At the beginning of the year, we host 2 weekend trips for our beginner members. Unfortunately, we had to cancel our first one recently due to Storm Amy creating floods. However, our other trip was a fantastic space, with 2 brilliant caves explored, County Pot and Calf Holes. County Pot is part of the Three Counties Cave system, the largest in the UK. With 56 miles of underground passages, it continues to be further explored to this date.
On the 10th-12th October the section we explored is entered from County Pot, travelling through Broadway, Showerbath passage, Battle of Britain Chamber, Upper Trident, Lower Trident Streamway and finally Eureka Junction. An excellent route for beginners with plenty to see! On leaving the cave, we were treated to a fantastic view of the sun setting over the west of England while waiting for Andrew and Adam to derig the rope on the exit. In the spirt of Halloween, we had a fantastic dinner that was the brainchild of Dan, pumpkin pasta! With two pumpkins chopped up, roasted and stewed with onion garlic and all manner of seasoning, it turned into a pretty fantastic meal!
On leaving the cave, we were treated to a fantastic view of the sun setting over the west of England
On Sunday, our plan was to travel from Long Churns to Alum Pot, but on arriving at the lay by to park, we had to quickly change our plans due to 2 large groups already preparing to go in. With a quick change of plans, we switched to calf holes nearby, a good beginner cave that was new to everyone. Calf holes can be entered from the top and exited from the bottom, but just in case something went wrong... we decided to leave the rope in the top entrance in case we needed to leave that way.
...but just in case something went wrong... we decided to leave the rope in the top entrance in case we needed to leave that way.
After navigating a lovely streamway and a short easy squeeze, we had found the route onwards and out. At this point, Hazel and Andrew left the cave out the top to get the rope and everyone else went out the bottom way. However, once reunited and nearly back at the car, it occurred we had managed to leave a bag in the cave. Andrew and Hazel made a quick trek back and managed to quickly retrieve the bag from near the exit. With a quick change while having fun with the echo off a nearby cliff, we got underway and back to Newcastle to a much-appreciated shower. All in all, a brilliant first trip away!