mark220gsiturbo1
New member
Planning to do some caving in yorkshire early next year but unsure of were to go, done quite alot in derbyshire so it wont be 1st time caving. Any of you lot know any good caves?
caving in yorkshire for 1st tme
- Thread starter mark220gsiturbo1
- Start date
Good caves in Yorkshire (not forgetting Lancashire and Cumbria) - plenty to go at, depends what you like; horizontal or vertical or a bit of both, wet/dry, big/small?
Unfortunately access can be an issue up north and permits are needed for certain areas, so suggestions may be limited by such factors..
Unfortunately access can be an issue up north and permits are needed for certain areas, so suggestions may be limited by such factors..
mark220gsiturbo1
New member
bit of everything do like the drops , for example love p8(jackpot) in derbyshire which has a bit of everything. Were planning on going for the weekend so trying plan now ready for early next year!
Alex
Well-known member
Its a little wet but not not too bad, Ireby is goog classic which has no access permission (has a bit of everything) Another classic is Swinsto/Simpsons pull through over in Kingsdale. Illusion (same valley but otherside) is an underrated trip but you may need to bale the sump (that needs no rope).
The really good stuff on Leck Fell such as Lost Johns etc needs a permit so you can't do them ad-hoc which is a pity
. If your quick and hes about you may be able to get a permit for Easegill at short notice.
The really good stuff on Leck Fell such as Lost Johns etc needs a permit so you can't do them ad-hoc which is a pity
. If your quick and hes about you may be able to get a permit for Easegill at short notice.
David Rose
Active member
You don't need a permit for the Gaping Gill system. Bar Pot would be a good bet as long as you can cope with a 30 metre pitch. Easy to find the entrance, and also a chance to visit the second largest chamber (by floor plan) in the UK and have a good look around elsewhere.
David Rose said:
you dont ??
i am not trying to stir anything
but i am under the believe that permits haveto be applied for via the ingleton estates office
reportedly easy to obtain - but they need forward planning and " cat herding " the people i go on non-club trips with has so far nixed all attempts to plan a GG trip by ourselves
knowing that we dont actually need a permit would ease matters next year
TheBitterEnd
Well-known member
Check the CNCC website for access arrangements. Permits are generally not hard to get if you are in a club but require a little forward planning. With a permit, one of the many routes into Gaping Gill has to be a classic Dales trip (just noticed some saying you don't need a permit, they are wrong you do, I just got three!).
Other areas not needing a permit and so far not mentioned are Chapel-le-Dale (with everything from easy trips to bigger stuff like Meregill and Blackshiver) and Birkwith area (mainly shorter trips).
In the absence of a guide book, the CNCC rigging guides are worth getting hold of, as well as rigging info they give cave locations, access arrangements etc.
Other areas not needing a permit and so far not mentioned are Chapel-le-Dale (with everything from easy trips to bigger stuff like Meregill and Blackshiver) and Birkwith area (mainly shorter trips).
In the absence of a guide book, the CNCC rigging guides are worth getting hold of, as well as rigging info they give cave locations, access arrangements etc.
mark220gsiturbo1
New member
Sounds good! Is there any good books covering yorkshire caves like "caves of the peak district" which cover derbyshire?
The Northern Caves series is the best, but they are out of print and hard to come by.
Selected Caves of Britain gives an overview of some good trips, although some argue the content is not great and has a few errors.
Not For The Faint Heated is a well written book of 50 trips, they are the harder trips though and not everyones cup of tea.
CNCC Rigging Guides provide info on any pots that have been p-bolted, which is generally the popular pots.
There's a few websites with info, routes etc on too, not got time to list right now.
Selected Caves of Britain gives an overview of some good trips, although some argue the content is not great and has a few errors.
Not For The Faint Heated is a well written book of 50 trips, they are the harder trips though and not everyones cup of tea.
CNCC Rigging Guides provide info on any pots that have been p-bolted, which is generally the popular pots.
There's a few websites with info, routes etc on too, not got time to list right now.
JasonC
Well-known member
The Braemoor site is an excellent place to start: http://www.braemoor.co.uk/caving/index.shtml
The 'Index of Articles' button goes to er, an index of articles - they obviously don't cover everything, but each one is a superb guide to the trip concerned.
The 'Links' button is also useful - the Cave Maps site is excellent for locating caves, and has some surveys, and the RRCPC site has a fairly comprehensive guide to Easegill, if you get a permit - and not all Easegill entrances need one.
The 'Index of Articles' button goes to er, an index of articles - they obviously don't cover everything, but each one is a superb guide to the trip concerned.
The 'Links' button is also useful - the Cave Maps site is excellent for locating caves, and has some surveys, and the RRCPC site has a fairly comprehensive guide to Easegill, if you get a permit - and not all Easegill entrances need one.
Pitlamp
Well-known member
I suspect - but I'm by no means certain - that JasonC's last sentence may no longer be up to date following recent developments (last 2 or 3 weeks). This is in the wake of problems occurring on Casterton Fell earlier this autumn. (We have a project in one of the caves in lower Ease Gill which previously didn't have a permit system but as of last week now does - I don't know what the situation is further up valley though.)
Given that things are still a bit sensitive, if mark22gsiturbo1 hasn't done any of the many other fine caves in the Dales before, I can't help pondering on whether it might be preferable to go elsewhere on this visit to reduce the pressure on Casterton / Leck in particular? Unless of course you specifically wanted to do something in that area, in which case talk to the relevant CNCC officer a.s.a.p. assuming your club is a CNCC member. Even if your club isn't a member it's well worth a chat with a CNCC officer if you are looking at trying to go caving on Casterton or Leck. The CNCC is all about helping people get access, not creating obstacles to going caving as some folk occasionally seem to think. (In fact the CNCC website has loads of help and information about access right across the Dales.)
