Shakespeare's cave sump

[domestos bend]

Hi All - I note there is a free diveable sump in Shakespeare's cave - is it relatively short / straightforward / lined ?

Cheers

DB

 

[skippy]

The sump is quite short but has a bit of depth. Its also quite 'grabby' from what my mate said(I took the bypass that's not an overly easy option).
I do remember it being quite narrow at the upstream end.

 

[chunky]

Not done the sump, but the bypass is a fun option. Pretty sure Caver Keith has a video of it on his channel.

 

[Frog2]

If you search for Shakespeare's Cave on Youtube it is there, under Keith Edwards.
Looks fun! Couple of other videos there too.

 

[domestos bend]

If you search for Shakespeare's Cave on Youtube it is there, under Keith Edwards.
Looks fun! Couple of other videos there too.

ive watched the videos ….the only one featuring the sump is the family with the dog ….I dont think the dog did it!

 

[domestos bend]

The sump is quite short but has a bit of depth. Its also quite 'grabby' from what my mate said(I took the bypass that's not an overly easy option).
I do remember it being quite narrow at the upstream end.

Deep and grabby …hmmmm

 

[Huge]

I've heard deep and grabby mentioned before about this sump but that's not been my experience? It's about 6ft, not deep, quite roomy and I've never been grabbed by anything in there.

When diving upstream, it's probably best to hold the rope in your right hand and you surface into a cross-rift, where the rope is rebelayed on the wall above your head as you surface. You look down into this cross-rift from near the start of the bypass. The rope then carries on through the next duck, which is only a couple of feet away, on the other side of the cross-rift. This duck is tight and slightly awkward. As the sump is short, it's easy to start to carry on into the awkward duck but you get stopped by the rope rising up to the bolt and pulling you back.

Going upstream through there on one occasion, I dived too steeply and got a face full of the sand and gravel on the bottom. I pushed off the bottom but then went up too steeply and banged my head on the ceiling so I decided the way on must be somewhere in between!

Diving downstream is easier as you gently surface into a roomy, shallow canal.

The sump route is much more pleasant than the bypass, which has an awkward climb over a boulder to start and then a narrow crawl (wear elbow pads!). Then to get back into the stream, you have to go through a very low airspace duck on your back.

 

[domestos bend]

I've heard deep and grabby mentioned before about this sump but that's not been my experience? It's about 6ft, not deep, quite roomy and I've never been grabbed by anything in there.

When diving upstream, it's probably best to hold the rope in your right hand and you surface into a cross-rift, where the rope is rebelayed on the wall above your head as you surface. You look down into this cross-rift from near the start of the bypass. The rope then carries on through the next duck, which is only a couple of feet away, on the other side of the cross-rift. This duck is tight and slightly awkward. As the sump is short, it's easy to start to carry on into the awkward duck but you get stopped by the rope rising up to the bolt and pulling you back.

Going upstream through there on one occasion, I dived too steeply and got a face full of the sand and gravel on the bottom. I pushed off the bottom but then went up too steeply and banged my head on the ceiling so I decided the way on must be somewhere in between!

Diving downstream is easier as you gently surface into a roomy, shallow canal.

The sump route is much more pleasant than the bypass, which has an awkward climb over a boulder to start and then a narrow crawl (wear elbow pads!). Then to get back into the stream, you have to go through a very low airspace duck on your back.

Thanks for the very detailed intel Huge.

 

[mrodoc]

My elbow wasn't the same for weeks after doing the bypass. Mind you the duck at the far end was fun and I even got somebody to take a pic. I won't be going back.

 

[Huge]

Either the water was very low or you haven't got in there properly yet, mrodoc! There's far too much of your face out of the water! 🙂

Like I said, the sump route is much more pleasant.

 

[chunky]

I'll never forget Brendan Marris deciding it was a good idea to do the bypass face down! 😱😆😆😆

 

[Caver Keith]

 

[domestos bend]

Thanks all...my next question ....htf do you get down to it ...I had a look yesterday and couldn't see any feasible way though the river was very full... thanks D

 

[Huge]

You can start from Blackrock, cross Devil's Bridge, then go up and over the bank on the left (downstream, heading towards Shakespeare's) but this follows a very minor path on a steep and slippery slope above a large drop so is probably best avoided, tbh. Alternatively, instead of dropping down to Devil's Bridge, head to Ogof Caple and cross the Clydach below the cave, if water levels aren't high and follow the side stream opposite, up to Shakespeare's.

Or, from Llanelly Hill, park either as for Llanelly Quarry Pot or Ogof Clogwyn and follow the railway track/cycle route into the side valley that has Shakespeare's at it's bottom, crossed by the large embankment. Best not to follow the stream down as the bottom of the valley is very overgrown and a nightmare to get through. Better to drop down off the railway line at the eastern/right hand end (looking down the side valley)of the embankment, where the slope is still steep but clear of vegetation for a good way down. You'll probably still have a bit of bushwhacking to do to reach the entrance.

 

[domestos bend]

Thanks ...my next query ...how do you reach ogof capel?

 

[Stuart France]

You park at the top end of Blackrock village in a layby right next to the big rusty-coloured new footbridge over the A465, cross that, walk down the A465 to where the Devil's Bridge footpath starts. At the bottom of the first steps you go left around some fencing, then follow the line of the road along a feint level path for about 100m (parallel to the A465 but well below it) until it turns right and starts heading in the downhill direction through the woods. This path leads you to Capel in another 100m or so.

 

[domestos bend]

Thanks all esp huge and SF 😀

 

[Huge]

Don't assume this is an easy route btw! The way down to the river from Caple is down a large scree/boulder/fallen tree slope. This can be difficult to tackle, depending on the fallen trees.