When: 29 May 2013 7.30 – 9.30 pm.
Where: Fairy Cave through to Hilliers Cave. Stoke St.Michael, Mendip.,
Who: Darren T, Rich T, Tricia, Sean.
We met in the carpark as I have a CSCC Key. It was pouring down with rain. The others soon arrived and once we were all changed we made our way to the entrance of the Quarry. There is a combination lock on the gate. The entrance to Fairy cave is at the back of a building to the left of the gate. Trish led the way and we were soon crawling around underground. Fairy cave is quite short but what it lacks in length is made up for by the size of the boulder chokes and small passages. Some places are very tight and Sean and Rich struggled to squeeze through some bits. We found the way to the water duck quite easily and Rich went first. Luckily the water level was low so no need to hold your breath today, however Rich left his oversuit open and scooped up a few litres of water as he went through which made it even better for the rest of us. There are quite a few pretties in Fairy cave and I had brought my new compact camera. I didn't know how crawly it was and had opted to carry the camera down the front of my oversuit and when I got it out to take some pictures of the large curtain formation at the top of the dig passage I discovered that the viewing screen at the back was cracked and not working. Not many pictures today then I thought. We continued over drop out rift and through the connection to Hilliers Cave. A sharp right took us into some very tight and twisty boulder ruckels which led to Upper grotto which is a low passage made of flowstone with some stalls etc. The way on is straight ahead over some shallow pools and then a sharp left into Cambridge grotto. I stayed in Upper grotto while the others went on as I didn't like the look of the tight passage. Once they returned Rich said I should have gone and looked as it was quite magnificent in there. We decided to return the following week with the photo kit and I would man up and crawl in there.
We back tracked to dropout rift and continued through Hilliers cave over the small traverse and onto Tar Hall. Its called Tar Hall because the walls are coated with tar which has seeped down through the stone from the Quarry works above. There are lots of flowstone curtains broken on the floor from the explosive blasting from when the Quarry was active. We soon arrived at the base of the climb to the door of the cave. Not long and we all exited to a dry evening. Quite a good trip despite the broken camera lol.
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Wednesday, 29 May 2013
Wednesday, 8 May 2013
Waterwheel Swallet, Charterhouse, Mendip.
When: 8 May 2013 7.00 – 9.00 pm.
Where: Waterwheel Swallet, Charterhouse.
Who: Darren T, Rich T, Tricia, Rachel, Nicky and Chris.
We parked up and soon got changed into wet suits and caving gear, this is a very wet and sporting cave. The entrance is a steel tube with a lid on to keep the sheep from falling in. There are rungs welded to the inside to climb down. Once at the bottom we followed the passage and passed Oldmans chamber on the left. A right turn and a climb down later and we had reached some steps followed them down and then back up again and we found ourselves with a climb followed by a more challenging climb. Once the climb had been negotiated we stopped and admired the stalls which were a mix of black and white the black being lead apparently.
Not far past the pretties is the first of the Dams. These are a series of manmade pools which fill with water but can be emptied by removing a bung. When you remove a bung the pool empties and the water continues to the next pool. The first pool is about a foot deep with about 2 feet of roof space above the water. We climbed over the dam and as Rich was last to do so he pulled the bung to make the next part of the trip a little more interesting. We followed the path round and climbed down into the next pool. I was first followed by Tricia; I crawled into the passage which was full of water with only about 6 inches of space above the water level. At the next hollow I sat up to take a breather as the next part of the passage looked a bit daunting as there was only a few inches of space above the water and the passage was about 20 feet long. I could hear Tricia coming up behind me. She asked if I was ok and I said “yeah, is it meant to be that deep, it’s covering my nose and mouth?". Tricia replied "Let me take a look" a short silence and she said "I don't remember it being that deep". We had made the mistake of pulling the bung and talking for five minutes or so in which time too much water had gone into the second pool and still more was going in. Rachel back tracked and re inserted the bung and slowly the water level returned to normal. We were joined by Chris and Nicky as they had been late to arrive. We made our way through the flooded tunnels to the top of the pitch leading to the lake. After some inventive rigging from Nicky, Chris life lined us down the ladder. Rach was first and then Rich. I descended the ladder with ease into the lake, disconnected my lifeline and swam the 4 metres or so to the edge of the pool. Nicky was next down the ladder. While she was coming down me and Rich had a look down the rest of the passage which gets smaller and smaller. Nicky and Rachel caught us up and they all went on to the end of the cave squeezing through the rift onto the false floor not far past that the rift shuts down and that is the end. We made our way back to the lake. Rach climbed the ladder followed by me and then it was Nicky's turn then Rich. We were soon all up and de rigged and then swimming back through the tunnels, climbing and clambering we found our way out to a very cold and windy hilltop.
