To Squirm like a Worm...(or not)

The original plan for today was to visit The Score in Ogof Draenen and try and force our way through what sounds like a very unpleasant squeeze to see the White Wormery. However, as this trip involves 70m of flat out crawling in Back Passage and the possibility of flooding (thanks to Storm Claudia), we decided that the more sensible option would be an easy bimble through Gilwern Passage to Galeria Garimpeiros. This decision having been made, it was remarkable how much my mood lifted and I started to look forward to the trip! As Jas commented when I told him that part of me always feels that a trip isn't worth it unless it involves challenge, suffering and misery, sometimes you just have to tell that part of yourself to shut up!

With the thoughts of arduous and unpleasant flat-out crawls and doing an impersonation of a worm firmly banished from mind, we nonetheless decided that a high level of caution and conservative decision-making would be necessary given the very high water levels. It boggles the mind that we could even consider going into Draenen (which is - in the main - highly flood resistant) when just up the road a critical incident was declared in Monmouth due to flooding. Driving past and seeing the damage from flooding really does make you feel for people whose lives have been turned upside down overnight.

Cautiously we made our way into the new entrance: Ogof Tarddiad Pwll Du, where we could hear running water bubbling loudly. Making our way through, it was clear that water levels were high and the stream was flowing quickly and making some impressive cascades. Nonetheless, the passage clearly hadn’t flooded recently and given the improving weather forecast and the large outflow for the stream, we made the decision that water levels couldn't really rise and it was safe to proceed. And if the worst came to the worst, the original entrance series is reported to always be passable, if somewhat intimidating.

Having dropped into the cave, we made swift progress through Cairn Junction, Wonderbra Bypass and Tea Junction to the start of Gilwern Passage. The stream that flows between Wonderbra and Tea Junction was very high compared to normal and in much of the passage big pools of standing water had formed. These didn't impede progress, but as similar pools can form in White Arch Passage we thought this was additional justification for not entering the flat-out crawls which lead from it to the Score.

We made rapid progress along Gilwern Passage past a remarkably beautiful calcite flow. Soon the pleasant walking gave way to typical Draenen boulder-hopping and we reached a junction where the way on was to the left. This immediately led into a wet crawl and a tight-ish squeeze all within a choke, and from there to the start of Galeria Garimpeiros. However, Loz and Jas decided that the crawl didn't appeal and having gone through first I spent several minutes waiting for them to join me. Eventually I gave up as they were evidently dead-set against getting wet (an effort which, as it was later to turn out, was completely in vain).

Crawling back through the choke, it turned out that they had climbed up it into a passage above. This climb sounded very spicy due to navigating a “boulder of death”. Having joined together again, we followed the start of Morgannwyg Passage and climbed up to Old Illtydian’s Chamber, which was worth a quick look around.

From here, we made our way back down Gilwern Passage to Tea Junction and then opted to exit through the original entrance. Here we anticipated a somewhat intimidating amount of water; indeed I had visions of partially waterboarding myself. As it turned out, although there was certainly a lot of water the waterboarding never materialised. In fact, the exit was great fun! It was very sporting and involved a thorough drenching without ever being difficult. Definitely the best part of the trip!

After exiting, all that remained was the trudge up to the car and getting changed. The Score - and more specifically the White Wormery - remain firmly on the agenda for a future trip!

Cavers: Loz, Jas and Dave
Photos: Jas
Trip report: Dave

Nearly given the Cold Shoulder by the Coldfinger

A trip into Draenen to see the Coldfinger had been on my radar for some time, and after a quick message out to the Dudley, three of us (Jonny, Anne and myself) found ourselves squirreling around Draenen’s labyrinthine passages. Having heard that the Coldfinger was quite difficult to find, we were unsure whether our trip would be a success; nonetheless we were determined to give it a go.

None of us knew the nav from Wyvern Hall; fortunately we were equipped with Tarquin’s description which helped greatly. This led us through walking passages, tight squeezes, over traverses and along various crawls to reach Ponderosa Chamber having successfully navigated through Isotonic Weird Ways. Up to Ponderosa Chamber, the route for the Coldfinger follows that of the Long Round Trip (a bonus, as learning the nav for this is something I'd wanted to do). From here on in, however, the routes diverged. Before long, we had picked up Pond Life which led us - after some unpleasant crawling over rocks - to a taped off section of cryostal. Here the description told us that the route to the Blue Room / Yanto’s Grotto could be accessed by a very tight crawl at the bottom of a hole in the floor.

