People: M&M Trybulec
Place: Mendip, Great Britain
Trips:
Details:
A year ago, when visiting Slovenia, we met people from the Mendip Caving Group
who invited us to visit the caves in Mendip Hills (Great Britain).
Since Martha was already in Salisbury (South of Mendip), we decided to go there and have a look.
The trip from Poland was a pretty long one; especially: traffic jams in Warsaw and Polish roads to the border.
When I entered German highways, I wanted to cry...
Since I was driving alone, it was pretty hard to read the map and drive at the same time. I lost my way twice:
in the Ruhr and in Antwerp. However, I got to Calais 2 hours before the 9:15 ferry to Dover. So I got some sleep then.
Unfortunately, the road through England was much worse - it was the start of a long weekend, so the traffic was pretty heavy.
I got to Salisbury at 4 p.m. local time. So, all in all, the whole trip, with easy driving and rests, the ferry, etc.
took me about 30 hours (on the way back we managed to shave off 2 hours).
When I picked up Martha from Salisbury, we went on to the MCG's cottage. We were very warmly welcomed by Joan -
one of MCG members. The next day, because of the tiring trip, we decided to visit local attractions,
among others Stonehenge and Woodhenge. On Monday we started our visits to Mendip's caves.
And during this week, we also visited the nearby Exmoor National Park.
A year ago, when visiting Slovenia, we met people from the Mendip Caving Group
who invited us to visit the caves in Mendip Hills (Great Britain).
Since Martha was already in Salisbury (South of Mendip), we decided to go there and have a look.
The trip from Poland was a pretty long one; especially: traffic jams in Warsaw and Polish roads to the border.
When I entered German highways, I wanted to cry...
Since I was driving alone, it was pretty hard to read the map and drive at the same time. I lost my way twice:
in the Ruhr and in Antwerp. However, I got to Calais 2 hours before the 9:15 ferry to Dover. So I got some sleep then.
Unfortunately, the road through England was much worse - it was the start of a long weekend, so the traffic was pretty heavy.
I got to Salisbury at 4 p.m. local time. So, all in all, the whole trip, with easy driving and rests, the ferry, etc.
took me about 30 hours (on the way back we managed to shave off 2 hours).
When I picked up Martha from Salisbury, we went on to the MCG's cottage. We were very warmly welcomed by Joan -
one of MCG members. The next day, because of the tiring trip, we decided to visit local attractions,
among others Stonehenge and Woodhenge. On Monday we started our visits to Mendip's caves.
And during this week, we also visited the nearby Exmoor National Park.
There and back
[MJT] Ferry from Calais to Dover
[MJT] Ferry from Calais to Dover
[MJT] 12 foot fountains churned up by the ferry's propellers
[MJT] 12 foot fountains churned up by the ferry's propellers
[MJT] A dull morning in Dover
[MJT] A dull morning in Dover
[MJT] On the way from Salisbury to Mendip you can visit Stonehenge
[MJT] On the way from Salisbury to Mendip you can visit Stonehenge
[MJT] And Woodhenge!
[MJT] And Woodhenge!
[MJT] The kitchen in the Mendip Caving Group's cottage (4 stoves, many toasters, ovens, a microwave...).
[MJT] The kitchen in the Mendip Caving Group's cottage (4 stoves, many toasters, ovens, a microwave...).
[MUT] The living room
[MUT] The living room
[MJT] We started detailed studies of the materials borrowed from MCG (there's quite a nice library in the cottage)
[MJT] We started detailed studies of the materials borrowed from MCG (there's quite a nice library in the cottage)
[MJT] A panoramic view from the cottage
[MJT] A panoramic view from the cottage
[MUT] The other day we went to the Exmoor National Park.
[MUT] The other day we went to the Exmoor National Park.
[MJT]
[MJT]
[MJT]
[MJT]
[MJT] The river and the sea in Lynmouth
[MJT] The river and the sea in Lynmouth
[MJT] Lynmouth, cont.