What an epic trip. To me this is what caving is all about as it reminds me of potholing in the Brecon Beacons when I went to Pencilli on a school trip many years ago.
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Where: Waterwheel Swallet, Charterhouse.
Who: Darren T, Rich T, Tricia, Rachel, Nicky and Chris.
We parked up and soon got changed into wet suits and caving gear, this is a very wet and sporting cave. The entrance is a steel tube with a lid on to keep the sheep from falling in. There are rungs welded to the inside to climb down. Once at the bottom we followed the passage and passed Oldmans chamber on the left. A right turn and a climb down later and we had reached some steps followed them down and then back up again and we found ourselves with a climb followed by a more challenging climb. Once the climb had been negotiated we stopped and admired the stalls which were a mix of black and white the black being lead apparently.
Not far past the pretties is the first of the Dams. These are a series of manmade pools which fill with water but can be emptied by removing a bung. When you remove a bung the pool empties and the water continues to the next pool. The first pool is about a foot deep with about 2 feet of roof space above the water. We climbed over the dam and as Rich was last to do so he pulled the bung to make the next part of the trip a little more interesting. We followed the path round and climbed down into the next pool. I was first followed by Tricia; I crawled into the passage which was full of water with only about 6 inches of space above the water level. At the next hollow I sat up to take a breather as the next part of the passage looked a bit daunting as there was only a few inches of space above the water and the passage was about 20 feet long. I could hear Tricia coming up behind me. She asked if I was ok and I said “yeah, is it meant to be that deep, it’s covering my nose and mouth?". Tricia replied "Let me take a look" a short silence and she said "I don't remember it being that deep". We had made the mistake of pulling the bung and talking for five minutes or so in which time too much water had gone into the second pool and still more was going in. Rachel back tracked and re inserted the bung and slowly the water level returned to normal. We were joined by Chris and Nicky as they had been late to arrive. We made our way through the flooded tunnels to the top of the pitch leading to the lake. After some inventive rigging from Nicky, Chris life lined us down the ladder. Rach was first and then Rich. I descended the ladder with ease into the lake, disconnected my lifeline and swam the 4 metres or so to the edge of the pool. Nicky was next down the ladder. While she was coming down me and Rich had a look down the rest of the passage which gets smaller and smaller. Nicky and Rachel caught us up and they all went on to the end of the cave squeezing through the rift onto the false floor not far past that the rift shuts down and that is the end. We made our way back to the lake. Rach climbed the ladder followed by me and then it was Nicky's turn then Rich. We were soon all up and de rigged and then swimming back through the tunnels, climbing and clambering we found our way out to a very cold and windy hilltop.
What an epic trip. To me this is what caving is all about as it reminds me of potholing in the Brecon Beacons when I went to Pencilli on a school trip many years ago.
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Wednesday, 1 May 2013
Cuckoo Cleeves Cave, Priddy, Mendip.
When: 1 May 2013 7.00 – 9.00 pm.
Where: Cuckoo Cleeves Cave, Priddy.
Who: Darren T, Rich T, Tricia, Rachel and Sean.
The plan was too meet at the Hunters and drive to the lay-by which is about 1km from the pub. Nobody had been to this one before except Tricia but she couldn’t remember which lay-by it was so we drove all the way to the end of the road and turned around and headed back, the lay-by was supposed to be by some farm buildings so we stopped at what could be it. We were soon changed and walked across the fields to a depression and there it was a stone tube with a lid on. That is the entrance to the cave. The ladder was soon rigged and we all entered the cave.
