Bull Pot of the Witches

After yesterday's improvement in the weather, we were in for another wet day today. So again, we had a suitable location already decided on and again, somewhere none of us had been before: Bull Pot if the Witches.

Again it was quiet in Bernies at breakfast (where were all the cavers?).

Next was the trek to the Red Rose Cave and Pothole Club's hut at Bull Pot Farm to get changed.

One good thing about this cave: it's a short walk from the car and also a flat walk!

Again Keith was rigging and he started the route which follows a short muddy path at the top of the large open pot from some resined-in bolts and again a convenient overhanging tree.

After a short drop from the tree to a rebelay at a lip of rock the again a short drop to the floor of the large open pot near the waterfall stained with the peaty water from the surrounding bog.

Our route then followed a lowish passage to a sloping rift with a seemingly excess of resined in bolts to choose with a Y hang followed by two deviations to reach the floor.

This was followed almost immediately be the next pitch which was only about 4 or 5 or so metres high and looked climbable but we rigged it nevertheless.

Some more passageway then a clamber down to reach a lower passage with a small steam flowing followed by a lowering of the ceiling to form a crawl and another short pitch which had an in-situ rope.

Keith rigged our rope as well and there was no knowing the condition of the rope we had found already rigged.

The take-off for pitch was awkward and looked even worse when coming the other way when re-ascending. As I knew there was only a short section of cave remaining below, and my collar bone was still painful (a stone had fallen down Jingling Hole when I was at the bottom and made a direct hit on my left collar bone – luckily it had been a small stone), I decided to wait at the top while Karen and Keith continued.

They were back in around 15 or 20 minutes and we reversed our route back to the surface to find it raining again, exactly as forecasted.

After getting changed at the cars near Bull Pot Farm, we said good bye to Keith, who was going straight home to Rugby, while Karen and I returned to Bernies for a meal and then to return the key for Greenclose at the New Inn in Clapham before heading for home ourselves.

Jingling Pot

With a great improvement in weather, it was back underground again.

The original intention was to be a pull-through trip into Swinsto Hole to exit Kingsdale Master Cave via Valley Entrance.

Water levels were still high after yesterday's rain with Kingsdale Bck flowing.

We went into the plastic drum-lined entrance to go as far as the short pitch down to the streamway in order to rig a rope to assist our exit later on after arriving via Swinsto Hole.

As I had already put on my SRT kit, I abseiled down to the streamway to have a wander upstream to see what water levels were like. They seemed pretty high and I wasn't sure at what level you could guarantee getting through the low wet crawl which we would have to pass on our way later. As it would be a pull-through trip, where you use a single rope for all the pitches and pull it down after abseiling each one (and also carry a spare just in case the first one jams or anything). There would be no turning back if the route was blocked.

So, we decided on “Plan B” which would be Jingling Pot. This cave is located in the same valley of Kingsdale, and probably part of the dame cave system, and I had noticed last night that the ropes we were bringing for Swinsto Hole/Valley Entrance would also be suitable for Jingling Pot.

So, we walked back down to the road to where we had parked to check on the route to Jingling Pot and then walked along the road to find the correct field gate and then walk up to the Turbary Road and then find Jingling Pot, which we soon did.

None of the three of us had been down Jingling Pot before for one reason or another so it would be an first experience for all.

Keith started down first, tying the rope to a couple of resined in bolts on the surface then to a sling on a convenient tree overhanging the 60 meter deep open classic Yorkshire Pot.

Nine metres down he swung over to the start of the Lateral Cleft Route which follows a more interesting rout to the bottom of the pot.

As Karen and I were waiting to follow, a group of other cavers arrived to also descend the pot. It turned out to be some cavers from Derbyshire and we knew them as well: Ann Soulsby, Roy Rogers and Colum.Walsh.

I had noticed some new bolts near the top of the pot and this turns out to be part of a new alternative bolted route. The others were to follow this alternative route with Roy dropping straight down from one point while the others joined our route after a traverse.

Once Karen, Keith and I had been to the bottom of the pot, we started making our way out again. Karen decided to re-ascend via the route Roy had rigged while I started back up the Lateral Cleft.

By a rebelay in a small chamber I waited for Ann and Column to descend as it was easy to get passed while Keith waited on the large ledge just below. Then we continued to the top and the surface to find there had been a heavy shower just after we had started down but had caught Ann, Colum and Roy on the surface.

So, in the end Jingling Pot wasn't just a poor alternative to our first choice of Swinsto Hole. It can be done when it is wet and is an excellent and interesting trip at any time, especially when you break out into the side of the open pot part way down the Lateral Cleft Route.

