Sally's Rift Cave,

When:  3 July 2013  19.30 – 10.00 pm.
Where: Sally's Rift Cave, Bathford.
Who:    Darren T, Rich T. A Sparrow, B Handley and C Castle.


This was our second trip to this cave and almost exactly two years since we last went.  (See report June 2011).  This time we went with Cheddar caving club.  We met at the layby and got changed.  I had the GPS coordinates on my phone for the entrance and after 15 minutes or so we found the hole. This time we free climbed down the pitch which last time we climbed over.  Its easily doable as its not very steep.  At the bottom we went along the main passage until a sort of crossroads and turned right into a rift passage, at the end of this it comes to another passage which runs parallel with the main passage.  Turn left and continue until there is a turning on the right.  Continue left then right and this brings you to the bottom of the climb with the bar at the top.  You are now in the boulder chamber with a decorated rift to the left.  Through a hole in the side you go down a tight 5 meter pitch.  The ladder was rigged for this to make it easier on the exit.  This is where it starts to get fun as some of the rifts and passages are quite tight and awkward.  Climb up and over a coffin shaped slab and you will soon come to the boulder rift,  this is where it gets very tight.  Andy could not get through and was very disappointed as 30 odd years ago when he last came here he could get through into the last section of the cave.  We reversed our route and soon were free climbing out to the exit.
We decided that we would return another day with a hammer or some caps and enlarge the hole slightly so we could all fit through and make it to the end.

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Sally's Rift Cave, Bathford.

When:  15 June 2011  19.30 – 10.00 pm.
Where: Sally's Rift Cave, Bathford.
Who:    Darren T, Rich T. Dave G, Tim T, Ivan E, Mad, Digdug.

After going on a few Mine exploring trips Rich and myself thought we would have a go at this caving game. Dave G posted a trip on Darkplaces to go to sally's Rift Cave in Bathford. This is the second longest Gull cave in Britain. We met at the layby at the foot of the hill and followed Dave to the entrance. Dave decided to rig a ladder and lifeline to get us all down the entrance hole. This was our first time on a wire ladder but we managed it well and were soon all at the bottom and set fourth on our mission to explore this rather sporting cave.
The survey is deceptive as movement in the cave is rarely straightforward – squeezes and climbs bar progress continually. Digdub pointed out the scaffolding bar that marked the route into the boulder chamber. Ivan, Digdub and Dave climbed up with the ladder and lifeline bag into the boulder chamber. Mad had a few problems climbing up but managed it in the end.
They rigged the vertical squeeze by looping the rope around a boulder and hanging the ladder down the vertical squeeze. The rift and squeeze are quite tight but it soon opens out into a nice wide rift. The way on is not very clear and as Dave had left the survey in the car we decided to head back and come back another day. we exited the cave problem free and were soon walking back down the hill to the cars.

So what did Rich and myself think of caving, well you probably guessed it we got hooked and will be doing many more trips.

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