Just to add to others' comments above - the Ingleborough Estate is very supportive of cavers wanting to go up to the GG area potholes (thanks to the landowner Dr.John Farrer, who is an honorary member of at least three northern caving clubs!) - but they do expect to issue permits formally. The lady in the estate office in Clapham (which is only open midweek mornings incidentally, in case you're thinking of calling in person to ask) is generally very helpful. I think they also require anyone going caving to have BCA insurance cover though, so bear that in mind if anyone in your group isn't a club member covered by the scheme.
The above is genuinely offered as help rather than hindrance.
Sell Gill Holes near Horton in Ribblesdale is an interesting trip including nice pitches and a large chamber, with no great difficulty. The entrance is right next to a public footpath and I'm pretty sure there is no need to ask permission to descend. The Dry Entrance is doable in just about any weather conditions. The Wet Entrance is a flooder though, as is the extension beyond the old downstream sump (down the streamway from the Main Chamber) - so definitely avoid these areas unless the weather's guaranteed settled.
I hope you have a brilliant weekend, wherever you end up!
Given that things are still a bit sensitive, if mark22gsiturbo1 hasn't done any of the many other fine caves in the Dales before, I can't help pondering on whether it might be preferable to go elsewhere on this visit to reduce the pressure on Casterton / Leck in particular? Unless of course you specifically wanted to do something in that area, in which case talk to the relevant CNCC officer a.s.a.p. assuming your club is a CNCC member. Even if your club isn't a member it's well worth a chat with a CNCC officer if you are looking at trying to go caving on Casterton or Leck. The CNCC is all about helping people get access, not creating obstacles to going caving as some folk occasionally seem to think. (In fact the CNCC website has loads of help and information about access right across the Dales.)
Just to add to others' comments above - the Ingleborough Estate is very supportive of cavers wanting to go up to the GG area potholes (thanks to the landowner Dr.John Farrer, who is an honorary member of at least three northern caving clubs!) - but they do expect to issue permits formally. The lady in the estate office in Clapham (which is only open midweek mornings incidentally, in case you're thinking of calling in person to ask) is generally very helpful. I think they also require anyone going caving to have BCA insurance cover though, so bear that in mind if anyone in your group isn't a club member covered by the scheme.
The above is genuinely offered as help rather than hindrance.
Sell Gill Holes near Horton in Ribblesdale is an interesting trip including nice pitches and a large chamber, with no great difficulty. The entrance is right next to a public footpath and I'm pretty sure there is no need to ask permission to descend. The Dry Entrance is doable in just about any weather conditions. The Wet Entrance is a flooder though, as is the extension beyond the old downstream sump (down the streamway from the Main Chamber) - so definitely avoid these areas unless the weather's guaranteed settled.
I hope you have a brilliant weekend, wherever you end up!
That should be Hearted not Heated, damn mobile phones!dunc said:
I could hazard a guess as to which, although I'm puzzled by how Casterton relates to them (based on what information I've been given on how access operates in that area.)Pitlamp said:
Not sure what JasonC refers to exactly, but, you can gain access to Pippikin, Peterson, Bye George, Mistral and Link by calling at Leck Fell House - incidentally, some of these are handy for wet weather. Pip/Peterson/Bye George are snug, as is Link near the top of the entrance pitch, Mistral is ok, if muddy further in and requires no tackle.
langcliffe
Well-known member
Bull Pot of Witches doesn't need a permit, and you can have a fantastic trip in there (although it hides many of its virtues from the majority of visitors).
JasonC
Well-known member
Pitlamp said:
Ah, looks like you're right - I had thought WR at least was unrestricted - I should of course have checked here first: http://www.cncc.org.uk/caving_access_three_counties_system.html
- but anyway, my main point was that Braemore has a number of very useful guides and links, which I don't think anyone would argue with!
Pitlamp
Well-known member
I'd certainly agree with you there JasonC.
Dunc - we may have been talking slightly at cross purposes. I was referring just to entrances actually in Ease Gill (the gill itself) but I think you were referring to the Ease Gill system as a whole. In which case I guess we're both right.
A reason for recent changes / rationalization regarding some entrances actually in the gill is because they're generally accessed from Bull Pot Farm, thus crossing Casterton Fell to get to them. It was when the estate people found lots of folk going caving from Bull Pot Farm when the estate knew no permits had been issued that the problems arose - unsurprisingly.
I have to say that certain CNCC officers have been really helpful to us regarding our project in lower Ease Gill. They do a good job and we shouldn't pull the rug from under them by trying to circumvent the system. (Not that anyone who has responded here is suggesting that of course.)
Dunc - we may have been talking slightly at cross purposes. I was referring just to entrances actually in Ease Gill (the gill itself) but I think you were referring to the Ease Gill system as a whole. In which case I guess we're both right.
A reason for recent changes / rationalization regarding some entrances actually in the gill is because they're generally accessed from Bull Pot Farm, thus crossing Casterton Fell to get to them. It was when the estate people found lots of folk going caving from Bull Pot Farm when the estate knew no permits had been issued that the problems arose - unsurprisingly.
I have to say that certain CNCC officers have been really helpful to us regarding our project in lower Ease Gill. They do a good job and we shouldn't pull the rug from under them by trying to circumvent the system. (Not that anyone who has responded here is suggesting that of course.)
John, I think that the reason for the change in the access situation for Lower Ease Gill cave/s is the recent increase in its popularity/visits. There are a number of minor caves in the gill that aren't in the permit system as they never receive any attention, but you can bet your bottom dollar that if one of them starts to get regular visits it will soon be included to keep things under control.
Andy
Andy