Walking on Pen-y-Ghent

With a typical August Bank Holiday Weekend wet weather forecast of rain, we decided to continue with our planned caving trip to the Yorkshire Dales anyway as we had postponed the trip already once from last week due to the weather.

So after a quick stop at the Orpheus CC hut to collect ropes and tackle bags, Karen and I set off for the Dales and arrived at our accommodation for the long weekend: Greenclose, the Northern Pennine Club's hut.

There was no one there as we arrived after a two hour journey at around 21:30 last night so we headed over to the New Inn in nearby Clapham to have a quick drink and collect the key.

We were up in the morning at 08:30 to find we still had the place to ourselves, surprisingly as it was the Bank Holiday weekend and after a bit of cereal we unloaded the caving gear from the car. We had agreed with Keith earlier, who we were to meet this morning in Bernies Cafe, to go walking today as it had been very wet recently, there were weather warnings of heavy rain for today and it had begun to rain.

We arrived at the café to find Keith already there and after breakfast and a quick trip next door to Inglesport, we drove to Horton in Ribblesdale and parked at the Pay and Display car park.

Next was a quick visit to the Pen-y-Ghent café to pick up some stuff for lunch, than back into the rain to follow the route of the Pennine Way as it heads south from the café through the village then along a rough track which brings to one of “The Three Peaks”, Pen-y-Ghent.

We walked along the track in the rain as it gradually increased in height and after passing through a gate made a short detour to have a look at the large and impressive hold formed by Hull Pot only a few hundred metres away.

As expected, the waterfall falling into the open pot, which looks as if is the remnant of an old collapsed chamber about 90 metres long by 30 metres wide, was flowing at quite a high rate due to the rain and there was a deep pool forming on the floor. It has been know to fill completely with enough heavy rain.

Returning to our previous route we again made a small diversion to have a look at Hunt Pot which isn't as large as Hull Pot but is still quite a spectacle, again with a waterfall plunging into its 70 metre depths.

After the caving interest, it was a return to plodding in the rain to head towards the top of Pen-y-Ghent which soon arrived after a gradually-rising and well-worn path led straight to the 'S'-shaped drystone-wall wind shelter.

We made use of the shelter to sit and have a bit of lunch admiring the odd peak through the cloud to the surrounding countryside.

Then it was time to descend.

We decided to follow the path dropping much more steeply down the south ridge again following the Pennine Way, which involved quite a lot of rough rocky steps until we arrived at a junction of paths with the Pennine Way continuing to the south while our route lay across grassy farm land to the village of Brackenbottom.

At Brackenbottom we walked along the small road to reach Horton in Ribblesdale again next to its ancient church, then very soon, back to Pen-y-Ghent café for some much deserved mugs of tea and cake.

The rain had finally stopped as we were back at the car and I discovered why my boots had felt strange all day: I had taken the footbeds out last weekend to allow the boots to dry thoroughly and had forgotten to replace them!

Hull Pot

Hunt Pot

Hunt Pot

Dropping down near the top of Pen y Ghent

Further down Pen y Ghent

Pen y Ghent

Pen y Ghent in the distance

A Walk on Combs Moss

A walk we had done before in colder but drier conditions, which follows around moorland plateau near Buxton called Combs Moss.

No matter what clothing you wear or how waterproof or breathable it is, on a day like today, which was humid, warm and often showery, you are going to get wet: either from the rain or just from being sweaty. And we did get very damp!

We drove up a narrow road from the village of Dove Holes and parked in a layby then started up a short steep path to gain the plateau at the gritstone outcrop of Castle Naze, which has the remains of an old Hill Fort.

As soon as we started making our way along the edge-side path, the first of the rain showers began. So it was off with the rucksacks, on with waterproof jacket, on with the rucksack and on our way again. Then when the rain stopped, off with the rucksacks, off with the waterproof jackets, back on with the rucksacks. This was to be repeated and intervals during the day.

Unfortunately, the conditions were ideal for midges so we were encouraged to keep walking until we found a spot where there was a bit of a breeze to keep the midges away where we could sit for a few minutes and have a drink and a snack.

At least there were views, usually for quite a distance until banks of mist rolled past.

Soon we were back at the old hill fort and the very short path back down to our starting point after a walk which was enjoyable but the conditions could have been better!

