left (going down)

 

[undergroundHP]

Thanks everyone

 

[wormster]

You can easily loose 4 hours in the upper series of Swildons - the squeeze through to Buttcombe Chamber is a collectors item!

 

[Graigwen]

If you want a fun trip, go to Swildon's and follow you nose/ the water, until you reach the 20 foot pitch. Then head back upstream and explore all the oxbows and loops and alternative routes. There are loads of different routes you can take through the upper series and you'll easily fill a few hours and have plenty of fun without bothering to go down the pitch.

I will also put in a good word for the upper passages of Swildons. About fifty years ago a my flat mate and myself gave ourselves a Sunday morning off from serious caving after a heavy night in the Hunters, so did lots of small caves (including a very embarrassing incident at Nine Barrows) before walking to Swildons to meet the rest of our group. The was no sign of our comrades so we entered Swildons and within a couple of minutes found ourselves backed up behind a huge horde backed up from the 20. Trying to make the best of a bad situation we went into the nearest empty passage and amused ourselves for an hour and half seeing places we had not known existed. I accept we probably went down some passages two, three or more times but it was good fun.
.

 

[Cantclimbtom]

I'm still inwardly grinning from Wormster's quick guided tour of upper Swildon's - and we barely scratched the surface.

 

[Tribal Chestnut]

In Yorkshire yesterday some Mendip types were having this very discussion about the upper series of Swildon’s.

 

[undergroundHP]

Just got home from the Mendips.
Thank you for the recommendation of Swildons. I managed to get a good few hours of exploring done in the entrance passages before following the water down o the first pitch. I will certainly be making a return trip to the Mendips.
On a side note. The wedding we went to was in Wooky hole cave. Very impressive place!!

We also explored Ebbor gorge and cheddar gorge while down for the weekend with the family.

 

[darren]

Proper caving trips into the depths of wooky hole are available.

Contact CSCC to arrange a leader.