Meets List
A list of meets that have been disorganised in advance. There is often an alternative meet offered. If the main trip is a difficult one, then the alternative may be easier for those not wanting something too hard core. If the main trip is highly weather dependent, then the alternative may be a better option if the conditions are poor. Back up trips may not happen if there isn't enough interest. Main trips sometimes get canceled, or rearranged, due to circumstances. In addition to these, many other meets are disorganised on an ad-hoc basis.
We use our groups.io email list for detailed trip disorganisation as the day approaches. Access to the email list and the exact date of meets is available to all club members and to prospective members by invitation only.
Waterways Swallet. Blore, Staffordshire. Deepest cave in Staffordshire. a lot of scrambling between boulders and a few handlines. Grade 3. Alternative, P8. Perryfoot, Derbyshire. Grade 2 to 5.
Sidetrack Cave, Eldon Quarry, Derbyshire. Long entrance crawl but some nice formations when you get past this. If you're large chested you might struggle on this one. Grade 3. Alternative, Gautries Hole, Perryfoot, Derbyshire. Grade 3
Odin Mine, Castleton, Derbyshire. Old mine. SRT, Muddy. Grade 3 to 4. Alternative, Cumberland Cavern, Derwent South. Grade 2
Longcliffe Mine, Castleton, Derbyshire. On the highest prominent hillock halfway up the steep slope above Speedwell Cavern. Grade 3. Also, Son of Longcliffe (nearby), Castleton, Derbyshire. Grade 3.
Peak Cavern, Castleton, Derbyshire. Largest cave system in Derbyshire, offering large open stream passages to SRT routes. Grade 3 to 4. Alternative, Neptune Mine, Wye, Derbyshire. Grade 2
Bat Day. Learn about bats from an expert. Various mine sites around the Via Gellia.
Bull Pot Of The Witches, Casterton Fell,Yorkshire. Bull Pot of the Witches is a complex and fascinating cave, with many passages and chambers at different levels, many stream sections and several sumps. SRT needed. Grade 3. Alternative, Mistral Hole, Easgill. Grade 3.
Moel Fferna Slate Mine, Corwen, Denbighshire. Grade 3.
Five Way Pot, Dowlow Moss, Yorkshire. Grade 3.
Giant's Hole, Castleton, Derbyshire. Grade 3 to 4.
Slaughter Stream Cave, Forest of Dean. Grade 3 to 4.
Merlin Mine, Derbyshire. Grade 3.
Top Sink to Lancaster Hole, Dales. Grade 4.
South Wales Weekend, Little Neath River Cave (Grade 3 to 4) and Porth yr Ogof (Grade 3).
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In the Autumn, our meets secretary will be asking club members for suggestions for the following years meets list.
We usually use Single Rope Technique, or SRT to descend and ascend vertical sections of caves. With the areas we cave in, many of our trips will require mastery of SRT. Full training can be provided by the club and you can borrow the equipment until you decide to buy your own.
Where possible, an indication of the difficulty of the cave is given on a scale from one to five. The grading system is based on that used in the Northern Caves guide books. Grading in caving will always be subjective and not as sophisticated as the systems used in the climbing world. The difficulty of the cave will also depend on the size, experience and fitness of the caver as well as the weather conditions and many other factors.
Dan at the top of Victoria Aven, Peak Cavern. Photo © Gaz McShee 2023.