Best caving region in the UK?

[PeteHall]

I have no recollection of anything in swildons, eastwater, thrupe lane

I'm genuinely lost for words...

Swildon's is, without doubt, one of the finest stream caves in the country. If you genuinely found it so dull that you can't remember it, that says more about you than it does about the cave.

I'm pretty confident in saying that I remember every cave I've ever visited and probably pretty much every trip too (aside from digging trips which have a habit of merging together in the brain). That is because I like caves, so I engage my brain when I'm underground. If you failed to engage your brain, that is your loss.

 

[Babyhagrid]

I tend to gauge things on how memorable the trips were and I have no recollection of anything in swildons, eastwater, thrupe lane or that one where you have to close a sluice on the surface before going down. See I can’t even remember it’s name!
Like the argument of quantity of good caving vs quantity of good caves. S wales has superb caves but dales wins out on quantity. And accessibility 😉🤪 💣🗝️

Swildons and Eastwater are very strong in my memory. But perhaps that's because I've done multiple trips in each. They both make for good fun and they don't have the dales issue of being complete death traps in anything but dry weather

 

[A_Northerner]

I'm genuinely lost for words...

Swildon's is, without doubt, one of the finest stream caves in the country. If you genuinely found it so dull that you can't remember it, that says more about you than it does about the cave.

I'm pretty confident in saying that I remember every cave I've ever visited and probably pretty much every trip too (aside from digging trips which have a habit of merging together in the brain). That is because I like caves, so I engage my brain when I'm underground. If you failed to engage your brain, that is your loss.

Swildons is deep and quite wet, I'll admit.
The streamway is sporting, but Shatter is shit.

 

[mikem]

Shatter pot or cave ..?

Dam controlled is st Cuthbert's

 

[Fulk]

"Shit" formations in Shatter Cave:

 

[Lankyman]

Swildons is deep and quite wet, I'll admit.
The streamway is sporting, but Shatter is shit.

This looks like a cavers' pub drinking song. Are there any more verses?

 

[hannahb]

I'm genuinely lost for words...

Swildon's is, without doubt, one of the finest stream caves in the country. If you genuinely found it so dull that you can't remember it, that says more about you than it does about the cave.

I'm pretty confident in saying that I remember every cave I've ever visited and probably pretty much every trip too (aside from digging trips which have a habit of merging together in the brain). That is because I like caves, so I engage my brain when I'm underground. If you failed to engage your brain, that is your loss.

Pete I think that's a little unfair, although perhaps @Loki was also being a bit facetious. I don't remember every caving trip, far from it, and it's not because I don't enjoy them or engage my brain.

 

[hannahb]

This looks like a cavers' pub drinking song. Are there any more verses?

Many it's The Wild Caver, or The Hard Caver, depending on who is singing. A fine ditty.

Songbook

DUSA Songbook A collection of songs from previous decades. The Hard Caver DUSA’s version of this classic caving song, sung to the tune of “The Wild Rover”. This version was found in an old log book, and also appears in the one and only DUSA journal. I’ve been a hard caver for many a yearAnd […]

speleologicalassociation.webspace.durham.ac.uk

There are other versions

 

[mikem]

That explains it, "hard" cavers don't like formations...

People generally remember trips they organise themselves, but are more hazy when being led

 

[hannahb]

That explains it, "hard" cavers don't like formations...

People generally remember trips they organise themselves, but are more hazy when being led

In my experience it doesn't work like this. Some trips I remember, some I don't. It's probably best not to generalise about other people.

 

[mikem]

Yes, there are all sorts of reasons for trips being memorable or not, but if you've researched and planned it then it's more likely to stick (it's also much easier to learn the route when leading rather than following)

 

[georgenorth]

"Shit" formations in Shatter Cave:

I assume that the song refers to Shatter Series in Swildon’s rather than Shatter Cave. The song is always right 😉

 

[mikem]

Priddy green stink was the sh*tty one, after all it drops into the cowsh avens!

Swildons shatter pot – 30th september 2009

who: Tim t, Rob R, Dave Gwhere: Shatter pot Swildons Holewhen: wednesday 30th september 2008duration: 3:05 7:30-10:35 underground Descending Shatter Pot When we went past Shatter Pot on route for b…

davethecave.wordpress.com

 

[hannahb]

I assume that the song refers to Shatter Series in Swildon’s rather than Shatter Cave. The song is always right 😉

Ohhhhhh this makes a lot more sense now

 

[Fulk]

Ah – so it's not Shatter Cave that's shit!!! Sorry.

 

[PeteHall]

Shatter Series in Swildon's has a couple of muddy ducks and some low crawls, so I can well imagine it being described as shit. However, that is a matter of perspective; compared to a lot of stuff in the Peak, I expect it's quite pleasant

 

[pwhole]

We're doing just fine down here, thank you - it's character-building. And our latest projects are pretty clean, relatively speaking

 

[Relict]

Well, children have often asked me whats your Favourite cave? (Having been an outdoor instructor)
Well , my answer has been, " silly question but thanks for asking. They are all different, but i am grateful for each and every one of them. My favourite cave is a cave."

 

[Jenny P]

Personal preference only I as am a Derbyshire caver but I do like the OFD I streamway. It's just fun! I'm also a fan of the Easegill streamway.

Derbyshire does have the longest undergroiund pitch in the UK: Titan - though I have never done it (or even seen it, other than in films or photos).

The first time of seeing Easter Grotto (many years ago before damage and litter began to accumulate) was amazing. And standing in the main chamber of GG for the first time was mind-blowing - again, many years ago.

I always found that the company you were with was what made a particular trip memorable, hence I will always remember the very first cave I ever did: Swildons - again, many years ago.

So you'll see why I think voting for the "best caving region" makes no sense.

 

[Tangent_tracker]

Love Peaks because the true cavers were the miners that scoured the land and beat most of us underground 300 years ago .
But Yorks for most impressive stuff