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.