At the bottom it’s quite tight and twisty. We continued down into a chamber and went straight on. We soon came to a stop as there was a pitch with no obvious way down backtracking a bit we realised that the way is too the left down a wide rift which goes into a passage this comes to an awkward climb which reminded me of singing river mine where I broke my foot. It looked worse than it was and we were soon following the old stream way downwards around and between some awkward rocks and rifts and soon reached flat roof chamber where we stopped for a breather and chat. Rachel told us about a cave called Waterwheel Swallet which sounded very interesting. We then followed a rift down and reached another chamber where it was full with bags of spoil from and dig that went down and round to the left. Straight ahead there was a crawl that looked very tight. We decided that was the way to the lake. But no one wanted to try and negotiate it. Remembering the stories of anyone except the slightest of cavers getting stuck I’m not surprised. We followed the rift back up. The part of the cave called the canyon was very interesting on the way back up. Sean and I were the first ones back up to the large rift where we found a frog waiting for us. Sean put it in his pocket for release later. We soon found ourselves climbing back up the ladder and out into the fresh air. There are a lot of stories about bad air in this cave but today it wasn’t too bad although in places most of us did get short of breath at times. Will return again to take some pictures of the cave.
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Where: Cuckoo Cleeves Cave, Priddy.
Who: Darren T, Rich T, Tricia, Rachel and Sean.
The plan was too meet at the Hunters and drive to the lay-by which is about 1km from the pub. Nobody had been to this one before except Tricia but she couldn’t remember which lay-by it was so we drove all the way to the end of the road and turned around and headed back, the lay-by was supposed to be by some farm buildings so we stopped at what could be it. We were soon changed and walked across the fields to a depression and there it was a stone tube with a lid on. That is the entrance to the cave. The ladder was soon rigged and we all entered the cave.
At the bottom it’s quite tight and twisty. We continued down into a chamber and went straight on. We soon came to a stop as there was a pitch with no obvious way down backtracking a bit we realised that the way is too the left down a wide rift which goes into a passage this comes to an awkward climb which reminded me of singing river mine where I broke my foot. It looked worse than it was and we were soon following the old stream way downwards around and between some awkward rocks and rifts and soon reached flat roof chamber where we stopped for a breather and chat. Rachel told us about a cave called Waterwheel Swallet which sounded very interesting. We then followed a rift down and reached another chamber where it was full with bags of spoil from and dig that went down and round to the left. Straight ahead there was a crawl that looked very tight. We decided that was the way to the lake. But no one wanted to try and negotiate it. Remembering the stories of anyone except the slightest of cavers getting stuck I’m not surprised. We followed the rift back up. The part of the cave called the canyon was very interesting on the way back up. Sean and I were the first ones back up to the large rift where we found a frog waiting for us. Sean put it in his pocket for release later. We soon found ourselves climbing back up the ladder and out into the fresh air. There are a lot of stories about bad air in this cave but today it wasn’t too bad although in places most of us did get short of breath at times. Will return again to take some pictures of the cave.
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Thursday, 25 April 2013
East Twin Swallet, Burrington Combe, Mendip.
When: 25 April 2013 7.30 – 8.45 pm.
Where: East Twin Swallet, Burrington Coombe Mendip.
Who: Darren T, Rich T.
We arrived in the Coombe and parked in the lay-by closest to the cave and were soon changed and following the path to the cave entrance. The stream was lightly flowing into the entrance. To avoid getting wet you can go in to the right of the stream and climb down a 2 metre rift. Once inside the cave resembled a builder’s yard, there were bags of spoil and plastic pipes all over the place. This cave is an active dig site. We followed the scaffolding pipes down into the first chamber where a rift on the right takes most of the stream water.
Ducking under some rock into a smallish passage takes you into the main chamber where the haulage system is set up to remove the dig spoil from the bottom of the cave. The chamber floor is very steep and the diggers have built a series of steps to get down to the bottom. As I had been a numpty and left the survey in the car we decided that it was probably best to retreat and come back another day for the cave didn’t really resemble the survey as there had been so much digging going on.
We exited the cave with some ease which is surprising as the pitch looks quite difficult in reverse lol.
As we had not been long in there we had a look for Foxes Hole cave up the road but couldn’t find it.
We then thought we would have a look at Toothache dig in cheddar gorge. This is one of the clubs digs.
We parked at the gates to Black Rock and put our helmets and wellies on and followed the track. By now it was pitch black and not knowing where the dig is we went back to the car and headed home.
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Where: East Twin Swallet, Burrington Coombe Mendip.
Who: Darren T, Rich T.
