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Mendip Weekend

Friday 13th to Sunday 15th July 2001

Tony had been singing the praises of Mendip to a band of disbelieving northerners for far too long so we decided to see what it was all about. Friday evening and 3 car loads made the 5 hour journey from North Yorkshire to the MNRC hut at Green Ore. We arrived just before midnight, blathered and polished off what little whisky we had and retired at 2am. Not too prompt a start in the morning; we acquired permits for Charterhouse caves, enjoyed a good if slow breakfast at the Green Ore cafe and visited Bat products to check out the latest situation and buy the guide book. We agreed on Longwood Swallet as the day's objective.

Longwood Swallet, Charterhouse (DC - SSC)

We took no chances with the cars; parking in upper Cheddar Gorge and leaving them completely empty, and walked up through the woods to the lidded entrance. A bit of fiddling with the lock and the lid was opened and we made our way down the chimney climb. Adrian suffered a second cell failure at this point (the first went before he entered the cave), but a quick swap with Alison's spare and he was back in action. I nipped back up the chimney to leave the dead cells and returned to doubtful noises from the Letterbox area. After a while both Paul and Adrian decided they were finding the going a bit too committing and would head back out. We made sure they were OK, then caught up the others at the 1st pitch. A short ladder over this and we had a brief chat to a Shepton Mallett group making their way out before we continued down a short climb and into larger passage.

Left below the climb led under the showerbath to a smaller passage with the water and a traverse and climb into Great Chamber. At the bottom of this the 2nd ladder was rigged for Swing Pitch into the stream and the steeply descending Fault Chamber. At the main streamway we explored upstream to Dry and Wet Galleries before investigating the Downstream Series. This was superb caving - the passage generally continued its descent with easy scrambling and plenty of decoration. Some parts were low and reminded me of Hydrophobia in Sleets Gill, but with a less sinister feel - we were certainly well refreshed. We stopped at the start of Renold's Passage - only Tony feeling the need for a brief examination.

Our return was via the August Hole streamway. Above Swing Pitch we stepped over the hole and continued upstream. This was a bit smaller, but easy going to the Drainpipe (a flat out wet crawl) and a refreshing shower into a small chamber. Greg had lost Ursula at this point and given 2 options took the dry one until it came to a dead end. This meant a return to the chamber and a climb up through the spray of the Wet Chimney. Steven assured us it was OK and I trailed a rope for Alison to follow (she wasn't too keen on the look of it having once had a rather refreshing time in a snow melt flooding Sunset Hole). A few more contortions and we emerged thoroughly washed at the base of the 1st pitch. A straightforward exit (some of us made a bit of a meal of the chimney!) led us back to the surface after 5 hours underground. A thoroughly enjoyable trip that left us with that lovely all over tired feeling after having done more caving than any of us had done for months.

We regrouped, had a quick sort of gear and headed for beer and food. Back at the hut it wasn't long before heads were nodding. Sunday morning saw a more efficient start and we split into 2 groups. Tony, Steven and Greg headed for Stoke Lane Slocker; Ursula, Adrian, Paul, Alison and I for G. B. Cave. We agreed to rendezvous at the Hunters for lunch.

G. B. Cave, Charterhouse (VDC)

On arrival at the parking spot we were missing some vital items of kit so Paul & I nipped back to the hut, leaving the others to locate the cave. We returned and kitted up and found them still above ground - they had been for a good walk, but had now found the entrance (a blockhouse in some trees as promised by Ursula). We unlocked the door and clambered down inside. At a junction Paul and I investigated to the right, up the ladder into the Upper Grotto and to the start of the Devil's Elbow route before following the others into Mud Passage. Down a couple of climbs we emerged into the Gorge. Easy scrambling down here and under the Bridge led to the very impressive Main Chamber (imaginative names!). The distant walls and roof were very well decorated and we took some time to look around and admire the view. The descent continued and we continued down a steeper climb to the end of Main Chamber. The pub was beckoning and we retreated by the same route after a brief but very enjoyable visit.

Stoke Lane Slocker, Stoke St. Michael (DC - SSC)

Second hand report just for completeness. A considerable tour of the Mendip countryside was taken before they returned to the hut and employed the services of a guide! The trip had to be done at speed to make last orders. Sump 1 was passed without incident and allowed a limited exploration of Stoke 2. The return dive provided some excitement for Steven who collided with Tony's legs and thought he had dived too far, prompting him to retreat again. The second attempt proved successful. They just made last orders in the Hunters.

We packed up and tidied the hut before our return north. A good weekend was enjoyed by all. Val, Adele and Katy had visited Wookey Hole and Cheddar Gorge on Saturday and had a tour around on Sunday morning. The caving we did was superb. I especially enjoyed the steeply dipping nature of the caves we did, reaching great depth (Longwood is 175m deep) with very little faffing about with string. I think we'll be back.

Paul Brooks

Last Modified: 7 May, 2003