Peak district cave challenges

[benshannon]

In the peak there is an event called the 9 edges where you run a route (can't remember the exact distance) and climb a route on each of the 9 edges.

I'm keen to do something similar but cave related. Is there anything already known in the peak that's a worthy challenge? Or maybe like a 3 peaks (3 pots) of caving etc.

 

[Babyhagrid]

There is a 3 peaks 3 pots challenge that involves running over the Yorkshire 3 peaks with ropes and SRT gear and going down 3 pots . Others may know more details

 

[skippy]

Back in the 80's, the club Mrs Trellis and I were in, SCG had the 3 freaks challenge.
I don't remember the exact detail however climbing, running and Giants was involved. It was held during our yearly camping meet at the 3 Stags, Wardlow.

 

[Rob]

There is nothing really like that in the Peak.

We did this back in 2006, which was mostly fun and allows walking between which is cool. Nowt like the Yorkshire 3 Peaks 3 Pots challenge though!

Thread 'Derbyshire's 3 deepest?' https://ukcaving.com/board/index.php?threads/derbyshires-3-deepest.2692/

 

[Mrs Trellis]

Iirc 3 freaks challenge:- Giant's round trip , do a route on Raven Tor Crag between Miller's Dale & Litton Mill, walk back to 3 Stags to finish.
Might be worth resurrecting by some nutters athletic types

 

[mikem]

Edale skyline is 20 miles, can you tie that in with some caves? (9 edges is 23 and 3 peaks is 26):

7 Peak District Challenges for 2025 – Peak District Walks

peakdistrictwalks.net

 

[pwhole]

I'm sure Sidetrack or Convenience/Giants/Oxlow could all be done in one day if you could be arsed - or swap Maskhill for Oxlow to make it harder if it sounds too easy

 

[T pot 2]

I'm sure Sidetrack or Convenience/Giants/Oxlow could all be done in one day if you could be arsed - or swap Maskhill for Oxlow to make it harder if it sounds too easy

For a good day in the 70s we would cycle from the pegasus hostel at peak forest, do p8 and guatries, onto giants and cycle home to the hostel, change and then sup int three stags till tossing out time.

 

[Wardy]

For a good day in the 70s we would cycle from the pegasus hostel at peak forest, do p8 and guatries, onto giants and cycle home to the hostel, change and then sup int three stags till tossing out time.

What did you do on the Sunday?

 

[T pot 2]

What did you do on the Sunday?

Hollandtwine mine or dig at thistle pot!

 

[Mrs Trellis]

For a good day in the 70s we would cycle from the pegasus hostel at peak forest, do p8 and guatries, onto giants and cycle home to the hostel, change and then sup int three stags till tossing out time.

We 'ad it tough - when we got 'ome our mums and dads would cut us in 'alf wi't bread knife and dance on our graves.

 

[Samouse1]

We 'ad it tough - when we got 'ome our mums and dads would cut us in 'alf wi't bread knife and dance on our graves.

Luxury!

 

[Mrs Trellis]

Luxury!

Aye - you try an' tell the young people of today that, and they won't believe you...

 

[Vkocher]

I'm sure Sidetrack or Convenience/Giants/Oxlow could all be done in one day if you could be arsed - or swap Maskhill for Oxlow to make it harder if it sounds too easy

really !! in one day...hardcore !

 

[pwhole]

You know you can do it - just have to believe

 

[A_Northerner]

I've done Oxlow, Maskhill, and Nettle in a day. I believe AlexR did them all solo as well.

 

[AlexR]

Sadly the geology of Derbyshire (& Staffordshire) doesn’t lend itself too well to a walking + caving challenge.

Would recommend Nettle, Maskhill and Oxlow. Nice because they’re all so close.
Orders of magnitude easier than 3 Peaks, 3 Pots; in a team I’d say it’s just a good day caving, solo it’s moderately hard with rope logistics being the hardest bit really. Hope you like hauling.

More challenging options exist, e.g. like JH, Rowter (extensions) and Winnats Head (up and down, to make sure you get the full enjoyment of taking the rope through the boulder choke).
Similar to mountaineering just how challenging it is depends substantially on your approach/ ethics. Pre-rigged: Fairly easy verging on enjoyable. Rig & de-rig: bit more engaging. Solo & rig everything yourself: full experience you might regret.

Fair warning: JH is naff solo (cartgate + multiple heavy tackle sacks), the Winnats chokes are a bit of a pain but not as bad (less rope), only ever done Rowter pre-rigged so couldn’t say.

Spoiler: pdf contains details exactly how I sorted ropes for Nettle, Maskhill & Oxlow, don’t read if you want to do the logic puzzle yourself. Rope lengths only work for solo & 0 slack.

 

[al]

Fair warning: JH is naff solo (cartgate + multiple heavy tackle sacks), the Winnats chokes are a bit of a pain but not as bad (less rope), only ever done Rowter pre-rigged so couldn’t say.

I concur. I remember a trip up to the Vortices with Ann Soulsby and Jules, when Ann had agreed to de-rig Leviathan for Aquamole. He'd rigged it with a single rope and it was quite painful follwoing Ann dragging the huge tackle sack through the cartgate.