Offbeat trip ideas

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smollett

Member
As the title suggests really. I have done most of the classics in the 3 peaks area and would like some suggestions of good trips outside the main areas/systems. I'm thinking of seldom visited hidden gems. Worked through quite a few of the NFTFH trips and have a good list of things to do from that but I was thinking of more friendly suggestions where I can take the other half and also see something new myself (she doesn't like water or digging but is fine wriggling through dry tight stuff). I'm thinking of caves like Hagg Gill or Short Gill in Barbondale. Anyone got any suggestions?
Thanks
 
D

dunc

New member
she doesn't like water
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Hmm, tricky one! Doesn't like at all or just ducks etc??

Knock Fell Caverns
Devis Hole Mine Caverns
Smeltmill Beck Cave (bit of crawling in water at the start but mostly walking afterwards)
Snatcher Pot
County Pot / Easegill (away from the "usual" routes theres plenty of interesting and different trips to be had)
Galegarth Pot
Darnbrook Pot
Low Douk Cave
Mongo Gill Hole

:confused:
 
langcliffe

langcliffe

Well-known member
smollett said:
Anyone got any suggestions?
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Manchester Hole, Goyden and New Goyden (taken together, an excellent day's caving)
Out Sleets
Excalibur
Sleets Gill
BPOW
Aygill Caverns (especially the New Year series)
 
kay

kay

Well-known member
dunc said:
she doesn't like water
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Hmm, tricky one! Doesn't like at all or just ducks etc??

Smeltmill Beck Cave (bit of crawling in water at the start but mostly walking afterwards)
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There's also a bit of walking on tip-toe through nose-deep water!
 
langcliffe

langcliffe

Well-known member
Thinking of Easegill, there's a fun 'Easegill Inlets' trip (needs a ladder in County):

1. Top Sink
2. Follow water past Holbeck Junction and turn up Pool Sink inlet (using the overhead route is cheating)
3. Spiral Staircase Passage to Wretched Rabbit
4. Down Wretched Rabbit to junction with Pierce's Passage
5. Up Pierce's Passage to Trident Bypass and hence through to County
6. Downstream in County to Platypus Junction
7. Turn left up Razor Passage to Broadway and out.
 
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dunc

New member
langcliffe said:
smollett said:
Anyone got any suggestions?
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Out Sleets
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Only as far as the duck though....

Thinking of Easegill,
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Hmm, I guess my vague "County Pot / Easegill" needs expanding upon too..
Trident provides plenty of options, two more notable ones being; Paper Floor Passage and Broken Ladder Passage (this ends up high above the streamway, not sure if you can get down there or not? we stayed high and headed into the very fine Lower Trident Roof Passage, which ends at a very loose climb down)
Ignorance Is Bliss provides an alternative way down or back up if in County. Dismal Bypass is nice and dry, I combined it with a return via Dismal Junction (a little wet but only short), I've considered using either of the Dismals with a Mancunian Way / Easegill Aven round trip, though not got round to that yet.. 
Depot 1.5 is another interesting and probably little used way to get to Wretched Rabbit Passage from Stop Pot.
 
kay

kay

Well-known member
dunc said:
There's also a bit of walking on tip-toe through nose-deep water!
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I don't remember it being that bad?
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You're probably more than 5ft 4 tall ;-)

But yes, there's certainly a bit of deep wading. Rather nice, as you duck under roof ridges from one pool to the next. Wet, but not in the least bit scary (definitely neo-fleece or wet suit, not furry).  The first time I went, I was definitely on tip-toe, though! The second time the water was a bit lower, only about neck deep.

Once you've got through that bit, all the rest is dry, and well worth the effort. Highly recommended cave - where else, apart from Valley Entrance, can you park within two minutes walk of the entrance?

 
big-palooka

big-palooka

Member
I thought "Lancashire" was swearing in Yorkshire - not "Derbyshire"

But perhaps I'm not fully educated in "cave" swear words

PC
 
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dunc

New member
I thought "Lancashire" was swearing in Yorkshire - not "Derbyshire"
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True, but in the forum-section sense it might be? Not all notable caves/pots are in Yorkshire anyway so it can't be considered swearing, and that's another arguement that's been had in the past...

To add to the above;
Windegg Mine Caverns
Wizards Chasm
Bucket on the head (downstream, there is a short duck beyond the pitch though. Upstream would be too wet..)
Whitewell Cave
Cliff Force Cave (not overly wet, the duck has a bypass)
Robinsons Pot (if you've not had chance it's worth a visit)
Sleets Gill
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A pleasant extension to the day is Dowkabottom Cave.
 
S

smollett

Member
Some good suggestions thanks. Done the 3 counties and 3 peaks areas to death, although I may take her down Sylvester, as I remember it being dry when I did it (apart from dismal junction which she should be ok on, and I could try iraqnaphobia or the nice way to bypass it). She is ok with a bit of water, just doesnt like long ducks. She wouldn't go through the duck to Large pot from rift for example. Wizards Chasm sounds interesting, as does knock fell (i've seen the survey) and Goyden. Been down Devis Hole but it was a bit too mine like for me. Have heard smeltgill beck is wet at the entrance also. I may try that on Fri evening as it is on my route to the dales and I'll be on my tod then (from what I've heard I don't think she will like it). Bucket on the head could also be a good option. I've only done a couple of trips in Barbondale so it would be good to explore that valley a bit more.
Done the following so don't fancy them again in the near future.
Devis Hole Mine Caverns
County Pot / Easegill (away from the "usual" routes theres plenty of interesting and different trips to be had)
Galegarth Pot
Low Douk Cave
Mongo Gill Hole
BPOW
Aygill Caverns (especially the New Year series)
 
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