Twixt the Severn and Wye

[boycy]

There b'aint no server there mrodoc I have no luck reaching it

 

[damian]

There b'aint no server there mrodoc I have no luck reaching it

He missed out the middle "d". I think you'll find this one will work: www.darkanddeep.co.uk

 

[Elaine]

Have posted some pics of Wet Sink on www.darkandeep.co.uk under other caves but haven't got round to labelling description or adding some I took in highish water a few weeks ago.

I have been to Wet Sink once (about 6 years ago now) and I am positive the entrance was down a depression with some trees rather than pipes in a field. Is this new or am I just going ga ga!

 

[mrodoc]

That's the tank inside the gate one can rinse in. The entrance is as you describe at the bottom of the field in the trees.  The story about the flood is interesting as I can remember doing the trip in dry weather a few years back and two of us coming out well behind the others to find a substantial stream cascading down the entrance shaft. It was bit worrying at the time as the constriction in the middle wasn't dug out then so water could back up and sump it. We were mighty relieved to get past it. I wondered if some kind soul (?) had decided to divert the stream while we were underground. Nowadays you can wear a kit bag on your bag all the way to the top of the balcony pitch. Cave still gives the impression of not quite being clean.

 

[Elaine]

Aha, thank you Mrodoc.   

 

[Ship-badger]

Oh PS does crossjoints have a best time of year or is it just 'if it's not rainy or looking like it might'? Some of the eager novices want punishing   

I have always treated Crossjoints as a "Summer only" sort of cave. The lowest parts of the cave are absolutely flat-out-head on the side-in an inch or two of water- in the summer; so are probably most unpleasant in Winter. You must always check the condition of the earthwork at the entrance which stops the stream from going down the cave entrance. I consider the cave to be one of the gems of British caving.

That's the tank inside the gate one can rinse in.

I think the farmer might object to you rinsing your gear off in his cows water trough. You can rinse gear off in "Dry-Sink", but you're never that dirty coming out of Slaughter (Wet-Sink)

 

[RobinGriffiths]

Hi Ship-Badger.

I've copied your introduction in this thread into the wiki as an Introduction to the Forest of Dean region. Hope you are happy with this. If not, I'll remove it.


Robin

 

[Peter Spayne]

Ah the Forest. I agree with old ship badger. The Forest is a fun place to visit and an even better place to live. We have THE best mountain bike trails, some of the best caves, beautiful canoeing facilities, gorgeous broad leaf woodlands, and a whole host of good pubs with excellent beer in them for sale at reasonable prices.
But don't spread the word and ruin it, cos we like it just how it is.

 

[ST]

I am new to the area and caving, I have heard there is some easy to access and easy caves at Symonds Yat. Am I right and how can I find out where to go?

 

[AA Speleo]

Hi ST, will PM you.

AA

 

[D.Send]

Hi,
Does anyone have any information on monks connected to the iron mines of the Forest of Dean?
D.Send.

 

[Ship-badger]

I have never heard of any links between the mines and monks. Royalties from mining were paid to the Crown, but there might have been royalties paid to other landowners. If that were the case, then Flaxley Abbey would likely have come into some of this money.

Incidentally, Baden Watkins who had links with New Dun Iron Mine lived at Flaxley Abbey, though it was no longer a religious establishment by then. His family still own it AFAIAA.