Long weekend itinery

[Stu]

Advice from you locals please...


Goatchurch
Pierre's Pot
Sidcot
Rod's Pot
Lionel's Hole

Blackmoor (UFS)
Manor Farm Swallet
G.B.

Swildon's
Eastwater
Hunter's Hole
Thrupe Lane

St Cuthbert's

Got a couple of long weekends booked in Feb/March. Aside from access/permits etc is there anything current I should know i.e. some local pagan devil worship to avoid at all cost!!!

Any of these just not worth the trouble? Are there better things to be done?

I want to make the most of the limited time so all comments to this end welcome.

Ta

 

[damian]

I'd add Longwood-August to this list ... and the Fairy Quarry Caves.

but I'm not very local any more!

 

[cap n chris]

So that's just the fifteen trips, then.

8 on the first weekend and 7 on the second, perhaps? 

 

[Elaine]

I would avoid the busier places - ie Swildons, unless you like queueing by ladder pitches!

 

[damian]

I would avoid the busier places - ie Swildons, unless you like queueing by ladder pitches!

But surely if you're going to go to Lionel's you can't miss Swildon's (by far the best cave on Mendip IMHO)???

 

[Stupot]

If you go to Swildon's don't forget the block house combination prior to arrival 

 

[Chris J]

I would avoid the busier places - ie Swildons, unless you like queueing by ladder pitches!

or go on Sunday at midday - last weekend we were the only people in the cave!! seriously all this worrying about queueing is fairly unfounded except in Sept/Oct when you quite often find lots of freshers.

 

[andymorgan]

Blackmoor (UFS)

Join the queue!

(Actually I don't know if there is a queue, and if there are still normal trips to the old cave)

 

[Stu]

So that's just the fifteen trips, then.

8 on the first weekend and 7 on the second, perhaps? 

I've got Thursday and Friday plus weekend but have to allow travel from Sheffield on the Thursday/Sunday.  So a manic trip becomes just a rush... 

 

[Stu]

Blackmoor (UFS)

(Actually I don't know if there is a queue, and if there are still normal trips to the old cave)

?

 

[martinr]

Blackmoor (UFS)

Join the queue!

(Actually I don't know if there is a queue, and if there are still normal trips to the old cave)

In theory, trips can still be arranged to the "old" cave. email secretary@m-c-g.org.uk and you will be put in touch with a Leader.

There is no date yet for opening the "new" cave to visitors. I'm really sorry about this. We are not being awkward, it is just that there is a lot of work to do first. All trips at present are solely for exploration, surveying, photography, or conservation. If you want a trip to the new stuff, you need to be on one of these trips I'm afraid. Which basically means you need to be in contact with one of the diggers.

I have not been to the new stuff, but I have seen the latest photos which are breathtaking. This is an absolutely stunning cave with some of the best formations on Mendip. MCG have to protect these formations before opening the cave up, which we will do as soon as we can.

We don't have a queue or list of names as such, but as soon as we are able to lead "tourist" trips to the new stuff I am sure you will read it here first!

For info, there have been a couple of near misses in the cave so far: eg a hurt ankle; facial injuries following a small fall.; a roof collapse just after leaving a dig face. MRO were taken to the new stuff last week and agreed that rescue through the boulder choke (ie the breakthrough) would be problematical. So our priority is to make the cave safe; and complete an accurate survey in case an injured caver becomes trapped beyond the breakthrough squeeze. We know, for eg, that some of the old miners shafts of Charterhouse Rakes are very close to the cave although there is no sign of the miners having reached the cave itself - they may have gone straight down past it!

 

[Stu]

Elsewhere then. Thanks for the comprehensive reply. 

 

[whitelackington]

Tyning's Barrows Swallet,
about the twelth longest cave on Mendip, it costs a quid
three tiny ladders but fairly long streamway, for Mendip

 

[cap n chris]

three tiny ladders but fairly long streamway

three?

The entrance is a split pitch single ladder; where are the other two?

 

[SamT]

As very occasional visitor to those parts - I'd recommend St Cuthberts if you can org. a guide. Swildons, Longwood/August and GB (its quite big, but not huge like titan) are all musts.

 

[whitelackington]

three tiny ladders but fairly long streamway

three?

The entrance is a split pitch single ladder; where are the other two?

Ladder one, off entrance bar, about 5 metres

ladder two, just inside cave, off two spits, again about 5 metres

Ladder three, Pyramid Pot, again about 5 metres, very long belay about 5 metres back to spits.
:icon_321:

 

[andysnook]

three tiny ladders but fairly long streamway

three?

The entrance is a split pitch single ladder; where are the other two?

Isnt there a ladder needed immediately after the entrance ?  Long tether (10ft) round a rock, drop down through a slot.

Then later pyramid pot i think, it's only about 10ft or so.  (It's been about 10yrs since last visit so memory may be iffy)

Or do you free climb the latter two ?

 

[cap n chris]

Oh, I see. We put a 10m ladder down the entrance; climb the first section and then use the ladder as an assist on the second section. Pyramid pot is an ab down a doubled rope and an easy hand over hand climb back (superb foot ledges make for quick and easy work - doubled rope so that hand grip/friction is assisted).

 

[whitelackington]

But if the cave goes into flood mode while you are in (you would be very unlucky)
rather trickey free climbing up a raging waterfall, even if it is only 4 metres.

 

[cap n chris]

Granted. Mind you, isn't it a bit tricky on a ladder when a numpy puts their leg through a rung and ends upside down in a waterfall too?