Dropping down this, I poked my head into the crawl to find that it immediately went through a very tight squeeze into a passage that looked ridiculously narrow, and which evidently had to be travelled whilst lying flat out on one side. I couldn't fit my helmet through this squeeze, and the thought of traveling through this passage for 20 metres and becoming wedged part way along it was extremely unappealing. Deciding that caution was the better part of valour, I backed off and got Anne to have a look. After she turned a remarkable shade of white just looking at it, we decided that the so-called “Easier Route” would be the option to take.

This decision initiated about an hour and a half of hunting around trying to find its entrance, and led us into some rather unpleasant places. At one point, Anne shot down what was clearly a dig, and after a few minutes we decided this couldn’t possibly be right. Coming back up through a tight-ish squeeze, I reached up to pull on a rock to help me get through, only to find that it - and a small section of the wall - decided to come down on top of me. No harm done, fortunately, and it had the bonus of making the squeeze larger for Jonny! However, I've decided that I prefer not being buried by the cave.

More hunting around found me sliding down a sandy slope through a small, tight hole into a chamber. It was immediately obvious that this wasn't the way on (which should have been obvious by the fact that the route wasn't at all travelled!) and I spent a few anxious minutes trying to get back up the sandy slope. A bit of digging and a stiff struggle were required, but eventually I was out.

After this, we decided that time was up and we wouldn't see the elusive Coldfinger. Jonny started the return crawl down Pond Life with Anne and myself following, and quickly said “there's a passage on the right, here”. Sure enough, this passage (which was about as obvious as the sun) turned out to be the “Easier Route”, and after carefully crawling flat out under its shattered roof, we found ourselves at a traverse over a deep pit into the Blue Room. With a lack of confidence-inspiring footholds, this was a bit of a “squeaky-bum” moment for Anne and myself, though Jonny didn't even bat an eyelid.

The Blue Room itself was very beautiful, with big swathes of calcite on one wall and a collection of small, blue formations. To the left of this chamber, a route through a very loose boulder choke led via a hole in the wall into a dig. At this point, we were on the verge of having to turn around, but Anne spotted what she thought was the “awkward climb” up into a passage at roof height. Scrambling up this, she poked her head around the corner into the passage, before exclaiming “I can see it!”. Jonny and I had a quick butchers, and on seeing how bright blue it was, decided that the trip was certainly worthwhile.

After that, all that remained was finding our way back out. So it was back over the traverse above the pit, where the one inviting foothold decided to snap off as I put my weight on it (leading to double squeaky-bum time). Having successfully navigated the traverse, we passed through Pond Life (where time didn't permit us to visit any other beautiful formations) and on into Ponderosa Chamber and the maze of passages that led us back to Wyvern Hall. I was very grateful for Jonny marking the way with rocks at key junctions as it turns out that following the description in reverse is much harder than I anticipated!

All-in-all, this trip was well worth it, even if the Coldfinger certainly made us work hard for the privilege of seeing it.

Cavers: Dave, Anne and Jonny
Photos: Jonny
Trip report: Dave

Simpson Pot Pull Through Training

I was very much looking forward to today's trip, as I had booked onto a CNCC underground workshop on pull-throughs. Despite high water levels, given the improving weather forecast the decision was made that it was safe to proceed and after some initial instruction overground, the three of us (Ian (CNCC trainer), Charlie (another participant) and myself) wandered up the hill to the entrance of Simpson Pot.

Taking it in turns to rig the pitches, we made quick progress through the cave which involved a fun mixture of stooping, crawling, squeezing and scrambling, as well as a fun little duck before we reached the head of Great Aven. This was a superb pitch, with a tight abseil down a rift to the pitch head and then a wide open void dropping down 30 metres. This wasn't a pitch to be rushed, but one to abseil slowly so the fine position could be thoroughly enjoyed.

Having all arrived at the base of the aven, all that remained was to make our way down the Simpson / Swinsto stream to the Kingsdale master cave. I'd been wanting to visit the master cave for a long time, having only ever been to the head of the pitch in Valley Entrance before. It didn't disappoint and high-ish water levels added some spice to splashing downstream through the rapids.

Around 5 ½ hours after setting off, we emerged out of Valley Entrance having had a great trip and having practised some new skills. All credit to CNCC for putting on such excellent training workshops.

Cavers: Ian, Charlie & Dave
Photos: Ian
Trip Report: Dave

OFD: Return to the Tourist Trail

On Saturday 18th November the Dudley met at South Wales Caving Club. One CDG member was taking a trainee around OFD for the weekend, another photography trip was delayed due to a puncture. The rest of us went on a nice amble around the classic tourist route to reintroduce a lapsed caver into the swing of things.