P8

Karen and myself had originally planned to meet Keith in Ingleton this morning for a weekend's caving in the Yorkshire Dales but there had been weather warnings for heavy rain last night and today was forecast to be wet. The weather at home wasn't supposed to be anywhere near as bad, so we decided to stay at home.

Karen and I had an enjoyable trip down P8 near Castleton. There were a small group of cavers already in the car park when we arrived who were planning a trip into Gautries Hole.

We met three cavers from Crewe Potholing and Climbing Club as we were about to descend the second pitch as well.

The Upstream sump was dry but there was water flowing further downstream. The Downstream sump was much higher than usual with water backing up quite a way back towards T'Owd Man's Rift.

Holiday in Lake District – Green Gable and Great Gable

Again, another very warm and sunny day. Parked at the slate mine at Honister then followed the old tram way to the “Drum House” ruins following a route skirting below Brandreth to the summit of Green Gable. Afterwards dropped down into Windy Gap then up the north-east side of Great Gable to the summit.

We stopped on the south-west side of the summit to get a bit of breeze and discourage the small flies and midges which were flying around in the summit area.

Afterwards we dropped down to Beck Head between Great Gable and the neighbouring peak of Kirk Fell then followed Moses Trod back to the ruined tramway and Honister.

Holiday in Lake District – Walk in Borrowdale

Another warm and sunny day. But first a re-supply trip to Keswick. Then after returning to the camp site we again walked up the road for a short distance, then left the road at a public footpath which brought us eventually to a field boundary by a track.

Following this track brought us past Castle Rock and then to the River Derwent near the Bowder Stone.

I tool a few photos of the river and found that my Canon G9 packed up! Oh well, at least I had brought my small Olympus waterproof and shock resistant camera.

Next we went back along the river stopping at the “Flock-in” tea room in Rosthwaite to have a piece of cake and some tea before walking the remaining distance back to the camp site.

Later as we were sat by the tent having a brew and reading in the evening sunshine, a small group of youngsters on a “Duke of Edinburgh Award” back-packing trip arrived. I noticed that several of them were pointing up at the sky above. I also looked up and could see what they were all getting excited about: there was a “Circumhorizontal arc” or “Fire Rainbow”.

This is a rainbow-like phenomenon which is caused by the refraction of sunlight by high-altitude ice crystals and is relatively rare at these latitudes and certainly an amazing sight.

Holiday in Lake District – Glaramara

Again we were camped at a camp site with plenty of scope for nice walks without having to drive anywhere.

We set off up the road towards Seatoller on a lovely sunny and warm morning as far as a row of houses called Glen View, then crossed the road and followed a path through bracken along Combe Gill and followed the gradually-rising ground beneath Raven Crag on the north-east side of Thornythwaite Fell.

There was a small group of climbers on a route on Raven Crag and we could hear their voices and clanking gear as we passed underneath.

We were heading for the obvious large notch in the rocky end to the valley called Combe Door.

Avoiding the ever-deepening gully formed by Combe Gill, we followed increasingly steeper ground and had to follow a meandering route to avoid short rocky crags.

When we were nearly at Combe Door, we took the opportunity to sit on some small square boulders to have a quick rest and a snack: it was hard work following the steep ground!

From the large notch of Combe Door, we then reached a large flatter area passing below Combe Head as we headed for the large rocky summit area of Glaramara.

We reached a footpath rising up via Thornythwaite Fell or Hind Crag towards the summit and joined this.

Soon we were at a short section of pleasant and very easy scrambling up a rocky series of steps and we soon reached the very summit of Glaramara marked by a cairn and a small sheltering wall made from piled up rocks.

Sitting in the shelter of a piece of rock at the summit we were out of the breeze and ate our lunch in the peaceful quiet as we gazed at the views all around.

It was tempting to just sit there on such a sunny and clear day looking at the views and enjoying the peace and quiet, but soon we retraced our steps back as far as the place where we had joined the path earlier and then continued onwards down the path following over Thornythwaite Fell back to the road and once again tot the campsite.

Holiday in Lake District – Relocate to Borrowdale

We packed up in the morning luckily with a dry tent as unusually there was no condensation and it had been dry overnight. After a visit to Keswick for a visit to the supermarket to stock up on food we pitched the tent at Chapel House Farm in Stonethwaite, Borrowdale. Again, a nice quiet campsite charging £6 per person per night.

There is a large parking area by the entrance from the road into the campsite and a large grassy field to pitch tents in with large flat areas and a short walk to the toilets and showers. The campsite is in a really nice location with stunning views all round and nice and quiet. There is even a regular bus service with a bus stop right outside the entrance.

