Three counties system and maze cave questions - please help

[professor warthog]

I am just writing a geology talk and have a couple of questions i need help with:
How long is the Three Counties system at present and where is it in terms of longest cave systems globally?
How long is the longest maze cave system so far explored in the Northern Pennines?
Many thanks
Phil

 

[Jim MacPherson]

Hudgill Burn is the longest (a bit over 13km);

Hudgill Burn Mine Caverns

www.ukcaves.co.uk

There are another 8 or so recognised maze cave of various lengths several have been "re-discovered" in the last few years eg Sloate Hole/Nut Hole one or two are effectively "new" eg Cutthroat Caverns between Upper Teesdale and Weardale and at least one has "re-disappeared" Silverband near Great Dun Fell.

I was hoping to find a nice up-to-date summary, I'll keep looking when it's a little less warm.

Jim

PS Devis Hole as in 'Similar Threads' below is also one.

 

[mikem]

Hudgill is also 13th longest in UK (note list is in km):

All regions - Longest caves

www.ukcaves.co.uk

Three counties appears on page 4 (lengths are all miles), draenan on 5, OFD 7:

World Long Caves - Cave-Exploring.Com

List of the longest caves in the world over 10km as reported by cave exploration experts in each country listed.

cave-exploring.com

 

[Max bowen]

Hudgill is also 13th longest in UK:

All regions - Longest caves

www.ukcaves.co.uk

that list is pretty outdated. Draughting hole/missed pot are over 10km now and they’re not even on there

 

[mikem]

Best tell Tarquin then (contact me on every page):

Tarquin's caving site

 

[Pitlamp]

I just PMd you with a bit of potentially useful information.

 

[mikem]

Previous mentions of silverband:

Thread 'Silverband Caverns'

Oct 15, 2009

Does anyone know anything about the natural caves found by the miners working the Silverband Mine on the slopes of Great Dun Fell?  There is a bit on-line if you google for the NPC records, but not a lot...

• Roger W
• Replies: 2
• Forum: Rest of The UK

Post in thread 'Three Counties System'

Jun 8, 2010

Size isn't everything!! Even things like; Gr*ssington Moor Caverns, how about reopening Lunehead (assuming it is still blocked), Silverband? - ok, nothing grand, but I'd visit them, whereas Dibdob Cave in Foreign-land  I'll never see, ever... Not that I'm saying foreign stuff isn't worthy, just I'd personally rather see some UK (re)discoveries.

"To the speleologist the outstanding interest of the [Silverband] mine has been the extensive range of natural caverns in the Great Limestone first revealed by the London Lead Company over a century ago. Because detailed surveys...

• Steve_Woods

Location of mine:

Thread 'Knock fell caverns 21/06/2014'

Jun 23, 2014

With bleary eyes we left Consett at the ungodly hour of 08:30 on saturday morning and surviving entirely on redbull and Mcdonalds coffee we headed towards the Eden valley.  Part way there however we had a slight detour to look at Great Eggleshope mine, a vast set of workings which I will definately be visiting again in the near future, although not in a Mazda next time as the car did really not like the access track

Anyway, some time later, we reached Knock fell and after parking part way up the road packed our gear...

• Wormy
• Replies: 13
• Forum: Sporting Trips in The UK

Post in thread 'Knock Fell Caverns - 19th February 2022'

Feb 25, 2022

Thanks for your lovely feedback Matt. I'd be happy to have a look at trying to create a route description for the cave one day (despite my hypocritical claims that it would not be in the spirit of the cave!), although obviously a few more visits would be required first. Perhaps you could join us on one?

With regard to the road access issues mentioned above by grahams and andrewmc, I've added the following paragraph to the article on my website:

Users on UKCaving have pointed out that the road may be in regular use by HGVs for access to the radar station and Silverband Mine. With this...

• Andrew N

Although it's no longer working:

Long Marton Village - Community Page | Just out of curiosity, does anybody now what is happening at the disused Silverband Mine on Great Dun Fell, please | Facebook

Just out of curiosity, does anybody now what is happening at the disused Silverband Mine on Great Dun Fell, please. The old building has been renovated with new roof, windows, doors etc (See Photo)....

www.facebook.com

Silverband buildings work?

I walked Cross and Dun fells over the weekend with a visit to Silverband mine. The mine building was being renovated. Looked it up and it seems to be a DEFRA project, but can't find more info, does anyone know the details?

buddlepit.co.uk

 

[Pitlamp]

This survey, from 12 years ago, has 13.2 km. It may have been extended since then of course.
Pretty amazing place:

https://nymcc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Hudgill.pdf