[MJT] Lynmouth, cont.
[MJT] On the way back - waiting for the ferry from Dover to Calais
[MJT] On the way back - waiting for the ferry from Dover to Calais
[MJT] A competitor's ferry (more expensive)
[MJT] A competitor's ferry (more expensive)
[MJT] I finally got my Whopper in Germany! - no Burger King in Poland anymore... :(
[MJT] I finally got my Whopper in Germany! - no Burger King in Poland anymore... :(
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On the first (caving) day, as a warm-up, we decided to visit several smaller caves.
There are many caves in Burrington Combe that are between 40 and 975 meters long; the deepest one is around 70 meters down.
The first cave that we tried was the most popular one here, and one that is very often visited:
Goatchurch Cavern (length: 750, depth: 55). All in all, not very interesting, but somewhat complicated, with two entrances,
several larger chambers, with a stream in the lower parts and several tight corridors.
On our way back we met a group of children (about 10-12 years old), under supervision, of course,
that even at this age can try out caving. It's clear that the cave was sacrificed to mass tourism (so that
other, more interesting caves, weren't visited by so many) - for instance, one of the boulders over which
you have to slide down to the lower corridor is as polished as stones on the way to Giewont (a very popular
mountain in the Tatras). BTW, the shape and black color of the polished stone gave the obvious name: The Coffin.
On the first (caving) day, as a warm-up, we decided to visit several smaller caves.
There are many caves in Burrington Combe that are between 40 and 975 meters long; the deepest one is around 70 meters down.
The first cave that we tried was the most popular one here, and one that is very often visited:
Goatchurch Cavern (length: 750, depth: 55). All in all, not very interesting, but somewhat complicated, with two entrances,
several larger chambers, with a stream in the lower parts and several tight corridors.
On our way back we met a group of children (about 10-12 years old), under supervision, of course,
that even at this age can try out caving. It's clear that the cave was sacrificed to mass tourism (so that
other, more interesting caves, weren't visited by so many) - for instance, one of the boulders over which
you have to slide down to the lower corridor is as polished as stones on the way to Giewont (a very popular
mountain in the Tatras). BTW, the shape and black color of the polished stone gave the obvious name: The Coffin.
Goatchurch Cavern
[MUT] The main entrance to the cave
[MUT] The main entrance to the cave
[MJT] The cave's plaque
[MJT] The cave's plaque
[MJT] On the way to the second exit
[MJT] On the way to the second exit
[MUT] In a boulder ruckle in Water Chamber
[MUT] In a boulder ruckle in Water Chamber
[MUT] By the second entrance
[MUT] By the second entrance
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Not far away, another cave can be found - Sidcot Swallet (length: 200, depth: 28). Its lesser popularity is probably
due to two things: fat spiders that live inside the cave near the entrance and tight squeezes and spots throughout
the cave's length. From the last chamber two tight chimneys lead down; I went there alone, Marta stayed in the
chamber as backup. And well, the way down was trivial, under the chimney another vertical squeeze. That one was
also very easy (downwards). However, the way up was much harder: I couldn't force myself through
the squeeze at the bottom, so I went another way (fortunately there was one). But the squeeze in the chimney
had no way around it... :) It was difficult since I couldn't place my feet in a way that I could force myself
through it. But after a few minutes of squirming, I finally got out.
Not far away, another cave can be found - Sidcot Swallet (length: 200, depth: 28). Its lesser popularity is probably
due to two things: fat spiders that live inside the cave near the entrance and tight squeezes and spots throughout
the cave's length. From the last chamber two tight chimneys lead down; I went there alone, Marta stayed in the
chamber as backup. And well, the way down was trivial, under the chimney another vertical squeeze. That one was
also very easy (downwards). However, the way up was much harder: I couldn't force myself through
the squeeze at the bottom, so I went another way (fortunately there was one). But the squeeze in the chimney
had no way around it... :) It was difficult since I couldn't place my feet in a way that I could force myself
through it. But after a few minutes of squirming, I finally got out.