We started off trying to sniff out the mini columns. Finding these turned out very successfully however we had difficulty locating Speedy Caver. After Jas heroically made the down climb near the entrance proving we'd gone the wrong way, we decided to press on and retrace our steps. We went into the Brickyard and past the Wedding Cake where we joined a queue of student groups all taking their freshers through the Corkscrew. We had planned to do the Sandy Crawls, but as the students were going this way we went straight down to Salubrious Streamway and then to Crossroads.

After this, we took a vote on whether we should find the beginning of the Midnight Traverses or Frozen River, the appeal of pretty helictites indesputably winning out. After sniffing around Cross Rift we found the right way and spent some time enjoying the beautiful decorations in Frozen River. This was even more enjoyable as the slippy slope back up wasn't anywhere near as difficult as we thought it might be.

Our route back took us by an orange crystal pool and then it was a gentle route back up via Shatter Pillar, President’s Leap, etc. The Sandy Crawls lived up to their name, and after some effort negotiating a big hole in the middle of the crawls it was nice to get back to walking passage. All in all, a great little bumble and it was nice to revisit the familiar top entrance landmarks.

Cavers: Becca, Jane, Jas, Dave & Anne
Photos: Jas
Trip Report: Anne

Hidden Earth 2025 Opening Video

This year's opening video for the UK's National Caving Conference, Hidden Earth.

It was shown to a packed house at the opening ceremony on Saturday morning, 27th September 2025.

This is the fourth Hidden Earth opening video that I have been privileged to produce.

Enormous thanks to all the cavers who supported its production in various ways, especially our own Jess, Mark and Bartek. I could not have done it without you.

Diccan-Alum Exchange Trip

Today's trip was a classic: a Diccan-Alum exchange trip, with Bartek and myself going into Diccan, while Dino and Paulina went into Alum via the Dollytubs.

Shortly after entering Lower Longchurn, we reached the head of the first pitch. Even with low water levels this was spectacular, with a jet of water shooting over the edge and crashing down into the abyss below. A rather long lean out over the head of the pitch was necessary to rig, but before long we were dropping down the pitch passing rebelays and deviations. The remaining pitches continued on much the same theme, although a couple involved some interesting traverses that tested my nerve in places. After messing up the rigging on the last pitch (which Bartek corrected for me), we arrived at the bottom of Diccan, where Dino and Paulina were waiting.

From there, we began the climb up out of Alum. I’d really been looking forward to this, and on arriving at the Greasy Slab I was in no way disappointed. The view of Alum was spectacular, with golden light playing against the mossy walls and water dripping down into the depths we had just climbed out of. The view was even better at the Dollytubs, and I got to enjoy it a little longer than Mr B as I was de-rigging.

Having done so, a few minutes’ caving brought us back to the streamway in Lower Longchurn. Whilst waiting for Paulina and Dino, we had a quick look around Upper Longchurn. This too was a beautiful cave, with Dr Bannisters’ Handbasin being particularly magical. Once explorations were complete, all that remained was to meet up with Paulina and Dino and grab some liquid refreshment after changing. All in all, a great trip; it's obvious why it's regarded as a classic.

Cavers: Bartek, Paulina, Dino & Dave
Trip Report: Dave

Swinsto Hole to Valley Entrance

A classic sporting wet trip in the Kingsdale valley. At least, not drenchingly wet after 2025’s very dry summer, but we were all significantly soggy by the end of the day.

Before we set off, Johnny and Dino went to rig the Roof Tunnel Pitch. Having made sure we’d be able to get back out of the cave again, we followed a rough track up the side of Gragareth. Dave joined us as far as the cave entrance, carrying one of the younger unofficial club members.

Inside we quickly reached the first pitch. All of the pitches can be rigged as pull throughs for the through trip route. I was apprehensive about this as it was my first experience of pull throughs but a quick look at the knots (and a test!) made it obvious which rope to descend on. After the first pitch we got to the Long Crawl, which all the team members who had done this route before had conveniently forgotten! 300m of easy hands and knees crawling later we were back to a satisfying rhythm of following the stream over relatively easy caving, then going down a pitch, and repeating (excepting one drier section to reach Spout Pitch).

Soon we met Swinsto Great Aven and followed a route through the boulder floor back into a crawly canal which led to the Master Junction. Bartek took us on a detour to take Johnny through one of the sumps, then it was a short way down the Master Cave Stream to our ropes to ascend out by Valley Entrance.

All in all a great fun trip, particularly with low water levels! A great place to get confidence with pull-throughs.

Cavers: Bartek, Paulina, Dino, Johnny & Anne
Trip Report: Anne