Cowlow Pot?

[jasonbirder]

Thinking of a trip on Thursday night (weather permitting)
Does anyone know if the access has changed at all in recent years?
Also..never heard much about it (nor spoken to anyone thats been down) anyone have comments on what its like as a trip?
Cheers!

 

[paul]

It may be obvious, but, have you tried the DCA Access Officer? access[at]theDCA[dot]org[dot]uk?

 

[Northern caver]

Not had the pleasure of doing Cowlow although the CCotPD describes it as "nasty, unusual, complex and awkward"   Roughly translated in my book as an excellent days caving! According to the book, there are two pitches, Pitch one only requires a short handline and Pitch 2 an 8m ladder and lifeline.

Apparently permission to descend with key for lid is obtained from Old House Farm in Back Lane although, please be aware that CCotPD was published well over a decade ago and this might have changed; so i'd certainly contact the DCA access officer.

Let us know how you get on, i'd like to have a go down there myself.

 

[Pitlamp]

See CDG Peak District Sump Index Update 1997 page 34. Apparently entry involves crawling over broken glass soaked in sewage - or at least it did at the time.

 

[ttxela]

Apparently permission to descend with key for lid is obtained from Old House Farm in Back Lane although, please be aware that CCotPD was published well over a decade ago and this might have changed; so i'd certainly contact the DCA access officer.

Have I missed the publishing of a new version or is it still being worked on?

 

[SeeJay]

I think it's still officially "real soon now" looking at the agendas and minutes on the DCA website. 

There's no update for Cowlow Pot in the access news section of the DCA website though, so theoretically it should be the same as CCotPD...

 

[jasonbirder]

Pitlamp Why oh why did you have to post that

crawling over broken glass soaked in sewage

I'll have a difficult job "selling" this Cave now If our lot read this it'll be Oxlow again on Thursday instead!

Look what you're missing out on Seejay...sure you won't join us Thursday?!?

 

[SeeJay]

Well, I already read the write up in CCotPD, sounds lovely.  Surprise Squeeze, so called for the chance of the broken drain above dumping used bathwater onto cavers at irregular intervals.  Unfortunately (cough) I'm 200 miles away on Thursday, work you know.  Shame really, sounds like something not to be missed.  Even better than Waterfall Hole...  :yucky:

 

[DAN]

If any access info has changed when you do your trip let john beck know so he can update it before the new book is printed! Also there is a realy interesting dig in the Garden on the crosraods over the road from a pub! Unfrotunatally the old couple who occupie the house are not caver friendly I expect they will carp it some time soon. This was said by other cavers twenty years ago (i am told) and they are still here. The dig looks very interesting though water can be heard dropping between boulders into caverns measurless-to-man!

 

[paul]

If any access info has changed when you do your trip let john beck know so he can update it before the new book is printed!

As is the case now, access information is published separately in the DCA Handbook as this is likely to change more often than the COPD is published!

So, if you have any information regarding access, email access[at]theDCA[dot]org[dot]uk

 

[SamT]

access information is published separately in the DCA Handbook as this is likely to change more often than the COPD is published!

Why not just publish access info on the DCA website, then it will never need 're-publishing' just as a Handbook would.

 

[DAN]

If the DCA took control of all places with a lid that is locked, then it would take the possability of anyone entering the cave who has not got insurance entering the cave or mine. In my experiance cave owners who have a key to controle access are generally concered about there liabilty. When people move on or nobody goes in a cave or mine for a very long time access agrements can be lost, contact through the DCA just occassionaly would stop this happening and reasure a land owner that things are being monitored.

 

[paul]

access information is published separately in the DCA Handbook as this is likely to change more often than the COPD is published!

Why not just publish access info on the DCA website, then it will never need 're-publishing' just as a Handbook would.

I imagine it will be. We were talking about a printed version, I thought.

 

[matthewjc]

Does anyone have a rough idea of the expected date for publication of the new guide - I made some enquires via the DCA a while ago and was advised it was nearly ready for binding...?

Cheers

Matt

 

[paul]

Does anyone have a rough idea of the expected date for publication of the new guide - I made some enquires via the DCA a while ago and was advised it was nearly ready for binding...?

Cheers

Matt

Currently a publisher is being organised. There is no date as yet but it shouldn't be too far away now.

 

[matthewjc]

Cheers Paul, would putting it on this years xmas list be jumping the gun..?

Matt

 

[paul]

Cheers Paul, would putting it on this years xmas list be jumping the gun..?

Matt

Hopefully not!

 

[jasonbirder]

Cowlow Pot
Spoke to farmers wife at Old House Farm...Access still as described in COPD; they still control access and the land the cave is on...they seemed friendly enough and aproachable but a bit wary about letting cavers down as they say its dangerous...So talk nice and stress your competance!
The key is long gone...padlock seccured to a rusty collapsed oil drum which fell down the entrance shaft and had to be pulled out!
Entrance shaft very, very loose...required extensive gardening...
Other than that cave nicer than described...didn't get too far...because suprise squeeze defeated some of our party (Pies..yum yum!)...but no sign of significant pollution or broken glass etc in streamway, nor any sign of sewage/pollution at suprise squeeze...
Will be revisiting...looks like it might be a little gem
Station Road and Back Lane aren't ideal for parking/changing (narrow & residential) we parked and changed in Dove Holes station car park...which might be the best bet for any visiting parties to avoid any difficulties

 

[Northern caver]

Thanks for the info Jason, sounds intriguing. Did surprise squeeze seem tight? Doesn't mention it in CCotPD

 

[jasonbirder]

More awkward than tight...