Sidcot Swallet
[MJT] Some formations in further reaches of the cave
[MJT] Some formations in further reaches of the cave
[MUT] Finally - the exit!
[MUT] Finally - the exit!
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The last cave of this day - Aveline's Hole (length: 68, depth: 16) - we visited on our way to the car.
Part of the cave is blocked by a grating - it was placed there to protect bats.
So, the visited part is not that big, without any formations, just a straight tube.
The last cave of this day - Aveline's Hole (length: 68, depth: 16) - we visited on our way to the car.
Part of the cave is blocked by a grating - it was placed there to protect bats.
So, the visited part is not that big, without any formations, just a straight tube.
Aveline's Hole
[MJT] The caves consists mainly of this one tunnel
[MJT] The caves consists mainly of this one tunnel
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The next day, yet again, we couldn't force ourselves to do some serious caving, so we decided to visit one of the
nearby showcaves - Wookey Hole.
The cave is probably fantastic for divers, but not so interesting for mere mortals. The entrance fee is pretty high
(almost 10 quid a piece). It takes about half an hour to make the tour, but after the cave you can visit
the Jurassic Park and a paper factory (where real paper is still hand-made).
The next day, yet again, we couldn't force ourselves to do some serious caving, so we decided to visit one of the
nearby showcaves - Wookey Hole.
The cave is probably fantastic for divers, but not so interesting for mere mortals. The entrance fee is pretty high
(almost 10 quid a piece). It takes about half an hour to make the tour, but after the cave you can visit
the Jurassic Park and a paper factory (where real paper is still hand-made).
Wookey Hole
[MJT] In front of the cave entrance
[MJT] In front of the cave entrance
[MJT] Cheap tricks for the public (as well as: water drops played back from a tape)
[MJT] Cheap tricks for the public (as well as: water drops played back from a tape)
[MJT] The first of the many lakes
[MJT] The first of the many lakes
[MJT] More colorful lights
[MJT] More colorful lights
[MJT] At the entrance to one of the largest chambers
[MJT] At the entrance to one of the largest chambers
[MJT] Another lake
[MJT] Another lake
[MJT] Enough light and water for a pretty decent garden
[MJT] Enough light and water for a pretty decent garden
[MJT] Even in chimneys
[MJT] Even in chimneys
[MJT] One of the many lakes (that are mutually connected by sumps) + a waterfall
[MJT] One of the many lakes (that are mutually connected by sumps) + a waterfall
[MJT] The chamber with a waterfall
[MJT] The chamber with a waterfall
[MJT] Large blocks of stone hanging above us...
[MJT] Large blocks of stone hanging above us...
[MJT] Additional attractions around the cave
[MJT] Additional attractions around the cave
[MJT]
[MJT]
[MUT]
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[MUT] A labyrinth of mirrors (nice!)
[MUT] A labyrinth of mirrors (nice!)
[MJT] Cheddar Gorge - very nice place with a lot of climbing routes (and with caves)
[MJT] Cheddar Gorge - very nice place with a lot of climbing routes (and with caves)
[MJT] Fish & Chips!
[MJT] Fish & Chips!
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Ok, so it was the turn for a bigger cave - enough of this laziness. Joan suggested G.B. Cave (length: 1950, depth: 134)...
We were warned that car break-ins were quite common here (and that this region is known for that) and since our bad experience from Slovenia
(were our car was broken into), we decided to leave our car at the cottage and walk to the cave.
Fortunately, MCG's cottage is in the middle of the region, so most of the caves are at a 1.5 hour walk from the cottage (or shorter).
Our walk to G.B. took us about an hour+.
The entrance is blocked by a blockhouse with strong metal doors; the keys are available through any of the nearby speleo clubs.
You also have to obtain a permit (several of the caves there are managed by a company; but the permit
is just a formality - also available through the clubs).
