Around the turn of the century, Crewe CPC were heavily involved in the project to replace 8mm Spit expansion anchors in Peak District caves and mines
with stainless steel resin hangers. We compiled a guide book that gave rigging topos for all the worthwhile SRT trips
in the Peak District and this rapidly became an essential item in any Peak District cavers, or clubs library. This guide book
went through many editions as new routes were added, or existing ones altered.
Time moves on and we decided to transfer the rigging guide to our web site. This allows us to update the guide more quickly and gives cavers access to the
latest version of each rigging topo. Derbyshire Caving Association publish rigging topos for caves that they have installed hangers in. These can be viewed and
downloaded from the Peak District Caving web site. There are many more caves and routes than this and the CCPC
rigging guide tries to cover as many as possible.
The complete guide and individual topos can be viewed, downloaded and printed by individual cavers, clubs and those carrying out caving on a professional basis.
Copyright for the guides and rigging topos remains with Crewe Climbing and Potholing Club. Selling topos and guides downloaded from the web site is prohibited.
Any profit from sales of the paper version of the rigging guide used to go to Derbyshire Cave Rescue Organisation. If you've found the free on-line version useful,
then please consider making a donation to DCRO, using the Paypal link below:
Using the Guide
The topos are divided in to regions based on Peak District geographical watersheds and then alphabetically by cave. The scheme is the same as that used in the
Caves of the Peak District (2010) guide book (ISBN 978-0-9563473-2-9) and the
DCA's Peak District Caving and
Cave Registry web sites. These regions are shown in the menu to the left, or the top of the page
and allow easy navigation around the guide. If you are not sure what region a cave is in, there is an index, sorted alphabetically by cave name.
The CCPC Home navigation button takes you to the main Crewe CPC site.
The following information and links are provided:
Rigging Topo will display the rigging topo in a new tab, where it can be zoomed and panned.
Download PDF will download an A4 formatted pdf document that is easy to print.
Location and Access links will take you to the appropriate entries for that cave in the DCA's web sites.
Check these for location and current access arrangements.
The provision of a rigging topo does not mean that access is currently allowed. The cave could be off limits for safety reasons too.
The link(s) should hold the most up to date information.
If there is no information in Peak District Caving, the Cave Registry, or Caves of the Peak District, then location and access information is given here.
PDMHS Mining History Bulletin,
article links, or references are provided for some mines where the information is likely to be useful to visitors.
QR Codes are on the topos.
These provide direct links to the DCA's web page for that entrance. Allows you to quickly
find access and location information from a paper rigging guide by pointing your smartphone camera at the QR Code.
Caves of the Peak District Page Number will save you time looking up the cave in the 2010 edition of the guide book as it has no index within the book.
Not all sites are in the guide book. Some were only discovered after its publication.
A Front Cover, Contents, Index and Key, so you can print and bind your own rigging guide, should you so desire. The edition number is also
given, so you can see if your copy is still up to date. Check the revision history to see which topos you need to add, or update.
Remember to print a new front cover with the new revision number when updating your guide. We suggest keeping any printed copy in clear plastic pockets in a ring binder to protect
the pages from muddy cavers paws and allow easy updating.
Between them, these sources of information should provide the knowledge you'll need to plan a successful trip. Happy Caving!
The Guide
Download the complete guide in pdf format, ready to view, or print. (4MB).
Alternatively, view, or download individual pages below.
Youds' Level (Historically known as Ringing Rake Sough and Masson Sough).
For access to Day Shaft (Historically known as Deep Shaft), see Caves of the Peak District. A "Derbyshire Key" is required for the shaft lid. See
Mining History Bulletin Vol,8, No,2 1981 pp.65-102 for description and surveys of the mines in this area.
Important! Pitch and rope lengths are for guidance only. Rope lengths may need to be increased depending on your rigging techniques.
Err on the side of caution. Are your ropes long enough? Have you tied a knot in the end?
Pitch length (m)
Descent distance to deviation (m)
Rope length to that point (m)
Rope length for entire route (m)
Natural thread belay, or scaffold bar
8mm spit, rawl bolt, thunderbolt etc. Not stainless steel
Stainless steel permanent anchor. DMM, Goujon, P38, Fixe etc.
Spike, or flake
Deviation
Fixed ladder
Pull through
Fixed rope
Belay stake
QR Code link to DCA access and location info.
Revision History
Edition
Date
Changes
12.6
14-3-2020
The Rowter Hole topo has been replaced with two topos and now includes the route from the Gin Shaft to Crystal Orechasm.
A topo has been added for Day Shaft that drops down to Youds' Level in the Derwent South region.
A minor correction has been made to the Knotlow survey with the rope length
in to Pearl Chamber, shown as 29m being changed to the correct 20m.
To update your guide replace the front cover, Contents and Index and the Knotlow topo.
Replace the Rowter topo with the two new ones
and add the Youds' Level - Day Shaft topo.
12.5
8-3-2020
Added the pull through pitch back in to Basecamp Chamber to the third Giant's Hole topo.
This has been renamed Giant's Hole - Basecamp Chamber, Boss Aven & Carnival Aven.
To update your guide reprint the third Giant's Hole topo and the front cover.
12.4
25-2-2020
The Hungerhill Swallet topo has been updated. The route uses Thunderbolt non-stainless steel anchors and these have been
in situ for many years. Their safety is unknown. The anchor symbols have been changed to the non-stainless type and the safety warning
made stonger. This cave is on the list for rebolting by DCA, but in the mean time, if you do visit, be aware of the risk.
To update your guide reprint the Hungerhill Swallet topo and the front cover.
12.3
23-2-2020
Update of the Level 7 and Hope Shaft topo. Replace the front cover and the Level 7 / Hope Shaft topo to bring your guide up to date from version 12.2.
Thank you to Masson Caving Group for supplying up to date information for this system from their recent trip.
12.2
16-2-2020
Addition of George Cooper's Aven rigging topo. Update to Victoria Aven topo.
QR Codes added to all the topos.
These provide direct links to the peakdistrictcaving.info web page for that entrance. Allows you to quickly
find access and location information from a paper rigging guide by pointing your smartphone camera at the QR Code.
Print the entire guide to update from any previous issue.
12.1
12-1-2020
Level 7 / Hope Shaft topo grid references removed. Hope Shaft reference was incorrect.
More accurate locations are now in peakdistrictcaving.info. Replace topo (page 40) and front cover.
If you discover a problem with a rigging topo, or any of the links here, or have any suggestions,
then please let us know by filling in the feedback form below:
The photos in the banner at the top of the page are in Victoria Aven in Peak Cavern and were taken by Grace Chu 2/2/2020.
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Obligatory "You're Going To Die" Notice
These rigging guides are provided for the use of experienced cavers only. The provision of a guide does not mean that the route is safe and
the caver must use her, or his own judgment when rigging and descending the cave. Weather conditions, deterioration of the anchors, loose rock, the cavers skill level,
fitness and many other factors can affect the safety of the route. Although we have made every effort to make the guides as accurate as possible
Crewe Climbing and Potholing Club cannot accept any responsibility for any errors, or inaccuracies. By closing this box and proceeding to the guides you acknowledge this.
