News

Deep, dark and pretty – caves in the latest issue of Descent!

Descent 272 has now arrived! If a copy hasn’t reached you, it’s time to head over to Wildplaces Publishing to subscribe now or if you’re ...
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Boulder troubles on Mendip and a collapsing traverse in the Dales

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 ...
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Somerset Underground – Volume One. Book Launch

The Mendip Cave Registry and Archive (MCRA) are pleased to announce the launch of Volume 1 of ‘Somerset Underground’, at the Hunters’ Lodge Inn at ...
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The Caves of Mid-West Ireland

UBSS, Bristol. 2019. 364pp, 20 colour photographs, 136 maps and surveys. Hardback, 180mm × 248mm. £20 ISBN 978-0-9545850-1-3 In one sense, Caves of Mid-West Ireland ...
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In the news…

In the news...
In a new feature for 2020, we're now bringing you a round-up of some of the news and views from around the world. Where multiple ...
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Descent 272 coming soon!

Happy New Year to everyone! To celebrate, we have a brand-new photo montage for you featuring the anniversary set of all six Descent covers from ...
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Concrete Evidence – a curious manuscript

Alan Jeffreys recently came across a curious manuscript entitled Concrete Evidence, a speleo novel by Victor Stephen Wignore and reviews it here for Darkness Below ...
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Fish, bones, ice and carbon dioxide – more cave research from the BCRA.

Reports on large cave fish from Meghalaya, archaeological sites in Scotland and Derbyshire, ice caves in Yorkshire and carbon dioxide - historically and geologically - ...
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Skulls, bats and MBEs – here’s the latest issue of Descent!

Descent 271 has now arrived! If a copy hasn’t reached you, it’s time to head over to Wildplaces Publishing to subscribe now or if you’re ...
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Descent 268 coming soon
The June issue of Descent is about to land on your mats, so take a moment to check whether your subscription is up to date! ...
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Go delving into the dark with Irish cavers
Thrill-seekers with a visual impairment are to get the chance to go underground in a ‘try-caving’ event in one of Irelands's most spectacular underground-exploration regions ...
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Irish cave gets a spring clean
Irish cavers have cleaned up, thanks to a grant from the Geological Survey of Ireland – and may also have found new access points to ...
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Have your say at the British Caving Association’s AGM
The Annual General Meeting of the British Caving Association is being held in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales caving area this year - at ...
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Deliverance from evil, climate change, and the Soviet Union
Deliverance from evil, climate change, and the Soviet Union
Peter Burgess hears about ritual protection marks, cars going underground, time capsules and threats from out east in the Subterranea Britannica spring meeting at the ...
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Access news: Parking no longer allowed at High Birkwith Farm
Jeff Wade abseiling in Calf Holes, Yorkshire Dales. Photo courtesy of Rob Eavis
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 ...
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Breaking news: Josh Bratchley safe and well after Tennessee cave rescue
Numerous reports from the US confirm that Josh Bratchley returned to the surface safe and well around 7pm local time last night after being trapped ...
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BCRA Newsletter April 2019
In this newsletter... BCRA Field meeting. Saturday/Sunday 29/30 June 2019 in Alston, Cumbria This weekend field meeting is entitled "Hypogenic Caves of the North Pennines ...
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Descent 267 now available
Descent 267 is now available! If a copy hasn’t arrived with you, it’s time to head over to Wild Places Publishing to subscribe now or ...
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Archaeologists identify first figurative Palaeolithic cave art in the Balkans
An international team, led by an archaeologist from the University of Southampton and the University of Bordeaux, has revealed the first example of Palaeolithic figurative ...
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Cave rescue teams celebrate £30,000 donation
Peter Barratt of Honeywell Analytics, Peter Dell and Peter Dennis with representatives of DCRO and BCRC
Derbyshire Cave Rescue Organisation are this week celebrating after receiving more than £30,000-worth of life-saving gas detection equipment donated by Honeywell Analytics. The equipment, including ...
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Ali and Co dig deep at BagPit
Pete Buckley and Ali Moody assisted by a band of Wessex diggers have had more success recently at their dig at Bagpit, on the south ...
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Event: BCRA spring field meeting
A one-day British Cave Research Association field meeting will be held at the British Cave Monitoring Centre, Poole’s Cavern and Buxton Country Park on Saturday ...
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Book review: Caving: Episodes of Underground Exploration
Alan Jeffreys enjoys a caving classic even if he doesn't entirely approve of the author's somewhat cavalier attitude to risk ... Ernest Baker was well ...
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Descent 267 coming soon
Descent 267 will be with you very shortly! If you’re not up to date with your subscription don’t forget that the lovely folks at Wildplaces ...
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Book review: The Cave
Kate Mosse is better known for Labyrinth and other books, but Alan Jeffreys recommends taking a look at her novella, The Cave, set in the ...
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Ritual protection marks found in Creswell Crags
A large concentration of ritual protection marks have been discovered in caves in Creswell Crags, a limestone gorge on the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire border. Darkness Below editor ...
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Descent 266 – the half century!
It’s birthday cake plus cheese and pineapple on sticks all round this issue as Descent 266 celebrates 50 years in print. And it’s a visually ...
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