Two of Britain’s most proficient cave divers recently completed the formidable challenge of a full traverse from one end of the Three Counties cave complex to the other. The newly elected chair of the British Caving Association Russell Myers tells us the story of this incredible achievement. The Traverse – conception and planning On September…
, If you want to know why a couple of Aussie cavers have had two new species of cave spider named after them get your mitts on the new issue of Descent, which brings you caving news from around the world. Descent 280 should now have reached you by now, but if not, it’s time…
Descent 275 is now with us. Yet another issue compiled during this plague year, but still packed with interesting and informative material – and there is even news of new exploration in England! Newsdesk starts with an update on how the pandemic is affecting caving in the UK and cautiously welcomes the reopening of caves…
Two reports of instability in caves have reached us. Dave King has sent the following message re Hobnail Hole. “Hobnail Hole is temporarily closed due to a very unstable boulder in Black Pot. Please do not use Hobnail hole as a route into or out of Butts’ Chamber in Thrupe Lane Swallet until further notice.”…
The historic permit system for the caves on Leck Fell, which was discontinued a few months ago, has now been replaced by the online booking system. This system, in use for the caves of Ingleborough Estate since November, now also allows landowner-consented access to Leck Fell caves to be booked with minimal fuss with no…
Council for Northern Caving Clubs (CNCC) has announced that parking will no longer be allowed at High Birkwith farm, meaning cavers will need to park further back down the road and access the caves on foot, although the landowners have no wish to restrict access to the caves and no permission is required For many…
High Birkwith Farm is now under new ownership and potentially this could cause problems for access to Calf Holes, Browgill, Old Ing, Birkwith, Dismal Hill and other smaller caves in an area used quite heavily for novice trips by clubs and outdoor groups. One caver who has met the new owner explained that that he…
The Northern England Caving Awards For Exploration (NECAFE) have been announced. For the first time cavers in the North of England are being invited to enter, with cash prizes for first and second place. The award has been funded for a ten year period by an anonymous donor. The awards will be presented annually to any…
September 30th will see members of the Earby Pothole Club joining friends to raise money for the Preston based Specialist Mobility Rehabilation Centre (SMRC) in a ride that starts in Preston, stopping overnight in Clapham in Yorkshire before returning the following day. SMRC is part of Lancashire NHS and donations will go to a trust…
For those of us that remember rushing to Bernies or Inglesport to get our copy of Northern Caves 3 back in 1994 it’s been a long awaited event. After much hard work by all involved Sam Allsthorn has been in touch to announce that the updated and revised Northern Caves, The Three Counties System and the…
July 12th was a bright and sunny day on Casterton Fell Good job as it was a publicity day for Red Rose Cave & Pothole Club at Bullpot Farm. We were presented with our cheque for our Sustainable Development Grant from Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority by the Park Chair, Carl Lis OBE. This covers…
The Clapham Bunk, Cafe and Bar is the venue this Saturday (8th April) for a book signing by Adventures Underground author Dave Haigh. Dave explains he’ll be available from midday in case anyone wishes to call in the afternoon, with the main event starting around 5pm. This being a caving book signing the Bunkhouse has taken…
The Cave Rescue Organisation have tonight issued the statement below and ask that this information be circulated and shared as widely as possible to cavers and climbers: “PLEASE WATCH OUT FOR STOLEN KRABS Next week, the Dales area hosts the 5th European Speleological Congress at the Dalesbridge Centre, near Austwick. Thirty pot-hole systems are rigged…
As many cavers know, Gaping Gill is open to the public twice a year. This summer it’s the Craven Pothole Club’s (CPC) winch meet and anyone making the walk up from Clapham village is welcome. The winch is open to the public from the 20th to the 28th August 2016 and until noon only on the…
If a society wants to thrive nowadays, it is important that they have a good website. It is by far the best way to promote what you do, and to encourage others to get involved. The Northern Mine Research Society has recently introduced a radically improved website. In the course of reviewing it for this…
Haggs Brow Cave Excavations, Lower Winskill Yorkshire Dales National Park. May 2016. A personal account by Vince Simmonds. Looking down the track to Lower Winskill. Introduction: Haggs Brow Cave is located on the Haggs, an area of former managed woodland or wood pasture at Lower Winskill Farm, near Settle. Haggs Brow Cave is…
Back in April we reported that Tom Lord was inviting people to join the upcoming excavation of Haggs Brow Cave, at Lower Winskill near Settle. Tom has just sent us more information including details of an open day for visitors so we thought it was time for a quick reminder that work starts this Friday May…
The Tratman Award, 2015 The Tratman Award has been awarded annually since 1979 to a caving-related paper-based publication in memory of E.K. Tratman, who died in 1978. It covers books, journals and articles published in a calendar year and is administered by the Ghar Parau Foundation, but judged by independent cavers; for 2015 these were…
