Priorsdale cave, Garrigill

[Wormy]

Just been up to Priorsdale cave today, poking about in a few mines etc on the way, sat reading the northern cave guides at the moment and it would appear that the cave has collapsed considerably, the squeeze at the back left was just about big enough to get my arm into. Also does anyone know anything about the stream resurgence to the left of the cave entrance?

 

[Mike Wood]

I think the water resurging at Priorsdale comes from sinks in Ash Gill, a mile and a bit to the south. It's an impressive limestone gorge with a sink near the top in dry weather. It's also possible the water might originate from much further away, like in the valley (Sally Grain?) over the hill to the south, in Weardale. The dip of the Great Limestone in those parts, looking at the geology like, it could be possible...

 

[Wormy]

A mile and a bit to the south?? Do you mean little gill?

 

[Speleofish]

I thought some of the water came from Little Gill (as you say, about a mile to the south). I thought Ashgill was the valley the water follows after the resurgence (with the rather pretty waterfall that you can walk behind).

 

[Mike Wood]

Ah yes, Little Gill; thanks for reminding me! It's not that little when you see the gorge it's made. looks a good spot for a furkle about.

 

[Wormy]

According to the books theres the three little gill caves and Rabbitskull cave in Little Gill, its next on my list of places to hit as I was also thinking of yomping over the top into weardale and hitting Sally Grain at the same time just so i can mark it off.  Theres also something up there marked on the OS map as Broad pot no mention of it anywhere else though.

Mine wise theres at least one open level in Little Gill and another up on the tops near Broad pot but that high up it could be a coal drift?!?!?!?!