The first part of the cave consists of small corridors with one larger chamber. It turned out here that this
cave is really worth visiting. In a presumably destroyed chamber a whole bunch of helictites can be found...
It turns out, that in the whole cave, in the smaller chambers, there are lots and lots of them. Fantastic!
From the small passages you walk out into the big gorge that makes up the mid-section of the cave. A small
stream winds its way through the stones (making a lot of noise, as happens in caves). In the middle of this vast
corridor there's a bridge leading left to White Chamber. At the end of the gorge, below a pitch with a waterfall,
a climb leads to the entrance to new parts of the cave. The climb is several meters high, but there are
some bolts and the whole thing isn't that hard. Next, a round small corridor leads to the Helictite Grotto.
The corridor leads on to the best parts of the cave (or so they say), but it was full of water that made us turn back.
On our way out, we visited the parts accessible from the bridge.
Ok, so it was the turn for a bigger cave - enough of this laziness. Joan suggested G.B. Cave (length: 1950, depth: 134)...
We were warned that car break-ins were quite common here (and that this region is known for that) and since our bad experience from Slovenia
(were our car was broken into), we decided to leave our car at the cottage and walk to the cave.
Fortunately, MCG's cottage is in the middle of the region, so most of the caves are at a 1.5 hour walk from the cottage (or shorter).
Our walk to G.B. took us about an hour+.
The entrance is blocked by a blockhouse with strong metal doors; the keys are available through any of the nearby speleo clubs.
You also have to obtain a permit (several of the caves there are managed by a company; but the permit
is just a formality - also available through the clubs).
The first part of the cave consists of small corridors with one larger chamber. It turned out here that this
cave is really worth visiting. In a presumably destroyed chamber a whole bunch of helictites can be found...
It turns out, that in the whole cave, in the smaller chambers, there are lots and lots of them. Fantastic!
From the small passages you walk out into the big gorge that makes up the mid-section of the cave. A small
stream winds its way through the stones (making a lot of noise, as happens in caves). In the middle of this vast
corridor there's a bridge leading left to White Chamber. At the end of the gorge, below a pitch with a waterfall,
a climb leads to the entrance to new parts of the cave. The climb is several meters high, but there are
some bolts and the whole thing isn't that hard. Next, a round small corridor leads to the Helictite Grotto.
The corridor leads on to the best parts of the cave (or so they say), but it was full of water that made us turn back.
On our way out, we visited the parts accessible from the bridge.
G.B. Cave
[MJT] The entrance blockhouse
[MJT] The entrance blockhouse
[MJT] Helictites (a lot of them can be found throughout the cave) - these are in the first chamber not far from the entrance
[MJT] Helictites (a lot of them can be found throughout the cave) - these are in the first chamber not far from the entrance
[MJT] Helictites, cont.
[MJT] Helictites, cont.
[MJT] Helictites, cont.
[MJT] Helictites, cont.
[MJT] Some more helictites
[MJT] Some more helictites
[MJT] The exit from the smaller corridors to the big one (The Gorge) with a stream
[MJT] The exit from the smaller corridors to the big one (The Gorge) with a stream
[MJT] The view upstream
[MJT] The view upstream
[MJT] First tries with the bulb firing at the camera
[MJT] First tries with the bulb firing at the camera
[MJT] A small pitch with a waterfall in the Great Chamber.
[MJT] A small pitch with a waterfall in the Great Chamber.
[MJT] Photos with flashes of falling water don't rightly show the action...
[MJT] Photos with flashes of falling water don't rightly show the action...
[MJT] More stalactites with helictites in the farther reaches of the cave
[MJT] More stalactites with helictites in the farther reaches of the cave
[MJT] Helictites, cont.
[MJT] Helictites, cont.
[MJT] Helictites, cont.
[MJT] Helictites, cont.
[MJT] Helictites, cont.
[MJT] Helictites, cont.