We arrived in the Coombe and parked in the lay-by closest to the cave and were soon changed and following the path to the cave entrance. The stream was lightly flowing into the entrance. To avoid getting wet you can go in to the right of the stream and climb down a 2 metre rift. Once inside the cave resembled a builder’s yard, there were bags of spoil and plastic pipes all over the place. This cave is an active dig site. We followed the scaffolding pipes down into the first chamber where a rift on the right takes most of the stream water.
Ducking under some rock into a smallish passage takes you into the main chamber where the haulage system is set up to remove the dig spoil from the bottom of the cave. The chamber floor is very steep and the diggers have built a series of steps to get down to the bottom. As I had been a numpty and left the survey in the car we decided that it was probably best to retreat and come back another day for the cave didn’t really resemble the survey as there had been so much digging going on.
We exited the cave with some ease which is surprising as the pitch looks quite difficult in reverse lol.
As we had not been long in there we had a look for Foxes Hole cave up the road but couldn’t find it.
We then thought we would have a look at Toothache dig in cheddar gorge. This is one of the clubs digs.
We parked at the gates to Black Rock and put our helmets and wellies on and followed the track. By now it was pitch black and not knowing where the dig is we went back to the car and headed home.
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Sunday, 21 April 2013
Goatchurch Cavern, Burrington Combe, Mendip.
When: 21 April 2013 7.30 – 8.45 pm.
Where: Goatchurch Cavern Mendip.
Who: Darren T, Rich T.
First caving trip in for a while. Just a short trip to the drainpipe and back again and a look around at the bottom the tradesman’s entrance. We exited the cave via the main entrance and had a look in Sidcot Swallet on the way back down the hill.
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Where: Goatchurch Cavern Mendip.
Who: Darren T, Rich T.
First caving trip in for a while. Just a short trip to the drainpipe and back again and a look around at the bottom the tradesman’s entrance. We exited the cave via the main entrance and had a look in Sidcot Swallet on the way back down the hill.
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Wednesday, 6 February 2013
Devils Cave, Bathampton.
When: 6 February 2013 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm.
Where: Devils Cave. Bathampton Rocks
Who: Darren T, Rich T.
Mine explore.
We arrived at Bath university car park and parked up near the hedge on the edge of the university campus. This is quite handy as you can walk onto the public footpath which takes you to bathampton downs.
After wondering around trying to find the entrance we stumbled across it almost by accident.
The gate was open so in we went.
The entrance tunnel is a hands and knees crawl for about twenty metres then opens up into the Quarry proper. The quarry is an abandoned Bathstone Mine. The tunnel divides into two passages, ending in a complex and confusing maze of workings.
There is a lot of graffiti in the mine with the most impressive piece being a devil in underpants.
Being that the mine is so close to the university it has a lot of rubbish in it including a five aside football goal post. Quite how or why it’s there is a mystery to me.
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Where: Devils Cave. Bathampton Rocks
Who: Darren T, Rich T.
Mine explore.
We arrived at Bath university car park and parked up near the hedge on the edge of the university campus. This is quite handy as you can walk onto the public footpath which takes you to bathampton downs.
After wondering around trying to find the entrance we stumbled across it almost by accident.
The gate was open so in we went.
The entrance tunnel is a hands and knees crawl for about twenty metres then opens up into the Quarry proper. The quarry is an abandoned Bathstone Mine. The tunnel divides into two passages, ending in a complex and confusing maze of workings.
There is a lot of graffiti in the mine with the most impressive piece being a devil in underpants.
Being that the mine is so close to the university it has a lot of rubbish in it including a five aside football goal post. Quite how or why it’s there is a mystery to me.
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Sunday, 27 January 2013
Swildons Hole, Priddy, Mendip.
When: 27 January 2013 3.30 pm to 7.00 pm.
Where: Swildons Hole, Sump one.
Who: Darren T, Rich T, Steve, Steve’s Son and Max Fisher.
ChCC trip to sump 1.
Rich and I arrived at the usual meeting place outside the barn on Priddy Green. Next arrived Max and then Steve and his son.
We all changed quickly and walked across the fields to the entrance of Swildons Hole. On route to the entrance we met two other club members Chris and Nikky who were on their way back to the barn they looked very wet and very cold, there had been a lot of rain recently and this had thawed the previous week’s snow. The stream going into the entrance looked more like a river.
Rich was our leader for the trip as he wanted to learn the route to the twenty foot pitch.
