Recommendation for trip

[ChrisJC]

A bunch of ex university cavers are reuniting in South Wales in August, naturally a couple of caving trips are required.

We plan to do Llygad LLwchwr, but nobody is particularly up to date with the latest and greatest fun trips.

What can folk recommend that doesn't require insurance? (some of us will be insured, but some not).

TIA,
Chris.

 

[mrodoc]

I think you should be able to visit Ogof Draenen which has a shortish relatively painless entrance series before you get into some seriously spectacular big stuff but I await correction.

 

[Les W]

OFD 

 

[damian]

I think I'm right in saying that to get a key / code for the main locked S. Wales systems, you are supposed to be a member of a "bona-fide" caving club and this is defined as one which is affiliated to a body of some sort, such as a Regional Caving Council.

As such, I fear this won't cover what you're after, Chris.

This leaves you with good trips such as Daren, Pen Eryr, Llanelly Quarry Pot, Nant Rhin, Pant Mawr (but you need to get permission from SWCC) ... plus plenty of others that would feature slightly lower in my priority list.

 

[hell little caver]

hum if your a club then ofd is no problem what are the date that your comming and maybe some one can fix you up Worth trips?

OFD is ace you should go you need to apply for a permit tho detail on the south wales caving club web site just type in it in to goggle!

bridge cave and little neath are also good!

 

[damian]

bridge cave and little neath are also good!

How did I forget them on my list? ... they're great caves too! Thanks hell little caver.

 

[ChrisJC]

Little Neath is a backup plan, but what with the rain - the entrance might be interesting!

Do you think SWCC would do something for a bunch of non-bona-fide cavers?, as OFD would be interesting. Got a contact - maybe somebody I could PM on this forum?

And what's the score with Ogof Draenen? do you need to arrange access for that? None of us have ever been there - in fact in my guide book it's about 2 meters long!

Thanks,

Chris.

 

[anfieldman]

And what's the score with Ogof Draenen? do you need to arrange access for that? None of us have ever been there - in fact in my guide book it's about 2 meters long!

Thanks,

Chris.

Follow this link Chris http://www.ukcaves.co.uk/  You will see that Ogof Draenen is the second longest cave in Britain at 70km!! It also tells you that Pwll Du Cave Management Group arrange access. I'm afraid I haven't got any contact details for them but I'm sure someone will follow up this reply with the relevant info.
Porth-Yr-Ogof is a good small cave too but heed the warning signs!
Good luck.

 

[gus horsley]

A bunch of ex university cavers are reuniting in South Wales in August, naturally a couple of caving trips are required.

We plan to do Llygad LLwchwr, but nobody is particularly up to date with the latest and greatest fun trips.

What can folk recommend that doesn't require insurance? (some of us will be insured, but some not).

TIA,
Chris.

I'd recommend Llygad Llwchwr as a fun trip and, if you're in the same area, try the Ogof Pasg/Ogof Foel Fawr through trip or, a bit more demanding, Pwll Swnd.  None of those require permits although Pwll Swnd is a bit of a trek - don't go in the mist or you might not find it.

 

[damian]

Little Neath is a backup plan, but what with the rain - the entrance might be interesting!

Do you think SWCC would do something for a bunch of non-bona-fide cavers?, as OFD would be interesting. Got a contact - maybe somebody I could PM on this forum?

And what's the score with Ogof Draenen? do you need to arrange access for that? None of us have ever been there - in fact in my guide book it's about 2 meters long!

Thanks,

Chris.

http://www.cambriancavingcouncil.org.uk/cave_access.html

This will tell you everything you need to know, including e-mail addresses where appropriate.

 

[gus horsley]

A bunch of ex university cavers are reuniting in South Wales in August, naturally a couple of caving trips are required.

We plan to do Llygad LLwchwr, but nobody is particularly up to date with the latest and greatest fun trips.

What can folk recommend that doesn't require insurance? (some of us will be insured, but some not).

TIA,
Chris.

I'd recommend Llygad Llwchwr as a fun trip and, if you're in the same area, try the Ogof Pasg/Ogof Foel Fawr through trip or, a bit more demanding, Pwll Swnd.  None of those require permits although Pwll Swnd is a bit of a trek - don't go in the mist or you might not find it.

Gus

These caves also have the additional benefit of being do-able in wet weather.  However it might be worth taking a ladder (or rope) for Pasg, since there is a pool which sumps.  It can be bypassed by taking the main route forwards and into an upper level passage from where the pitch drops into the canal beyond the pool.

 

[Les W]

A bunch of ex university cavers are reuniting in South Wales in August, naturally a couple of caving trips are required.

We plan to do Llygad LLwchwr, but nobody is particularly up to date with the latest and greatest fun trips.

What can folk recommend that doesn't require insurance? (some of us will be insured, but some not).

TIA,
Chris.

I'd recommend Llygad Llwchwr as a fun trip and, if you're in the same area, try the Ogof Pasg/Ogof Foel Fawr through trip or, a bit more demanding, Pwll Swnd.  None of those require permits although Pwll Swnd is a bit of a trek - don't go in the mist or you might not find it.

Gus

These caves also have the additional benefit of being do-able in wet weather.  However it might be worth taking a ladder (or rope) for Pasg, since there is a pool which sumps.  It can be bypassed by taking the main route forwards and into an upper level passage from where the pitch drops into the canal beyond the pool.

