What is the UK's Biggest Chamber ?

[ianball11]

Time machine is classed as a passage but it has the feel of a chamber. For clarification do people know what all the current records are? Looks like the current definitions state

Biggest chamber = Frozen Deep
Biggest shaft = Titan
Biggest passage = Time Machine
Biggest vertical entrance = Gaping Gill ?
Biggest horizontal entrance = Porth -Yr - Ogof
Longest constricted entrance = Daren Cilau
Most remote location = Spade Runner
Longest Sump = ?

Anyone else care to correct these or add to the list?

I'd not necessarily agree with the above, especially as you give no evidence.

In case it helps, I think the longest sump in the UK is probably that one in Ireland which Artur was exploring before he died not long ago. I can't remember it's correct name without looking it up but there was a piece on it in Descent at the time.

Pollatoomary, Co.Mayo.

 

[mrodoc]

One of the bigger chambers in the UK is in Devon but, because it is mostly underwater is not recognised as such. Pridhamsleigh 2 is about 40 metres across at the base and drained would be at least 50 metres high so I reckon it is up in the top ten. Because of its size the visibility is stupendous as well.

 

[mrodoc]

And here is the smallest part of the chamber. Photo taken from a ledge above the lake with a flash bulb fired a few metres below the surface:

 

[Les W]

In case it helps, I think the longest sump in the UK is probably that one in Ireland which Artur was exploring before he died not long ago. I can't remember it's correct name without looking it up but there was a piece on it in Descent at the time.

Which is in the ROI and not in the UK at all...

 

[dunc]

What about Powells Lode?

Most remote could potentially be Interdiction/Too Long Gone in Penyghent?

 

[Pitlamp]

I quite like the stats actually
I also enjoy a quality caving trip too.
Best of those two worlds. Didn't claim they were correct though, only what I thought them to be. That's why I asked people to correct them and you did so thanks.

What I was trying to get at is that if too much emphasis gets placed on "records" the pursuit of records becomes a reason for exploration, not the result of exploration, ultimately. It can also lead to less regard for conservation issues. It can, in certain circumstances, alter the whole ethos of an activity. There's nothing wrong with getting a handle on a few basic facts Muddy Funkster; all I';m suggesting is that we keep things in proportion.

I broke a fairly important caving record a few years ago but chose not to make a song and dance about it because record breaking isn't really what caving should be about. Very few people are switched on to this particular event even now.

I guess the whole nation is focussed on "records" in the wake of the Olympics at the moment - but let's not lose sight of what's actually best about British caving.

Loved those pictures MRODoc.

 

[ianball11]

Ooo that's a teasing post!  I used to love a record attempt, mostly in the gym competing against my previous bests, not any more as I got old and that's not great for the ego.

 

[cavermark]

In case it helps, I think the longest sump in the UK is probably that one in Ireland which Artur was exploring before he died not long ago. I can't remember it's correct name without looking it up but there was a piece on it in Descent at the time.

Which is in the ROI and not in the UK at all...

If we have "team GB" in th'lympics, should we not look at biggest chamber etc. for GB (we share their geology). The Irish are a friendly bunch too...

 

[Les W]

In case it helps, I think the longest sump in the UK is probably that one in Ireland which Artur was exploring before he died not long ago. I can't remember it's correct name without looking it up but there was a piece on it in Descent at the time.

Which is in the ROI and not in the UK at all...

If we have "team GB" in th'lympics, should we not look at biggest chamber etc. for GB (we share their geology). The Irish are a friendly bunch too...

However Team GB does not include the ROI, just Northern Ireland...

I have no problem really, just being a pedant...
The Irish are great people, I have many friends over their and may be forced to attend their anuall Symposium again this year to share a beer or three... 

On another note, we also share a lot of geology with the US, are you suggesting...  :tease:

 

[paul]

Speaking as an Irishman, I have no objections to the term "British Isles" to refer to the UK and the Republic of Ireland as that would probably be more accurate anyway when talking Geology.

 

[cavermark]

In case it helps, I think the longest sump in the UK is probably that one in Ireland which Artur was exploring before he died not long ago. I can't remember it's correct name without looking it up but there was a piece on it in Descent at the time.

Which is in the ROI and not in the UK at all...

If we have "team GB" in th'lympics, should we not look at biggest chamber etc. for GB (we share their geology). The Irish are a friendly bunch too...

However Team GB does not include the ROI, just Northern Ireland...

I have no problem really, just being a pedant...
The Irish are great people, I have many friends over their and may be forced to attend their anuall Symposium again this year to share a beer or three... 

On another note, we also share a lot of geology with the US, are you suggesting...  :tease:

D'oh!

 

[Alex]

Or the passage at the end of perfidia (Can't look up the correct spelling soz) in Illusion pot.

There is also other ratings we have ignored, like the hardest trip or the longest trip to the end.

I can only go off Yorkshire but I would guess hardest is Broken finger (from reading the description) and longest trip would be to the end of Lancliffe.

Look how we go off topic!

 

[Brendan]

I imagine the longest trip is actually from Top Sink to Large Pot, or something similar

 

[steviet_scg]

Longest by distance or by time?

At least there are fairly simple measures of longest.

Anything subjective (best, hardest, prettiest, muddiest) is best discussed in the pub

 

[Subpopulus Hibernia]

In case it helps, I think the longest sump in the UK is probably that one in Ireland which Artur was exploring before he died not long ago. I can't remember it's correct name without looking it up but there was a piece on it in Descent at the time.

Which is in the ROI and not in the UK at all...

For the record you're probably thinking of the Polldeelin - Polltoophill Traverse at 2400m long and at a maximum depth of 62m, which was joined by Artur, though not traversed. The longest sump is the Pollaloughabo - Moran's Cave traverse which is 2870m long and mostly the work of Jim Warny, who did the through trip about 2 years back. There's another 5/6 sumps in Ireland longer than a kilometre, almost all in Galway.

The longest diving traverse in Britain would be Keld head I think, 1.4km(?) in length, but that's part of a flooded system more than 6km in length.

5 Deepest sumps in the British Isles would be:
-103m, Pollatoomary, Mayo
-90m, Wookey Hole, Mendip
-82m , Pollindre, Galway
-74m, Main Rising, Peak - Speedwell, Derbyshire.
-71m, Pollnacapple, Galway

 

[ianball11]

aha! Yes longest would be different to deepest, deepest is what I think of when I think of Arturs diving exploits! What a deep hole of water that is.

 

[dunc]

The longest diving traverse in Britain would be Keld head I think, 1.4km(?) in length, but that's part of a flooded system more than 6km in length.

A tad over 3km from King Pot to Keld Head if memory serves me right.

 

[langcliffe]

A tad over 3km from King Pot to Keld Head if memory serves me right.

3050 m comes to mind...

 

[Pitlamp]

A tad over 3km from King Pot to Keld Head if memory serves me right.

3050 m comes to mind...

Recent accurate survey work suggests this is not quite correct.

 

[cavermark]

longer or shorter?