Descent 307

[Chris Scaife]

Brace yourselves; it's publication week!

Cover: Emma Key in Doolin River Cave. Photo: Bill Nix
Back Cover: Mathew Sedgwick on the High Level Route in Heron Pot, Yorkshire Dales. Photo: Gareth Williams

This issue includes news reports of sump discoveries in the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales, extensions in South Wales, rescue-friendly modifications to a notorious entrance series in the Forest of Dean, student trips to exotic places, great teamwork on a Yorkshire rescue, a legendary cave owned by a Fife church, and expeditions to Thailand and the Philippines.

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Features:

The Final Phase of Vurley Swallet
Peter Glanvill reports on a lengthy Mendip project that has resulted in significant new ground since it was last reported in Descent.

Fairies Fest
George North, with the help of many others, reports on a grand underground get-together in County Durham.

Back to Llangollen
Last year’s Hidden Earth venue, the Llangollen Pavilion, proved so popular that it was chosen to host this year’s – and next year’s – events. Polly Judd writes about her experience of the greatest social gathering in the caving calendar.

A River in the Clouds
Simon Brooks and Brian Kharpran Daly report on the 2025 Caving in the Abode of the Clouds expedition, which took place from 2-28 February 2025 as part of the enduring partnership between Indian and international cavers, supported by the Shillong-based Meghalaya Adventurers’ Association.

Speleosisters+ at Five
Gwenllian Tawy and Rachel Turnbull write about alternative spaces in caving.

Caving in Madeira
The volcanic Atlantic island of Madeira is better known for its jagged peaks, unique wildlife, rocky beaches and cerulean waters than for its subterranean delights, but as Chris Scaife writes, cavers who find themselves over there on a beach holiday need not despair.

Exploring the Caves of the Big Blue
Konstantinos Trimmis reports on an expedition to explore caves on the Greek island of Amorgos.

The Descent Christmas Crossword
Martin Wright keeps up the Descent Christmas tradition.

 

[Chris Scaife]

'Our mission was to locate, survey and assess Amorgos’s potholes – known locally as vothonas – hidden in the island’s ancient limestone spine. It was the first systematic speleological exploration of the island, and what we discovered was extraordinary.'

It may be hard to believe, but there are still limestone areas in Europe that have never really been investigated by cavers. In Descent 307, you can read an article by Konstantinos Trimmis about a number of cave discoveries on the Greek island of Amorgos.

In the photo: Looking up from the bottom of Sikofteri, Amorgos, by Sotiris Kountouras

 

[Chris Scaife]

'Eventually, we reach a spacious chamber. It is almost possible for us both to occupy this simultaneously. Beyond, the passage degenerates to a committing thrutch at roof level along the egg-timer-shaped rift. This looks pushable, but potentially tricky to reverse: the widest part trends downhill and is liberally greased.'

Fairy Holes, in the North Pennines, has increased in size by several kilometres in recent years. In Descent 307, you can read a report by many of the explorers involved in a grand day out to push the total length of the system to over 7km.

In the photo: John Worden in the Sarcophagus (not the part being described in the quote above), Fairy Holes, by Bill Nix

 

[Chris Scaife]

'All weekend trips can be organised by anyone who attends SpeleoSisters+ weekends, with an open invite for any women and gender diverse cavers, regardless of experience or ability.'

In Descent 307, Gwenllian Tawy and Rachel Turnbull write about the successful first five years of Speleosisters+.

In the photo: Elin West and Emma Caspers on an exchange trip between Boxhead Pot and It’s a Cracker, Yorkshire Dales, by Ane Appelt

 

[Chris Scaife]

'It comprises a large river passage up to 30m wide and high in places, substantial relic passages over 20m wide and 15m high, along with a mixture of inlet passages, beautiful oxbows and boulder chokes.'

In Descent 307, Simon Brooks and Brian Kharpran Daly write an expedition report from another hugely successful trip to Meghalaya in north-east India.

In the photo: Ben Richards in Lungchung Khur, by Bill Nix

 

[Chris Scaife]

'An absolutely splendid and enriching weekend, totally different to the often-monotonous cycle of day-to-day life. It felt as though, as many cave-related weekends do, I’d been plucked away into another world.'

In Descent 307, Polly Judd reflects on a huge gathering of cavers at Hidden Earth.

In the photo: Cavers' tents in the grounds of Llangollen Pavilion, by Chris Howes