Swilly Hole / Haltcliff bridge

[Paul.Wheelhouse]

Strictly Cumbria but as it appears in NC3 and anyone who knows it is likely to look on here...i have posted here.

Anyone know where Swilly Hole (near Caldbeck in Cumbria is)? Also known as Haltcliff Bridge cave.
I have tried twice now to find it. NC3 gives the grid ref as 367367.
Anyone been there and got a better description of the entrance that "down stream on east bank" or 8 or 10 fig grid ref?
Thanks

 

[Pitlamp]

I'll try and contact Tony Marsden who can probably give you a decent answer. He once gave a lecture on it at the BCRA Conference.

 

[Pitlamp]

Paul - have successfully contacted Tony and he says he'll take a look at this forum in 2 or 3 days and try and help.

 

[Pitlamp]

Have just had an email from Tony with some info. If you PM me and give me your normal email address I'll forward Tony's reply direct to you Paul.

 

[dunc]

Why not just post the info on here for other peoples future reference? Just a thought...

 

[Pitlamp]

. . . because it contains somebody's address.

 

[Skyrmy]

. . . because it contains somebody's address.

Edit the response to remove the address and then post. 

Problem solved 

 

[Pitlamp]

. . . not much use when it's a postal address (as part of the message) of somebody who can help. They might not want it in public view.

 

[boulderman44]

Hi to who ever wanted Swilly Hole info.

The cave entrance was filled in c2004 by a local farmer after I had soloed the trip one Saturday. He got a digger and scooped out the shingle from the river bed and dumped it in the entrance hole. He was annoyed that anyone would think about going on his land as he felt that if there was an accident, he would be liable so he has stopped anyone going down to cover himself against litigation.
I live close by and can confirm that the entrance is still blocked.
boulderman44

 

[Speleodroid]

Thats a shame if the entrance has been filled in again 

It definitely was open more recently than 2004 as I had a trip in there on 11th September 2010, and only had to clear a small amount of debris to get in.

From what i remember, an interesting little trip as far as I went. 

 

[Alex]

Can't you just show him your green/whatever coloured card to show him that he is insured against liability.

 

[Maisie Syntax]

Grid ref using memory-map is NY 36729 36693
Using google earth it's 54(deg) 43'16.30N  2(deg) 59' 02.43W
Entrance isn't filled in, but may possibly be underwater as it's right on the edge of the riverbed in the base of the rock outcrop. The entrance is often filled with flood debris, as is much of the cave. This is really not a place to be in anything other than dry and settled weather. Even in dry periods, the water from the Caldew comes in through the roof in places and is somewhat unsettling. Be aware that the Caldew has a catchment area consisting of most of the back of Blencathra and Carrock Fell and levels can rise in an alarmingly rapid manner.
Park at the side of the road approx. 100yds north of the actual Haltcliffe bridge itself, close to the entrance of what used to be the mill. The road runs right next to the river for a short distance, before the road bends sharply to the right and goes up a steep hill. Climb down to the river from the road and head downstream, keeping to the right as you head with the flow of the river. Initially the bank is made from stones encased in mesh cages which are used to help reduce bank erosion. The river swings left, but there is an oxbow on the right, 'usually' dry in summer. Follow the oxbow and after approx. 50yds the mesh cages stop and a limestone outcrop begins. After approx another 50yds, you will be in more or less in the right spot for the entrance. The way in is a slot, right at the base of the outcrop. There are usually logs/fence-posts etc. which have been washed in and around the entrance if it has not been visited for a while. There is an alternative entrance (Hammer Root Cave) which is about another 50 yards downstream and still in the base of the outcrop. This is (or was last time I looked) partially collapsed and not passable without some work. You can often hear water from the river running down this entrance.
Not suitable for fatties.

 

[Alex]

Sorry for the Necro post but just been to the cave. 1 it's not blocked well it was by bits of wood but after about an hour of trying to find the right bit to dig in, I managed to strike gold an opened it up in 5 minutes.
2. Land owner was dead-nice, I assume he was the landowner as he lived in house next to where I was parked next to at the bridge. He wished me the best of luck.
3. The caves pretty darn hard for a grade 3, it's not easy. It might had been the flood potential, the fact my oversuit was falling apart trapping me various squeezes as it caught on everything, or It was simply the fact was on my own in this cave. But I did not get to the end I turned back not far from the alcove where the water got too low, I tried forcing it (wrong way) and it scared the shit out of me when water started backing up all around me. I should have climbed up, before the low bit and forced another tight rift. But was in no mood to do that by that point, and at the time was not sure it was the way on.

I will want to go back and push on I know where to go (having checked the decription) and I now know its not that wet bit, but I would prefer not t be alone.

Attached pics is entrance, about middle of pic you can see were I dug the flood debris out of, before I did that it really looked like nothing was there and the flood debris was just stacked in a corner. No wonder no one could find it!

Edit: it appears my images may be too large will have to see if I csn sort ot when I get home

 

[Flotsam]

Grid ref using memory-map is NY 36729 36693
Using google earth it's 54(deg) 43'16.30N 2(deg) 59' 02.43W
Entrance isn't filled in, but may possibly be underwater as it's right on the edge of the riverbed in the base of the rock outcrop. The entrance is often filled with flood debris, as is much of the cave. This is really not a place to be in anything other than dry and settled weather. Even in dry periods, the water from the Caldew comes in through the roof in places and is somewhat unsettling. Be aware that the Caldew has a catchment area consisting of most of the back of Blencathra and Carrock Fell and levels can rise in an alarmingly rapid manner.
Park at the side of the road approx. 100yds north of the actual Haltcliffe bridge itself, close to the entrance of what used to be the mill. The road runs right next to the river for a short distance, before the road bends sharply to the right and goes up a steep hill. Climb down to the river from the road and head downstream, keeping to the right as you head with the flow of the river. Initially the bank is made from stones encased in mesh cages which are used to help reduce bank erosion. The river swings left, but there is an oxbow on the right, 'usually' dry in summer. Follow the oxbow and after approx. 50yds the mesh cages stop and a limestone outcrop begins. After approx another 50yds, you will be in more or less in the right spot for the entrance. The way in is a slot, right at the base of the outcrop. There are usually logs/fence-posts etc. which have been washed in and around the entrance if it has not been visited for a while. There is an alternative entrance (Hammer Root Cave) which is about another 50 yards downstream and still in the base of the outcrop. This is (or was last time I looked) partially collapsed and not passable without some work. You can often hear water from the river running down this entrance.
Not suitable for fatties.

"Initially the bank is made from stones encased in mesh cages" ........................ Gabions

 

[Alex]

Front view of the entrance, that corner was full of flood debris and did not look like an entrance just a pile of sticks, this image is after I dug it out.

A side on view for better perspective, this end is about 30m from the public foot path sign by the gate. Descend the slope on the right of this image and walk downstream until you reach this cliff.