Mendips Rigging Guides & Best SRT Caves

[Jamie]

Hey everyone,

I typically cave in the Peaks or Dales but I am venturing down to the Mendips for the first time next weekend, very excited!

Up north we have a bunch of great rigging guides and surveys but I'm struggling to find much on the Mendips. I have came across the Mendips Underground book, I'm assuming this is what most people are using, but it's out of stock so not sure how else I'm supposed to find the information I need? Is there some sort of digital version I can purchase?

Also what are some good SRT caves people enjoy down this way? I enjoy a good mixture of SRT and caving; my favourite caves are P8, Bull Pot and Knotslow & Oxlow for reference. Would love to hear some suggestions! From my initial research I've heard Hunter’s hole, Rhino Rift and Star Shaft?

Thanks,
Jamie

 

[badger]

Your a bit limited for a lot of srt trips.

Hunters hole. Can a real good play 3 routes to rig in the main chamber, but not massively deep.
Rhino rift, but more technical, essentially 3 pitches with a right or left hand routes available. I might be wrong but I believe the passage to the 4th pitch is blocked.
Thupe lane has various routes
If your staying at a cave hut there will probably have a copy of Mendip underground available or try the cscc website

 

[tim.rose2]

The only cave on Mendip I'd consider a good mix of srt and caving is thrupe lane swallet. You need dry weather but otherwise the cave is great. Rhino is just a big hole. All string no caving. Hunters is little hole, useful for SRT practice but not somewhere I'd suggest visiting cavers go. Star shaft is just a mine shaft with water at the bottom. Sort of once place for locals. Other options with some vertical element I'd recommend for Mendip first timers ... swildons black hole series (could do srt), GB, eastwater 13 pots, Longwood (dry weather only). There's a few rigging topos on the cscc site but best info in Mendip underground. Nothing available like up North!

 

[andrewmcleod]

Equipment [Council of Southern Caving Clubs]

cscc.org.uk

shows a list of anchor installations and a few topos, some of which are out of date. The 'direct route' in Hunter's Hole is rubbish and the deviations require considerable ingenuity, as I remember (but then I think Hunter's Hole is rubbish except as a convenient SRT training venue, so I might be biased).

Rhino Rift topo here:

charterhouse caving company

Personally I think it should be a condition of the BCA funding anchors that a topo is produced for every installation...

SRT is wonderful but doing it in the Mendips (which generally involves crawling and squeezing) usually ends up being a bit perverse and hard work.

The Twin Verticals in Eastwater is an 'entertaining' mix of Mendips and SRT, but the rigging is very old-school (first pitch on naturals and a spit, second pitch on some probably fine but random throughbolts). I can look up the rope lengths and gear required if desired. See:

Council of Southern Caving Clubs

The Council of Southern Caving Clubs is an association of Caving Clubs whose main interests lie in the Mendip Hills of Somerset.

cscc.org.uk

and note Eastwater was approved for new anchors in 2020/2021...

 

[PeteHall]

I typically cave in the Peaks or Dales but I am venturing down to the Mendips for the first time next weekend, very excited!

...

Also what are some good SRT caves people enjoy down this way?

If you want SRT, go to Yorkshire. If you want to experience Mendip, leave your SRT kit at home.

The geology of Mendip is such that there is very little in the way of SRT. It's an amazing caving region, but very different to the Peak, so don't expect the same things to make a good trip.

We all know that Limestone forms in flat beds, but in Mendip, the cave gods obviously had a wild night and forgot to make the bed in the morning, so the Limestone is all over the place.

What we have is caves on all sorts of strange angles and most of the pitches are very short and isolated, so we tend to use ladders to pass these. For short pitches, it's much quicker and easier than carrying SRT gear for everyone.

For a good taste of Mendip, go to Swildon's (20 foot ladder required). Go to GB on an evening. Definitely go yo Eastwater if you fancy some classic Mendip 45 degree Limestone that will really mess with your head if you're not used to it. Stoke Lane is another great place and very different to what you'll be used to.

You'll find Mendip Underground in all the huts on Mendip and if you go to the Hunters, you'll doubtless find plenty of people willing to give you some ideas snd advice.

Enjoy the weekend, but honestly don't make the classic northern mistake of searching out SRT caves, you'll have much more fun doing what the locals do.

And don't forget some neoprene if you like getting wet.

 

[Fulk]

I take it that there's still no access to Lamb Lair (is that how it's spelled?). I've only done it on ladders, years ago, but I guess that the descent into the chamber would make a fine, free-hanging SRT pitch (if the platform hasn't rotted away!).

 

[cap n chris]

Your a bit limited for a lot of srt trips.

Hunters hole. Can a real good play 3 routes to rig in the main chamber, but not massively deep.
Rhino rift, but more technical, essentially 3 pitches with a right or left hand routes available. I might be wrong but I believe the passage to the 4th pitch is blocked.
Thupe lane has various routes
If your staying at a cave hut there will probably have a copy of Mendip underground available or try the cscc website

Rhino Rift is open to the bottom; there are four pitches although the fourth is so snug you'd find it interesting on the return if you keep your chest jammer connected at the pinch. So don't. As Tim mentions above, Thrupe Lane Swallet is definitely the best SRT AND caving venue on Mendip currently with a significant combination of potential routes/pitches from which to choose, but it's a marmite cave. And it can flood catastrophically with almost zero warning, note. Personally I love it.

 

[cap n chris]

Equipment [Council of Southern Caving Clubs]

cscc.org.uk

The 'direct route' in Hunter's Hole is rubbish and the deviations require considerable ingenuity, as I remember (but then I think Hunter's Hole is rubbish [snip]

Council of Southern Caving Clubs

The Council of Southern Caving Clubs is an association of Caving Clubs whose main interests lie in the Mendip Hills of Somerset.

cscc.org.uk

Correct. And it appears to be falling to pieces too. Don't look at the "roof" when you're in there if you wish to remain calm.

