BullPot of the Witches Sump

[James Goldberg]

Tomorrow I'm going to Bullpot farm and I've heard that the "Trap" sump in Bullpot of the Witches sometimes drains in low water, and it looks like currently the water levels in the dales are pretty low. I was wondering, how dry does it need to be to make the sump passable, and is it particularly difficult to get into the gour chamber from the upstream side of the sump?

 

[snebbit]

Not sure but I think it's more like the height of summer that it happens, worth a try though. There is an in-situ rope to help you up the non-vertical scramble up to Gour Chamber, this was in reasonable condition last summer but very muddy. I jammered on to it for reassurance as the footing was very slippery. It's a little awkward but nothing difficult. I think the first in our party followed the rope to the top and had an energetic time from there, but the others got off the rope at a ledge a little lower and a short thrutch got us to the same place.

 

[Samouse1]

There's some rain overnight that's likely to fill it up again if it is empty. I did it last year after a dry spell, had a little bit of rain overnight, the next day it was sumped again

 

[James Goldberg]

Thankyou, I might end up doing a short trip tonight to have a look. I assume the climb up from the other side is less tight right?

 

[langcliffe]

This is a description of the route from Gour Chamber going the other way taken from the Braemoor route guide:

"The way to the upstream series is to the right. Traverse round the obvious pool, and head straight on (a very fine chamber is to be found by climbing up to the left). A descending flowstone-floored bedding passage will be found at floor level. This leads down a couple of squirms to a ledge area halfway up a hading rift. The easiest way down to the stream can be found by crossing towards some boulders, descending between them, and then following a thin traverse line above a sump pool."

 

[snebbit]

Thankyou, I might end up doing a short trip tonight to have a look. I assume the climb up from the other side is less tight right?

Yep. I've never been able to get up the climb from the near side. The route from beyond the Trap isn't tight at all, and I was relieved to find I could get down the tight climb with the gravity assistance (and with my kit off), albeit with bruised ribs, rather than having to go right back round through the Trap afterwards.