The entrance to Goatchurch Cavern with the recent rockfall on the left. Photo: Wayne Starsmore The wet winter of 2023/24 is probably the cause of a couple of rockfalls that Mendip cavers should be aware of. A small not insignificant landslide has occurred in the car park at Fairy Cave Quarry. On the South East…
The Restoration of Main’s Barn, Priddy
The old stone barn on the edge of Priddy Green, Somerset, has been used by cavers for many decades, and by 2023 was in serious need of having some restoration work done. Peter Burgess reports. We are pleased to report the completion of the restoration work to Main’s Barn, Manor Farm, Priddy in Somerset. This…
ATLAS 50th Anniversary BBQ Weekend
Dave King, ATLAS digger, invites you to a weekend of digging, caving and two BBQs in Somerset this summer. 2023 is the 50th Anniversary of the Association of Thrupe Lane Advanced Speleologists (ATLAS). The ATLAS diggers have been involved with many digs over the last 50 years including Thrupe Lane Swallet, Honeymead Hole, Little Crapnell…
WARNING: Rockfall in Eastwater Cavern, Mendip
WARNING: EASTWATER CAVERN, MENDIP. There has been a rock fall in the rift connection between the bottom of Dolphin Pot and the chamber before Dolphin Pitch. A section of the roof and some of the left-hand wall (looking down the rift) had become detached. CSCC Conservation and Access Officer, Wayne Starsmore, spent time dealing with…
Waterwheel Swallet gate vandalised
Following recent vandalism to the gate on Waterwheel Swallet, Mendip, the CSCC Conservation and Access Officer, Graham Price has issued the following information. “Waterwheel has recently been broken into and the gate vandalised. The gate has been removed for repair/replacement and the entrance has been secured with a non-removable grill. Everyone will appreciate that it…
Save The Date: JRat Digging Award November 20th 2021
The 2021 JRat Digging Award presentation will take place in the Long Room of the Hunter’s Lodge Inn on Saturday 20th November. The evening will kick off at 7.30 pm and will include talks and presentations from Mendip digging teams before the presentation of the award to the winning team. If anybody does win, that…
Thrupe Lane Swallet to be fitted with CSCC padlock
The following note has been received from Dave King of ATLAS (the Association of Thrupe Lane Advanced Speleologists) “Following concerns and requests from local residents who have young children a CSCC padlock will be fitted to the entrance gate of Thrupe Lane Swallet. This will be fitted during the week commencing 14th June. Note that…
Council of Southern Caving Clubs and Mendip Cave Rescue issue joint statement regarding new lockdown
Following the announcement of the new lockdown measures, the Council of Southern Caving Clubs (CSCC) and Mendip Cave Rescue (MCR) have issued a joint statement to southern cavers. This statement has also been endorsed by the Charterhouse Caving Company Ltd and the Fairy Cave Quarry Management Committee.
Cheddar caves closed to both tourists and cavers
The Cheddar caves, owned by Longleat Enterprises Ltd, are currently closed to visitors. Following this, a statement just issued by the Council of Southern Caving Clubs (CSCC) informs cavers that the caves in the gorge on Longleat land are also closed to cavers, although access discussions are now under way with CSCC. The closure of…
News: CSCC Locks are Changing
The Council of Southern Caving Clubs (CSCC) are changing the locks on all of the caves for which they administer access. The previously used locks are now no longer available and so a new lock has been sourced and a new stock of locks and keys obtained. All member clubs are being issued with at…
News: Digfest is nearly upon us!
CSCC DigFest 2016 Ever fancied finding new cave? Now’s your chance. The diggers of Mendip will be opening their digs for you to visit and have a go. ◾ Digging ◾ Photography Workshop with Duncan Simey ◾ Digger’s Question Time ◾ Wessex Challenge (hosted by the BEC) ◾ BBQ ◾ Stomp Friday June 3rd…
News: St Cuthbert’s Reopened and Water Level Warning
We reported in November that St. Cuthbert’s Swallet, on Mendip had been closed due to instability in the entrance series Happily we can now report that the necessary remedial work has taken place and that the cave has now been reopened by the BEC. However, Hannah Bennett, the BEC’s Caving Secretary notes that: “… water…
News: St Cuthbert’s Closed
Due to instability in the entrance series St Cuthbert’s has been closed until work to fix the problem has been carried out. The BEC committee have taken the decision, which they say they have not taken lightly. It is envisaged that the cave will be open again by Christmas. We’ll post more details as we get them….