Luckily the weather forecast for the next few days was good. We had a rest day and dried out damp gear and just read (I had brought my Kindle and Karen had a paperback) after we had pitched the tent.

Holiday in Lake District – Haystacks

Again a damp day with light rain, drizzle and mist. We first stopped off at one of the cafes in the village of Buttermere where we had a coffee yesterday evening to pick up some sandwiches for lunch – and they were very nice as well.

We drove to the start of our walk today but only 2 or 4 miles up the road to the car park at Gatesgarth Farm. As we were getting our walking boots on, another car parked next to us and a family got out. Just then it started to rain. They had a few minutes walk away from the car park but then returned to get back in their car and leave.

Once we had our boots on and rucksacks ready, from there our route took us a short distance further along the road to a stile, then along Warnscale Bottom on a bridleway.

The old track was flat to begin with then started to climb up the steeper ground beneath Fleetwith Pike passing close to a deep gully carrying Warnscale Beck. As it reached a col leading onwards to Honister Quarry, a footpath branched off to the right which led us to a small crag which provided a bit of shelter so we had a quick break and a snack.

As we were sitting there, a patch of mist cleared and gave us a view down to Buttermere lake and village.

Continuing onwards, we followed the meandering path on this peculiar summit of Haystacks, passing Blackbeck Tarn and then the larger Innominate Tarn.

Soon we were at the highest point, marked by a cairn around an old iron fence post (which looked very like a section of old rail from an old mine).

Again following the path, we passed a couple of easy scrambles downwards, arriving at a crossroads of footpaths at Scarth Gap: straight on continued onwards to High Crag, while crossing this path was a route from Black Sail Youth Hostel in Ennerdale below leading down to Gatesgarth Farm or, at a junction by Peggy's Bridge, to the village of Buttermere.

We followed the route back to Gatesgarth Farm and were back at our starting point.

Holiday in Lake District – Walk Around Crummock Water

The tent was pitched on a slightly sloping piece of ground as there were two other tents already pitched where there was no slope but they had moved on in the morning so first of all we emptied the tent temporarily, removed the pegs and re-pitched it about 2 meters further away.

We had breakfast at the tent (cereal followed by sausage sandwiches) and started to get ready for a walk.

Originally we had decided on a walk up some nearby hills but again it was cloudy and showery and when were heard rumblings of thunder, we decided to remain at lower levels.

After looking at the map, we saw a route which you could follow around the lake of Crummock Water which was just a short distance away the other side of Buttermere, so we could easily walk there straight from the campsite.

So, we opted for this option and luckily there were only a few short showers and it was a nice walk as well.

When we had arrived back in Buttermere we visited the café for coffee and some shortbread biscuits.

In the evening it was again showery so I sat in the tent's porch while Karen lay inside the inner part of the tent, again having a read.

Gradually the rain increased and then there was a downpour again with thunder.

Soon there was a pool of water forming on the grassy ground in the porch which soon became about an inch (2.5cm) deep! It was run-off from the rain flowing on the water-logged past the tent. I had to keep my feet off the ground as I continued to read. Luckily as the sewn-in groundsheet of the inner tent has a section of material around the bottom a few inches in height, none of this water got into the inner tent.

Once the heavy rain stopped, the pool soon dissipated leaving a squelchy ground.

Holiday in Lake District

Karen and I set off from home in the morning arriving at Syke Farm Camping Ground in the small village of Buttermere, where we planned to camp for a few days before moving on to another location in the Lakes.

We paid for three days (£6 each per day) camping at the tea shop by the farm which is very close to the camp site and then had some tea and lovely home-baked cakes.

Up to now it had been pretty dry but as soon as we parked the car up, the skies opened and it started to rain.

We waited for a while to see if the shower would stop but it seemed to have no intentions of doing so. As the rain got a little lighter, I decided to at least start getting the tent up and first chose a location near another tent on a higher bit of ground. A lot of this section of the campsite was uneven and there was a largish mound of rock and grass which had flat area.

As soon as I had the poles in the flysheet and some pegs in, the rain suddenly worsened, followed by thunder and lightning!

The rain was flowing along the ground and collecting in a pool as the tent was in a bit of a depression (a bit like the weather!) so once the rain again lightened, I decided to shift the tent to a lower and flatter area, which I managed to do.

Soon afterwards there was a break in the rain so we moved sleeping bags, etc. from the car to the tent.

Later on we had a really good meal at a very reasonable price in the Bridge Inn in the village.

Syke Farm Camp Site, Buttermere