How far would you travel

[Stevo]

I was just reading the thread on East where? on the trip report section. Now a friend of mine keeps suggesting that I take a trip with him to visit the delights of Eastwater in the Mendips. Although he claims the cave is 'awesome', I've still got the impression that I will not enjoy the experience in any way and he's trying to get revenge after I brought him down a certain cave in Co. Fermanagh.

Having never caved in the Mendips before I would like to guage other peoples reactions before going by asking

'How far would you travel to go caving in Eastwater?'

 

[Les W]

200m as it's just down the lane from the Wessex 

 

[AndyF]

Depend where I had to go past to get there. If i lved in Kent then 150 miles. If i lived in Yorkshire I'd not bother....

if I lived in Ireland I'd get on a ryanair flight to France

 

[cap n chris]

I wouldn't. I'd go an extra quarter of a mile and visit Swildon's Hole instead `cos it's fab. Eastwater is a cave with a significant "Not going there again" hit rate. Swildon's is a "Can't go there enough, it's such a crowd-pleaser" cave.

 

[andymorgan]

I prefer Eastwater to Swildon's!!

I wouldn't bother travelling from Ireland though!

 

[darthnoddy]

Come on down to the mendips, stay at one of the friendly caveclub huts (like the wessex) and do a few caves ie swildons, eastwater and if you want to see the biggest chamber in the Uk you could go to GB cavern!

 

[Pitlamp]

Beware the Mendipians - they'll fill you full of rough cider then tell you jokes (like the one about the biggest chamber).

 

[Elaine]

Eastwater is not a pretty or impressive cave in the way that Swildons and other active stream caves are. In fact it is hard work as there are very few, if any, nice easy sections. However, knowing this in advance and having no expectations I found it was a very satisfying cave. Good hard fun! However, I have not been to the very end of the West End Series. I've only passed the end of Gweek Street on my way to Regents Street.

 

[graham]

Sod Swildons, get a flight from Belfast to somewhere near the Dordogne in France & go down Pucelle. 

 

[slippery_matt]

Depend where I had to go past to get there. If i lved in Kent then 150 miles. If i lived in Yorkshire I'd not bother....

yep, going to uni in kent is a pain in the arse - the union's even putting 60mph limiters in our minibuses which is going to make it even worse!  the trip to yorkshire this term is going to be painful... (it'd probably be quicker to get to france!)

keeping to the thread though, i really enjoyed eastwater - the first trip where a couple of us lead ourselves for the first time - didnt quite make it to the 13 pots though.  maybe next time 

 

[Peter Burgess]

Not so many people enjoy Eastwater as other caves in my experience, but that doesn't mean you wouldn't enjoy it. It is rarely the first choice of cavers when I go to Somerset, but it gets done occasionally I suspect to do something different from the usual candidates - typically Longwood, Swildons, GB, Burrington.

It used to be more of a favourite with the Venture Units my club used to take caving, but was less popular with the regulars. Perhaps they appreciated the challenge it presented more than the cave itself?

 

[Andrew W]

Eastwater is a fantastic cave but is something of an acquired taste. I've always thought that the cave was much darker and more oppresive than most caves and that if you were to dig down far enough it would probably be the quickest route to Hell! Having said that, the 13 pots are a really nice section (lovely and clean washed and contrasting nicely with the rest of the cave which is basically a bedding plane on various levels) and Regent Street in the west end is very nice too. Not only that but the trip to get to Regent Street is actually relatively easy. I think the nasty stuff in the West End is beyond this point (though I haven't been there). The key to the system is the upper traverse which is awkward but not particularly difficult. If you're thin it can be easily bypassed on the way back coming down via Kentishs' Cairn (never tried going in through that route but as it is uphill and tight I wouldn't have thought it would be easy).

However if I was travelling some distance to Mendip I would probably have to be there a few days to justify doing Eastwater as there are nicer caves near by. As mentioned Swildons is a great trip (especially the short round - I assume it is still open). The black hole series is also a good trip. GB is superb if you can get a key - ditto Longwood (although both routes down scare the hell out of me - either a brown trousers traverse or what amounts to a vertical sump in the wet chimney!). Cuthberts is superb if you can get a leader, though this needs a fair bit of forward planning or friends in the know. Eastwater is still in my top 5 though so if you were there a while I would definitely go for it.

 

[racingsnake]

I am hoping to loads of caving in mendips on my summer tour. Despite caving for over twenty years never got to that neck of the woods. And despite me reminding everyone on loads of occasions that we in Yorkshire have a load more caves than anywhere else in the UK ( and of better quality ) I am really looking forward to caving down south. Lock up your buttcome the snakes coming.

So my answer to the questions is a few hundred miles

 

[Peter Burgess]

Throw away any misconceptions you might have about The good 'ole Mendip Hills. I hope the weather is kind for you, as the plateau is a glorious place when the weather is warm and sunny (avoid the Gorge during the day though, if you don't like grockles). The best time to appreciate the Gorge in the summer is in the evening. The views into the Gorge and across the levels are best appreciated from the path that runs along the southern edge, from the end of the valley at Black Rock, down to Jacobs Ladder. Seek out the nature reserves, and take a walk out to Brean Down. Try to set aside a few hours for the caves as well!

 

[racingsnake]

OK Peter I give in whats a Grockle
:-\

 

[Peter Burgess]

http://www.grockles.co.uk/

Hang on, that's you!

 

[Brains]

Same as an emmet?

 

[Peter Burgess]

Oo arr.

 

[racingsnake]

We call them F in T'S
But yep that will be me complete with cloth cap lard butties and a flask of luke warm tea

 

[racingsnake]

Almost forgot better make it two flasks cos according to a certain mr Kay

" Thas nowt moist down south "