We opted for the long dry way so we would not get wet too early. It was good to crawl around the stalls etc. We followed the stream way and the water was in full flow going down the pitch into the bottom of the old forty.
We soon reached the top of the twenty pitch and the waterfall was roaring. Steve sorted the kit out and did all the life-lining. I was the third to descend down the ladder. I was a bit apprehensive as this was the first time on a ladder since breaking my foot but my inexpensive safety wellies did their job. The water was very cold and quite powerful.
Once Steve had descended the pitch and sorted out the kit we regrouped and headed for the twin pots. This was my second time here. I had negotiated the pots easily first time but with the water rushing down the stream way it was going to be a different story this time and I was forced to let go and landed in the second pot. Under the water I went. As the story goes I have now been baptized a son of Mendip.
We headed into Barnes Loop and had a quick rest before carrying on down, we also popped up into Tratmans Temple quickly to point out the route into St Pauls and the other bits of the cave.
It wasn't long before we arrived at a very foamy sump 1, Rich and Max did the sump and soon returned, I was getting cold and tired by now so didn’t do it. Next time I will do it.
By now we were all cold and fatigue was setting in so we started the climb back to the twenty.
On the way back we opted to go through a tight rift which I struggled with and had to retreat and climb up the old washing pot. Back at the twenty we soon realised that it was going to be a struggle to climb the ladder as we were tired and the water was now coming down the waterfall quite heavily. It was a team effort to get everyone back to the top.
On we went heading for the exit. The waterfall at the bottom of the old forty turned out to be a bit of a mission and in the end Steve managed to climb up and put a hand line in. We continued via the short dry way and exited to the cold dark Mendip hills with thunder and lightning in the distance.
Once back at the changing barn we hurriedly changed in time for the club meeting.
This was my first proper caving trip after breaking my foot.
All in all it was a cracking trip.
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Where: Swildons Hole, Sump one.
Who: Darren T, Rich T, Steve, Steve’s Son and Max Fisher.
ChCC trip to sump 1.
Rich and I arrived at the usual meeting place outside the barn on Priddy Green. Next arrived Max and then Steve and his son.
We all changed quickly and walked across the fields to the entrance of Swildons Hole. On route to the entrance we met two other club members Chris and Nikky who were on their way back to the barn they looked very wet and very cold, there had been a lot of rain recently and this had thawed the previous week’s snow. The stream going into the entrance looked more like a river.
Rich was our leader for the trip as he wanted to learn the route to the twenty foot pitch.
We opted for the long dry way so we would not get wet too early. It was good to crawl around the stalls etc. We followed the stream way and the water was in full flow going down the pitch into the bottom of the old forty.
We soon reached the top of the twenty pitch and the waterfall was roaring. Steve sorted the kit out and did all the life-lining. I was the third to descend down the ladder. I was a bit apprehensive as this was the first time on a ladder since breaking my foot but my inexpensive safety wellies did their job. The water was very cold and quite powerful.
Once Steve had descended the pitch and sorted out the kit we regrouped and headed for the twin pots. This was my second time here. I had negotiated the pots easily first time but with the water rushing down the stream way it was going to be a different story this time and I was forced to let go and landed in the second pot. Under the water I went. As the story goes I have now been baptized a son of Mendip.
We headed into Barnes Loop and had a quick rest before carrying on down, we also popped up into Tratmans Temple quickly to point out the route into St Pauls and the other bits of the cave.
It wasn't long before we arrived at a very foamy sump 1, Rich and Max did the sump and soon returned, I was getting cold and tired by now so didn’t do it. Next time I will do it.
By now we were all cold and fatigue was setting in so we started the climb back to the twenty.
On the way back we opted to go through a tight rift which I struggled with and had to retreat and climb up the old washing pot. Back at the twenty we soon realised that it was going to be a struggle to climb the ladder as we were tired and the water was now coming down the waterfall quite heavily. It was a team effort to get everyone back to the top.
On we went heading for the exit. The waterfall at the bottom of the old forty turned out to be a bit of a mission and in the end Steve managed to climb up and put a hand line in. We continued via the short dry way and exited to the cold dark Mendip hills with thunder and lightning in the distance.
Once back at the changing barn we hurriedly changed in time for the club meeting.
This was my first proper caving trip after breaking my foot.
All in all it was a cracking trip.
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