[MJT] In the Helictite Chamber (over Marta's head there's a whole bunch of white ones)
[MJT] In the Helictite Chamber (over Marta's head there's a whole bunch of white ones)
[MJT] Descent from Ladder Dig
[MJT] Descent from Ladder Dig
[MJT]
[MJT]
[MJT] A short descent to the main passage
[MJT] A short descent to the main passage
[MJT] That was also full of nice formations
[MJT] That was also full of nice formations
[MJT] The return through the waterfall
[MJT] The return through the waterfall
[MJT] The bridge to White Chamber and side passages
[MJT] The bridge to White Chamber and side passages
[MJT] Formations there
[MJT] Formations there
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Next we decided to visit the longest cave in the region - length: 9150, depth: 167.
The cave is not locked, but you have to pay a pound to the owners of the field.
Warning: the cave, as well as its entrance, is easily flooded; so you should earlier find out,
what are the water conditions and the weather forecast. When we visited the cave, the water level was pretty low.
The cave's main passage goes through many sumps; it is 550 meters to the first one.
Several of the beginning sumps can be bypassed through other passages (if the Mud Sump is passable)
and then you can visit most of the cave (if you have enough time). We decided to go to the first sump; we also spent some time
in the labyrinth in the first part of the cave.
A stream flows through the main passage (several smaller streams join it). There are several pitches on the way,
but during the 1968 floods under the highest one (12m), the water washed away a lot of mud and a new, easy passage opened.
Several of the pitches can be passed without a rope (but a slip can land you in one of the many pools). To go down a 6-meter pitch
(The Twenty) you need a rope (but the English prefer ladders, I think).
One the way, in chambers and in the main corridor, a lot of formations can be found. Through all pitches and drops
beautiful waterfalls fall. It's quite loud in the cave, and after several hours inside,
this starts to become a small problem.
The whole passage to the first sump can be walked very quickly - the corridor is quite wide and high.
We, however, spent a lot of time on shooting photos; the labyrinth near the entrance also took us some time.
All in all, the cave is very nice and worth visiting. I'm sure we will go there at least once more
(when we have the chance).
Next we decided to visit the longest cave in the region - length: 9150, depth: 167.
The cave is not locked, but you have to pay a pound to the owners of the field.
Warning: the cave, as well as its entrance, is easily flooded; so you should earlier find out,
what are the water conditions and the weather forecast. When we visited the cave, the water level was pretty low.
The cave's main passage goes through many sumps; it is 550 meters to the first one.
Several of the beginning sumps can be bypassed through other passages (if the Mud Sump is passable)
and then you can visit most of the cave (if you have enough time). We decided to go to the first sump; we also spent some time
in the labyrinth in the first part of the cave.
A stream flows through the main passage (several smaller streams join it). There are several pitches on the way,
but during the 1968 floods under the highest one (12m), the water washed away a lot of mud and a new, easy passage opened.
Several of the pitches can be passed without a rope (but a slip can land you in one of the many pools). To go down a 6-meter pitch
(The Twenty) you need a rope (but the English prefer ladders, I think).
One the way, in chambers and in the main corridor, a lot of formations can be found. Through all pitches and drops
beautiful waterfalls fall. It's quite loud in the cave, and after several hours inside,
this starts to become a small problem.
The whole passage to the first sump can be walked very quickly - the corridor is quite wide and high.
We, however, spent a lot of time on shooting photos; the labyrinth near the entrance also took us some time.
All in all, the cave is very nice and worth visiting. I'm sure we will go there at least once more
(when we have the chance).
Swildon's Hole
[MJT] The entrance (through the square opening the stream from the surrounding fields flows into the cave)
[MJT] The entrance (through the square opening the stream from the surrounding fields flows into the cave)
[MUT] Draperies in Old Grotto ("that is witness to wanton destruction of formations" - so how did it look before?)
[MUT] Draperies in Old Grotto ("that is witness to wanton destruction of formations" - so how did it look before?)