 

[Tritim230]

Rhino Rift is open to the bottom; there are four pitches although the fourth is so snug you'd find it interesting on the return if you keep your chest jammer connected at the pinch. So don't. As Tim mentions above, Thrupe Lane Swallet is definitely the best SRT AND caving venue on Mendip currently with a significant combination of potential routes/pitches from which to choose, but it's a marmite cave. And it can flood catastrophically with almost zero warning, note. Personally I love it.

I love the term 'marmite cave' - I presume you mean that some people love it and others don't?

 

[mikem]

I love the term 'marmite cave' - I presume you mean that some people love it and others don't?

Indeed, as is Eastwater. Swildons is the classic as it has trips for everyone, then it depends which hut you are staying at as to which trips are easiest to organise for classic formations. Note Star Shaft is not currently accessible & probably the lower level is flooded after recent rain. A lot of the limestone on Mendip is nearer 45 degrees, so not that many SRT pitches (unlike Yorkshire which is about zero & South Wales 4 degrees - not sure about Peak?)

Landowner still won't allow access to Lamb Leer (Lair) unless you're willing to pay through the nose...

 

[Babyhagrid]

and note Eastwater was approved for new anchors in 2020/2021...

There are new P bolts on the dolphin pitch in pretty sure

 

[mikem]

Was certainly on the cards:

Council of Southern Caving Clubs

The Council of Southern Caving Clubs is an association of Caving Clubs whose main interests lie in the Mendip Hills of Somerset.

cscc.org.uk

 

[andrewmcleod]

There are new P bolts on the dolphin pitch in pretty sure

Ooh, exciting didn't realise it had actually been done now.

Do you mean the 35 foot pitch? There is Dolphin Pot, the free climbable chimney I generally belay people on, and the 35 foot pitch which you normally ladder. There is no Dolphin pitch. Are there P bolts on Dolphin Pot as well (there's a massive thread at the top so I assume not)?

 

[Babyhagrid]

the 35 foot pitch. (ive always called this dolphin pitch, and the climb , dolphin pot). there are 3 in various places which make belaying the ladder easier

 

[JohnMCooper]

From Mendip Underground (MU5)

reaches the head of the 35ft Pitch (commonly referred to as as Dolphin Pitch)

so Babyhagrid is using common terms

and that's the name I always use.

 

[wormster]

Dolphin Pot (or whatever it's called) is a cinch compared with the squalledness after the descent, an exoskeleton is required plus gonads of forged steel!!

But that's all off topic - SRT, Mendip, are you having a giraffe? No call beyond the afore mentioned venues, Hunter's Hole for training, Rhino Rift is a long drop for not much but bad air at the bottom, Thrupe Lane is ok without rain, but can flood, same goes for Longwood.

Leave the "janglies" at home and have fun squirming about in scrot holes - biased advice here Swildons is far more entertaining than East water, and, they're both within walking distance of the Wessex HQ!

 

[tim.rose2]

The problem with Swildons is that I believe Mud Sump is flooded at the moment which takes out a large portion of the cave, obviously including the short round. So in terms of what I'd recommend a visiting caver in Swildons at the moment you've got a shortish trip to Sump 1 or 2 or a longer trip if you including Blackhole Series. Since the short round is unavailable (which would obviously be first choice) for a true Mendip experience I'd recommend Eastwater 13 pots (figure of 8 exchange) and Longwood (weather dependent).

 

[me]

Bath Pot to Rods Pot. When you are in Rods you can explore the Blind pots (They go quite a way now) and there is a round trip which I understand not many people have done due..

Has anyone mentioned Charterhouse or Upper Flood yet. They will keep you entertained all weekend!!

 

[mikem]

Or St Cuthbert's

There is a rigging guide, although somewhat difficult to get hold of (& the current Mendip Underground also details the ropes required, but same status):

A Mendip Cavers Ropework Guide by Andy Sparrow, 1991

A Mendip Cavers Ropework Guide by Andy Sparrow, 1991, spiral bound. $14.00

speleobooks.secure-mall.com

Tony Seddon's original review:

Depth through thought 5/2/92

 

[Shapatti]

Ooh, exciting didn't realise it had actually been done now.

Do you mean the 35 foot pitch? There is Dolphin Pot, the free climbable chimney I generally belay people on, and the 35 foot pitch which you normally ladder. There is no Dolphin pitch. Are there P bolts on Dolphin Pot as well (there's a massive thread at the top so I assume not)?

I went with Andrew to set the bolts on the 35ft pitch in lateish 2021 if my memory serves, the delay was mostly down to struggling to get materials and timetable clashes.
New resin anchors were installed both on the slab where the ladder is normally hung, and then above people's heads if they are sat on the edge of the pitch, these were placed to hopefully make life lining a bit less awkward. These could possibly be used for SRT in a pinch, with a rub on the edge of the pitch. We also looked at trying to set bolts for a reasonably nice SRT hang on the left hand wall, but found the rock to all be rather hollow.
We struggled a bit for ideal bolt placement due to the presence of old spits, but managed to reuse at least one of original placements.

Dolphin Pot itself (The chimney before) was left alone as it has some decent naturals.

I take it that there's still no access to Lamb Lair (is that how it's spelled?). I've only done it on ladders, years ago, but I guess that the descent into the chamber would make a fine, free-hanging SRT pitch (if the platform hasn't rotted away!).

AFAIK Lamb Leer Cavern is still closed due to Landowner wishes.