Moorfurlong access and ladder

Rikaaay1

New member
Hi, just wondering if anyone has any recent info on the condition of moorfurlong ladder and what the farmer is like with access? Looking at a trip down on Saturday afternoon, will be taking ropes anyway but would be nice to know if the ladder is still good or if there is somewhere to anchor a rope. I've seen the info about getting permission from the landowner and paying an access fee, wondered if anyone has been down recently that can confirm if he's still allowing access and how much the fee might be?

Thanks for any info.
 

Pete K

Well-known member
As far as I'm aware the access is still fine. Certainly nothing on DCA's radar. Can't help with the state of the ladder though. Do please let DCA know if there are any issues with it.
 

Piglet

Member
I went in a fortnight ago. Someone else sorted access but as far as I know the landowner is happy to let people go in and the access fee is £2. The ladder's fine, it's very vertical but in good nick. Just be aware that the rungs aren't always evenly spaced, which can catch you out, especially near the top.
 

pwhole

Well-known member
From memory (from the same trip two weeks ago) there's a steel staple (or something) in the concrete by the shaft top for a backup, but it's not really handy for lifelining - that said it's a fairly easy climb - apart from the rung spacing! Make sure you check out the crawls to the bottom end to see the 'Blue John' - the best bit, IMHO. Others may disagree ;)

If you find these features in 'Zorro Chamber', you're on the right track. There's also a drystone air-duct, sealed throughout with clay, and miners fingerprints everywhere - be very careful, as these are from the late 1600s.

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Rikaaay1

New member
Thanks for the info. Just an update in case anyone is reading this later and has the same question.
Access wasn't a problem, as mentioned speak to Mr Brown for permission, fee at the time was £2 a head. Had a bit of a runaround trying to find the right farm, so here's a 3words address for anyone looking for it in the future ///gamer.latter.furniture

As for ladder condition, as stated, the shaft ladder seemed good, but with some oddly spaced rings, and there is a ground anchor at the top to lifeline. The short pitch after the ground anchor has a ladder leaning against the wall, but this only comes half way and there is only one bolt at the top that we could find. We also had a look down the buddle chamber, which was a bit scrambly/climby and no anchor point at the top we could see. It's roughly 5m down with a couple of small stepped ledges at the top half, there is a metal rail spanning the hole on the bottom half which is loose and looked a bit rusty at one end, but held our weight.
 

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pwhole

Well-known member
Yeah, I free-climbed down that shaft with the rail on the last trip, and it seems pretty solid really. I found a new clay pipe too elsewhere, different to the one I knew about. Did you manage to find the route through to the bottom?
 

Rikaaay1

New member
Yeah, I free-climbed down that shaft with the rail on the last trip, and it seems pretty solid really. I found a new clay pipe too elsewhere, different to the one I knew about. Did you manage to find the route through to the bottom?
I don't think we got to the end of the crawls, got maybe half way, but some in the group weren't that keen on the crawls, and we got started a bit late, so we're pushed for time anyway.
 
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