[MJT] One of the stalagmites there
[MJT] One of the stalagmites there
[MJT] And rose-pearls
[MJT] And rose-pearls
[MJT] And basins...
[MJT] And basins...
[MJT] Marta on The Twenty
[MJT] Marta on The Twenty
[MJT]
[MJT]
[MJT]
[MJT]
[MJT]
[MJT]
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[MJT] It was good that we took impermeable suits with us!
[MJT] It was good that we took impermeable suits with us!
[MJT] The main passage leads all the time in the stream
[MJT] The main passage leads all the time in the stream
[MJT] With numerous small drops and waterfalls (very loud, for several hours)
[MJT] With numerous small drops and waterfalls (very loud, for several hours)
[MJT] Nice formations on the way
[MJT] Nice formations on the way
[MJT]
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[MJT]
[MJT] Drying stuff after the trip
[MJT] Drying stuff after the trip
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For the last trip we wanted to go to a deep, SRT cave. Rhino Rift, an exception among Mendip caves, has almost no
horizontal passages. The whole depth (144m) is descended on ropes through 3 bigger and 2 smaller pitches. The first 3
pitches are divided by short and steep slopes, so very quickly one descends below 100m.
There are bolts (however, it turned out on the way back, that some of them should not be used anymore),
12 karabiners are enough for all 3 pitches. We had the following ropes: 51m, 24m, 34m, 12m, 13m. The first one can be several
meters shorter, the two short ones also. We took standard suits (I didn't want to swim in an impermeable), but that was a mistake.
The last (tight) descent is done in a small stream that guarantees soaking on the way up;
it's not that it's cold down there, just not comfortable.
Right, below the 3 pitches there are 3 vertical squeezes. The lowest one, the one in the stream, isn't that hard,
but you have to spend several minutes on squirming. The middle one is pretty easy, but the topmost one turned
out to be quite hard for me. Only after the third try I managed to climb out of it...
There are very large formations in this cave, however they are located in the mid-sections of the big pitches - so it's pretty hard
to get a good look at them or to shoot photos. So, this trip turned out for us to be mainly SRT practice.
For the last trip we wanted to go to a deep, SRT cave. Rhino Rift, an exception among Mendip caves, has almost no
horizontal passages. The whole depth (144m) is descended on ropes through 3 bigger and 2 smaller pitches. The first 3
pitches are divided by short and steep slopes, so very quickly one descends below 100m.
There are bolts (however, it turned out on the way back, that some of them should not be used anymore),
12 karabiners are enough for all 3 pitches. We had the following ropes: 51m, 24m, 34m, 12m, 13m. The first one can be several
meters shorter, the two short ones also. We took standard suits (I didn't want to swim in an impermeable), but that was a mistake.
The last (tight) descent is done in a small stream that guarantees soaking on the way up;
it's not that it's cold down there, just not comfortable.
Right, below the 3 pitches there are 3 vertical squeezes. The lowest one, the one in the stream, isn't that hard,
but you have to spend several minutes on squirming. The middle one is pretty easy, but the topmost one turned
out to be quite hard for me. Only after the third try I managed to climb out of it...
There are very large formations in this cave, however they are located in the mid-sections of the big pitches - so it's pretty hard
to get a good look at them or to shoot photos. So, this trip turned out for us to be mainly SRT practice.
Rhino Rift
[MJT] Two MCG members took us to the cave entrance - Geoff's on this picture
[MJT] Two MCG members took us to the cave entrance - Geoff's on this picture
[MJT] Martin didn't want to be photographed, I guess
[MJT] Martin didn't want to be photographed, I guess
[MJT] Over the first pitch
[MJT] Over the first pitch
[MUT] The deepest one of the three bottom squeezes (with a small trickle)
[MUT] The deepest one of the three bottom squeezes (with a small trickle)
[MUT] On the way back - here, at the top of the second pitch
[MUT] On the way back - here, at the top of the second pitch
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