Gautries Hole - Surface SRT Practice Pitch

[DCA]

Following a request from local cavers for a surface SRT practice pitch, DCA have installed anchors for a pitch on the crag above the entrance to Gautries Hole. This pitch has various options for different descents and obsticles, and can be supervised from the elevated ground off to the side. We recommend that rigging is started well back from the edge at the first bolt on the topo, as the ground here is very slippery with mud and vegetation.
At the moment there is only one pitch here, but there is probably scope for another if there is demand. Let DCA know if you find this a valuable resource and we'll maybe head back in the summer and see what else we can do. We'd advise against adding your own anchors on this crag, there is an abundance of dubious rock on many of the other obvious potential pitches here, and several days were spent exploring options for safe routes already before this pitch was selected.

A rigging topo is on the PDCi website here: https://peakdistrictcaving.info/home/the-caves/castleton/gautries-hole

Thanks to the helpers and the landowner for consenting to this work.
Pete Knight
DCA anchor installer / Projects Officer

Pete Knight bolting on a freezing Valentines Day 2026 (photo by Beth Knight)

Chris Bannister giving the new pitch a trial run after the anchors were tested by Pete Knight earlier today.

Chris on the pitch. Gautries entrance is at the bottom left-hand corner of the crag, under the overhang.

 

[Cantclimbtom]

It works!! - Thank you DCA

Although it was horrendously muddy today, so probably a site best after dry weather

 

[Pete K]

Glad to see it's getting some use. Despite the mud I bet it was a million times more pleasant there than over at the other end of the valley where we were working on top of a hill when the hail and snow hit.