Story and photos courtesy of Howard Beck – www.howardmbeck.co.uk Not every day is it that the average person is given opportunity to walk where no other human has ever set eyes—and at risk of being clichéd by saying so, take one giant step for mankind—but barring the extreme depths of the oceans or the frigid…
Anyone thinking of heading up to Littondale over the next five weeks is likely to face road works from 4th April to 13th May according to the North Yorkshire Highways website – for more details take a look at http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/article/26662 Closures between Kilnsey and Arncliffe and further towards Litton and Foxup are indicated, with diversion…
Photos and article courtesy of Tom Lord The first phase of excavations at Haggs Brow Cave, Lower Winskill http://www.lowerwinskill.co.uk/ will take place from Friday 20th May to Tuesday 31st May. Haggs Brow Cave is located on the Haggs, an area of former managed woodland or wood pasture at Lower Winskill Farm, near Settle. The cave…
If you are not a walker, getting to the summit of Pen-y-Ghent is a serous hike. For most walkers it’s a good day out – but faced with a disability it becomes a major challenge Jack Morgan and Richard Brooks are raising money for the Cave Rescue Organisation and are aiming to reach the summit of…
As already reported numerous and severe recent floods have resulted in changes at Goyden Pot. The Black Sheep Diggers have visited the site and report that a large block and two smaller blocks have fallen at the entrance but say there are no obvious signs of further loose material likely to fall. They also…
Due to high water levels in Nidderdale there are reports of instability in Goyden’s stream entrance passageway & some areas of breakdown. We are told there’s also a major change to an inlet now pouring with water where there used to be a trickle. More information will be supplied as and when it is available….
The latest edition of the Council of Northern Caving Clubs’ Journal for January 2016 is now available. The latest edition contains information on all aspects of CNCC business including the very welcome news that CNCC has secured some major funding from the Heritage Lottery fund, with the assistance of Natural England. In addition, CNCC is…
The Derbyshire Caving Club (DCC) are holding an open weekend at Alderley Edge, Cheshire on the weekend of 23rd to 24th April 2015 when you will be able to pay a visit to Engine Vein, one of the extensive series of mines under the steep sandstone outcrop that overlooks the Cheshire plain. The mines have…
Back in November we reported that a the Cave Rescue Organisation had assisted in the recovery of one of Bristows new search and rescue helicopters, after it developed mechanical failure whilst attempting to take off in poor weather on Ingleborough. The Cave Rescue Organisation has now announced a big “Thank You” to Bristows Helicopters after the company…
Report by David Rose TWO Conservative MPs and a leading QC have paid a visit to Britain’s highest waterfall – the mighty cascade that tumbles down the 365-foot entrance shaft of Gaping Ghyll on Ingleborough in North Yorkshire. The two politicians, former Shadow Home Secretary David Davis, MP for Howden and Haltemprice, and David Rutley,…
Urgent Appeal by Mendip Cave Rescue to help fund the rescue efforts in the North.
The UWFRA team attended an incident near Hetton after a female walker sustained a suspected broken ankle. Eighteen team members attended the incident and stretchered the victim to a waiting ambulance. See the full incident details on the UWFRA website.
As Storm Desmond wreaks havoc throughout Cumbria and large parts of Lancashire and North Yorkshire, photographs and video recordings of flooding in the Yorkshire Dales, including the appearance of a waterfall at Malham Cove for the first time in living memory, have been appearing on social media. Stephen Ross’s Youtube video gives a vivid idea of conditions yesterday:…
The long awaited NPC Journal: explorations and happenings 1987-2015 is finally out. Price is £16 plus P&P direct from the club. Get your copy by emailing [email protected].
Please note the date of the Earby dinner has changed to the 13th February 2016. With the end 2015 fast approaching the Earby Pothole Club will soon enter their 71st year, and are planning a club dinner to celebrate seven decades of exploration. The event takes place on 13th February 2016 from 6.30pm at the Craven Arms in Settle….
Sixteen UWFRA members attended a call out at Heber’s Gyhll near Ilkley on Saturday assisting a 61 year old male who had fallen five metres into a stream, sustaining shoulder and pelvic injuries. After treatment he was hauled up a short climb and carried to a waiting ambulance. The walkers family later expressed their thanks on the UWFRA…
Archaeologists and cavers working together have recovered skulls and bones as well as noting strange wall markings from an unnamed cave in the Yorkshire Dales. The story to date is told on DigVentures web site. The age and type of bones have yet to be determined.
Andrew Hinde, the BCA Conservation Officer, has asked that attention is drawn to the CNCC’s new Digging Guidelines – How to get permission to dig on a SSSI leaflet. Many of the cave systems in the Dales are designated SSSIs, but the leaflet is relevant to anyone seeking to dig in a SSSI throughout England,…
