Faggergill Mine Cave

[Speleofish]

Is it really the 'second longest cave system in the dales'? It would be good to know more about it.

 

[Graham Proudlove]

Yes, we really could do with a bit of an account of its exploration history, morphology and hydrology. I thought I knew my Dales caves but this is a new one on me. And I guess second longest in the northern Dales rather than the whole lot. Harrison and Ryder give 7k as an estimate.

 

[Chunks]

To provide a few snippets from the section on Faggergill; there's a couple of notable maze areas and some linear features, one of which carries a stream. The figure quoted for natural is "in excess of 7km", the line survey only shows levels that provide access to the natural - they look very lengthy in their own right, be interesting to know just how much passage (mined and natural) is down there. At the bottom of the map is a vague line survey of Windegg, which looks positively minute in comparison!

I wish I lived closer to the Northern Dales, some interesting bits and bobs in them there Dales, look forward to reading more about that other big system, Hudgill..

 

[richardg]

To those people who complain about caves being gated to preserve them or old mines being gated to preserve the heritage within them,

If they had spent their time, many hours of patient work in opening up these places and discovering extreme beauty or ancient irreplaceable artifacts, would they be happy to just advertise them and invite anyone to descend them and totally destroy this heritage that could be preserved for all.

All it takes is just getting to know those people who control access for the purpose of conservation and are willing to accompany you on such journeys through these gems.

I've been involved in the discovery of many a beautiful cavern, several are now devoid of the beautiful pristine original beauty, smashed up by people with no thought of preservation...

Count yourselves fortunate there are still some mines and caves in the Northern Dales with access restrictions so you can go and see such things as original clog marks made centuries ago...... and to be preserved hopefully for generations to come..

 

[Chunks]

Was anyone really complaining a great deal about the place being gated? If what I hear is true then I can appreciate why it is. I think the point people are trying to make is the very limited access where it appears you have to ask someone that might know someone that might be able to point you to someone that might give you access. Lots of uncertainty. Have the discoveries/artefacts been documented somewhere sensible, will the information be preserved and made available to future generations? Who knows... 

 

[Antwan]

If any of the 'guardians' are reading this ( or anyone with contacts) , could we arrange a special trip for any interested forum members? Me included?

 

[Loki]

Bump....  perhaps the guardians have spent many years perfecting a magnificent survey and photographs in a glossy publication to justify why there is no access and let us enjoy it from our armchairs.
I have no issue with gates or access restrictions as long as we all know what those arrangements are.

 

[moorebooks]

Bump....  perhaps the guardians have spent many years perfecting a magnificent survey and photographs in a glossy publication to justify why there is no access and let us enjoy it from our armchairs.
I have no issue with gates or access restrictions as long as we all know what those arrangements are.

If you read the above you can see where it states clog prints were walked all over in spite of notices. There is a need to preserve mining artifacts in situ many mines have been ransacked and trashed (box for one) . The controlled access is to preserve features not to prevent legitimate explorers. I doubt there is intent to produce a publication.

My club controls access into Snailbeach not to stop genuine explorers , but the usual mob of mineral hunters, artifact ransacking and trashing of important site

Mike

 

[Loki]

I did read the above and I do agree with protecting caves and mines. Many caves have been trashed by overuse. My point was rather than keeping the place as some kind of big secret let everyone know what?s there by showing us all with some nice pictures at the very least. There?s a lot of people curious to know about it.
Or maybe that?s the point - if people don?t know what?s there they won?t want to go and see it....

 

[ChrisJC]

Bona-fide mine exploration societies have held visits there in recent years, although you won't find it named in their journals, nor will you find photos on the interwebs.

So my suggestion would be to get in touch with a few societies and see if they are doing any trips there in the future?, or if they could be persuaded to do so. They will for sure know how to obtain access.

Chris.

 

[Loki]

I?m not interested in going in there, I?m quite happy if it?s restricted for conservation reasons. I?m just very interested to know WHAT is in there. 

 

[ChrisJC]

If it's the mining side, then you could do worse than to purchase a copy of British Mining No. 53:
https://www.nmrs.org.uk/publication/the-arkengarthdale-mines/
available from Moore Books.

If it's the caving side, then you want the BCRA publication Caves and Karst of the Yorkshire Dales, Chapter 31, Caves of Swaledale.
https://bcra.org.uk/pub/dales/index.html?j=2
Probably also available from Moore Books.

Chris.

 

[Loki]

Thanks for pointing that out. I have been meaning to buy volume 2 for ages but never seen a copy. Just bought it today. Just what I needed. Looks like a good read

 

[moorebooks]

If it's the mining side, then you could do worse than to purchase a copy of British Mining No. 53:
https://www.nmrs.org.uk/publication/the-arkengarthdale-mines/
available from Moore Books.

If it's the caving side, then you want the BCRA publication Caves and Karst of the Yorkshire Dales, Chapter 31, Caves of Swaledale.
https://bcra.org.uk/pub/dales/index.html?j=2
Probably also available from Moore Books.

Chris.

They certainly are

Mike