Also the passage just after the connection with Ogof Foel Fawr the passage is quite snug 

 

[gus horsley]

Also the passage just after the connection with Ogof Foel Fawr the passage is quite snug 

It's not too bad for us fatties if you can get one person over the block first (to pull) and one to push from behind 

 

[Huge]

I think the only big systems that you don't need to be a club member and/or have insurance for are Little Neath and Daren. Most of the smaller caves that I would recommend have already been mentioned but here's my list anyway :-

  Llygad Llwchwr (wear wetsuits and have a swim around in the river chambers - don't go too near the downstream sumps if the water is high!),
Herbert's Quarry through trip (Ogof Pasg - Ogof Foel Fawr),
Pwll Dwfn (SRT),
Pant Mawr Pot (SRT/Ladder),
Porth-Yr-Ogof (a wetsuit makes it much more fun as you can splash about, swim, go through ducks etc.),
Ogof Fechan (wetsuit),
Ogof Rhyd Sych (wetsuit),
Ogof Nant Rhin (tight entrance passage),
Llanelli Quarry Pot (tight entrance, SRT/Ladder pitch).

Other worthwhile caves include Bridge Cave (short beginners cave), Ogof y Ci (short beginners cave), Ogof Tarddiad Rhymney, Ogof Ap Robert, Crescent Cave and Ogof Cynnes (excellent fun!).

Does anyone know if the through trip in Nant Rhin is do-able. Are both entrances accessible and is Aven D'oznog rigged for a pull though?

 

[anfieldman]

  Llygad Llwchwr (wear wetsuits and have a swim around in the river chambers - don't go too near the downstream sumps if the water is high!),

I would recommend this too. It's great fun!

Porth-Yr-Ogof (a wetsuit makes it much more fun as you can splash about, swim, go through ducks etc.),

I would not recommend attempting to swim anywhere near the resurgence pool. A lot of people have died in this area! It is a good cave if you heed the warnings on display in the car park.

 

[ChrisJC]

Thanks everybody for your replies. There's plenty to choose from. We've done Llygad Llwchwr a few times in the past - great fun. Always get lost as well!

The Herberts Quarry through trip would be fun - we've done that as well, but probably 12 years ago so memories are a bit faded.

I might just see if I can get a tourist trip into OFD1 though as that would be cool.

Chris.

 

[Huge]

Porth-Yr-Ogof (a wetsuit makes it much more fun as you can splash about, swim, go through ducks etc.),

I would not recommend attempting to swim anywhere near the resurgence pool. A lot of people have died in this area! It is a good cave if you heed the warnings on display in the car park.

None of the people who have drowned in the resurgence pool have been experienced cavers or in any way equipped to deal with deep water. They have all been ill equipped, non cavers, led across the pool by leaders who should have known better.

A full wetsuit is sufficient to provide enough buoyancy and protection from the cold. For extra buoyancy why not use a tackle sack filled with empty, watertight containers.

The main danger of the resurgence pool is that the passage out to daylight looks small but just under the water the sides shelve right out. This means that if someone gets into trouble and goes under the water they can easily find themselves under a roof with no airspace above. If you're properly equipped you're unlikely to get into trouble in the first place. I have crossed the pool many times with no trouble what so ever and know many others who have done the same.

There are other deep water areas of the cave such as the White Horse Pool and the canal passage downsteam from there. This section has a longer, out of depth swim than the resurgence pool but no one has died there. Instructors/leaders probably don't take their charges through here as the dangers are more obvious - sheer sides and the passage goes out of sight into darkness.

 

[anfieldman]

You obviously know better than me Huge but I was just trying to highlight what has been a very dangerous part of this cave. 16 people have died there in the last 20 years. Three of these have been members of the Army. Though they are not cavers as defined on this forum you would still expect them to know what they are doing wouldn't you?
It is best that Chris knows the dangers before he goes there.
This is the diagram at the car park that shows what Huge is on about. It recommends that you do not attempt to exit out of the resurgence pool. If you want to that is up to you. All I can say is that you would not get me to try it if you paid me a lot of money.

For more info/links follow  http://www.ukcaves.co.uk/window.php?cave=50

Better safe than sorry! 

 

[ChrisJC]

Funnily enough we all swam out of the resurgence pool a few years ago. We thought it was marvellous and swam back in again and out again. It was relatively low water at the time, so it was pretty calm. Then we noticed all the signs in the car park!!

I also understand that there are risks with submerged trees and the like, waiting to ensnare the unwary.

Thanks for the warnings, I'm not sure if we'll do it or not.....

Chris.

 

[Huge]

16 people have died there in the last 20 years. Three of these have been members of the Army. Though they are not cavers as defined on this forum you would still expect them to know what they are doing wouldn't you?

No.

I would have expected their instructors to know what they were doing.

The point I'm trying to make is that the resurgence pool in itself is probably no more dangerous than a lot of other areas of deep water in caves where no one has ever drowned. It's just that the pool is at the 'end' of the cave, it looks very picturesque from inside looking out to sunshine and a lot of inexperienced and ill-equipped people, who know no better, get enticed or encouraged to try to swim across.