Blea Gill Cave

[Cavedrone]

I am just wondering if anyone has done this cave recently (or not so recently).

Just wondering cos it was discovered by my Club LCCC but a quick search on the internet
and in here just threw up an overdue callout in 1995 from the CRO newsletter but no
trip reports which led me to believe that folks don't go there? 

 

[Beardy]

never been myself - but it is on my "list" to do
not heard of a trip there for years
and I beleive that the bottom entrance has probably collapsed
suspect that it is a classic through trip when open

regards
Beardy

 

[Mr Fell]

I recall walking past the bottom entrance at Doctor's Spring and thinking that it looked tight. I bet the top entrance is blocked as well by now.

 

[Cavedrone]

I was thinking from the description that it sounds like it may be in keeping with current trends
in harder caving i.e. squeezes, can flood, loose in places, grade IV.

 

[Pitlamp]

I was involved in exploring the main streamway along with the likes of Pete Seed, Les Mottram and several other cavers with the LCCC when I was a youth. I wouldn't describe it as especially hard but definitely do it in dry and settled weather. It's an unusual cave but well worth a trip; you don't often get such long and well developed streamways at that altitude. Sandstone floors in places are slightly unusual too. Last time I was there I remember thinking how unspoiled it was - let's hope it stays that way.

 

[Cavedrone]

Thanks for the info Pitlamp and I didn't know you were ex-LCCC. 

Les will probably have mentioned you then when he was regaling us with plenty
of stories of the good old days at the annual cavers booze up recently.

 

[Pitlamp]

I was in the LC&CC in the 1970s - good bunch of folk.

I bumped into Les Mottram not long ago; didn't see him at first - just heard his accent from around a corner. But I knew EXACTLY who it was the moment he opened his mouth! It was great to see him again. I did a lot of caving with Les at one time.

 

[psychocrawler]

Top entrance is open and unlikely to collapse as I seem to recall it is in solid rock.

I failed to locate the bottom entrance near the rising, and this may have collapsed. The roof level squeeze on the way downstream is quite committing!

AT