Recommend me a trip

[Cantclimbtom]

Got to the entrance of Wapping and went to put my gloves on... Had left in the car, also forgotten my photography light so unfortunately no proper pics to share just the usual low quality phone and head torch.

I really enjoyed it, I was after a quick and easy low stress quick walk about, as a treat on a my way home. It certainly delivered.

Wapping I loved! Lots of stemples, well I hope they were stemples for platforms and not props to hold stuff up because they are very much past their best. I told myself they were for platforms while underneath them, there's a particularly good one in the 3rd stope impossibly holding up a massive section of roof, it can't be for platforms.

Lots of artifacts and you don't need to look very hard to see them. In the 3rd stope (before scrambling up to funnel/Cumberland (on right of tramway facing inbye) there's a spectacular crystal grotto very impressive. In the start of the maze so much large white crystal everywhere (is that gypsum?). Also lots of areas of squishy green/teal clay, in main stopes especially 3rd. Is that very very decomposed toad stone?

Cumberland was good explore, obviously the historic graffiti is worth a visit in itself but as a former show cave it was a bit sparse of attractions even allowing for the state of ruin and collapse, did see some nice drip cave pearls though

(For picture scale, the knife blade is just under 3")

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Thanks all for the recommendation.

Easy to find, easy to navigate, I only spent a quick hour which leaves me keen to return for a more detailed second look round (and explore the maze maybe)

 

[Brains]

FYI, the large white/grey crystal is calcite. The "teal" clay is indeed decomposed igneous material or toadstone. Probably ash that fell into water and converted to bentonite clay

 

[tdobson]

I really enjoyed it, I was after a quick and easy low stress quick walk about, as a treat on a my way home. It certainly delivered.

So glad it ticked your boxes. It gets traffic, but if you look beyond the surface (as you did) you can enjoy what you find.

 

[VWScully]

I will be in the Peak District in just over a week and might give this a go too! Is there a recommended route?

 

[Brains]

I will be in the Peak District in just over a week and might give this a go too! Is there a recommended route?

Follow the main passages as desire takes you. No real route as such, just lots of radiating routes on different levels. No need to worry about getting lost, it's not that big or confusing. Also an excess of chav arrows

 

[VWScully]

Follow the main passages as desire takes you. No real route as such, just lots of radiating routes on different levels. No need to worry about getting lost, it's not that big or confusing. Also an excess of chav arrows

Thanks! I just watched a Video on YouTube and even saw someone had painted 'EXIT' right by the Entrance (which is presumably the way out too ).
I am also considering Giant's Hole but without the SRT bit. Would I need a Guide for that though? :/

 

[Brains]

Thanks! I just watched a Video on YouTube and even saw someone had painted 'EXIT' right by the Entrance (which is presumably the way out too ).
I am also considering Giant's Hole but without the SRT bit. Would I need a Guide for that though? :/

Without SRT, or a ladder, you will be in the entrance series to Garlands. Straight forward passage with no difficulties. There is a climb up by a wooden beam not far in that gives access to some low passages. A rope might be useful for peeps on the climb up. If you are thin, going upstream from Basecamp chamber has some good going, and access to more high level bits

 

[VWScully]

Without SRT, or a ladder, you will be in the entrance series to Garlands. Straight forward passage with no difficulties. There is a climb up by a wooden beam not far in that gives access to some low passages. A rope might be useful for peeps on the climb up. If you are thin, going upstream from Basecamp chamber has some good going, and access to more high level bits

Thanks! That looks like more of what I'd like to do. Cheers!

 

[mikem]

Better off contacting Orpheus or TSG and seeing what they are up to

 

[Cantclimbtom]

I will be in the Peak District in just over a week and might give this a go too! Is there a recommended route?

For Wapping/Cumberland?
There isn't a much in the way of route finding to worry about *assuming* the trip doesn't go I to the maze. I see it as 3 bits.

• Wapping from entrance to 4th stope. As it contains the only entrance all trips will involve this. IMHO there's plenty to see if you look closely. It's a straightish line away from the entrance following a roadway, although minor collapsed in the past means you need to go up a slope and back down again to pass a few roadway blockages. Pretty obvious well trodden, follow the footprints.
• The Maze (straight ahead on the roadway from the 4th stope). This is optional, and separate from Cumberland. Will require navigation. People have "kindly" sprayed arrows on walls. I had a quick trip and didn't have time to explore the maze
• Cumberland Cavern. At the end (going inbye) of the 4th stope just before the roadway goes of into the maze there is a wheelbarrow slowly being crushed amongst the boulders and mud if the slope just up and to the left (facing inbye) follow the footprints up the slope and continue inbye. The top section of that slope up and inbye is funnel cave. Here is where it becomes Cumberland. Follow the footprints/path. You'll know when you're in Cumberland as there will be a big cavern with black soot Trogs graffiti, lots of it. Navigation for Cumberland former show cave is follow the footprints. A few short low sections but no cracks or squeezing.

Don't fall down any holes, there is one in the centre of the path further into Cumberland to step across which must've had a square manhole cover over it at some point? Apart from that follow your nose. Natural decorations are surprisingly sparse for a show cave, but still an enjoyable explore.

I'd describe Wapping - Cumberland as an "explore" rather than "caving". Over suit and under suit etc is overkill. Wellies or walking boots, old clothes, helmet and lights. A small clamber up a cemented stone wall and through a gap at head height to get in is as spicy as it gets (assuming no Maze).

A lovely quick explore if in the area, nice history, nice 1950s/1960s graffiti but if you need to scratch a caving itch with crawling, squeezing and water this isn't "caving"

Enjoy!

Derwent South : Wapping Mine : Details

Locations: Peak District, Location: Derbyshire, Location: Staffordshire, Caves, Mines, Potholes, Caving, Potholing, Guides, Surveys, Speleology, Hydrology

peakdistrictcaving.info

Survey and history

https://pdmhs.co.uk/MiningHistory/Bulletin%205-2%20-%20Wapping%20Mine%20and%20Cumberland%20Cavern,%20Matlock%20Bath.pdf

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Start of the path to go up past blocked entrance of Cumberland to get to Wapping

Street View · Google Maps

Explore a place in a more immersive way in Google Maps.

maps.app.goo.gl

Note in streetview the small Dead end sign has a footpath sign pointing up someone's driveway, follow that up the drive but before the house the path goes uphill to the right. Obvious footpath to obvious Cumberland former entrance

Turn left at the junction (South ish) towards Wapping , which is in the back of a small quarried dip (not visible from main path, OS map helpful?), grid ref in DCA link. Near to Wapping entrance is what looks like an old ice house part collapsed but was the mines explosive store

 

[pwhole]

Just before heading up the ramp from Wapping into Cumberland, there's an easy climb up on the left into the same dolomite beds as in Cumberland, with some beautiful coral fossils in the roof, and very interesting rock formations.

 

[Cantclimbtom]

And in the 4th stope (the last one where you'd go up slope on the left) look out for a head sized hole at about head height of the right hand wall (facing inbye) which has a lovely crystal grotto in it.

I missed that fan coral in pwhole pic, must go back some time and look for it!

 

[VWScully]

Cheers! I might even have time to do both Wapping/Cumberland AND Giant's Hole. I am there for 4 days .
Thanks.