Brickworks Dig, Penwyllt, South Wales

A very successful weekend. On Saturday we were able to remove the infill which had fallen out of the cross rift and make a little forward progress under the arched roof. On Sunday we added another few feet to the system. In the afternoon we managed to drop a boulder out of the roof which revealed some "black space", but after much excitement we found after a few feet the infill was back up to the roof. 


The Dig Team: PAn (Sun only), MBo, MCa, KEd, BMa, MNo (Sun only), DRo, GSm, JSm & ASt

Sell Gill Holes, Penyghent, North Yorkshire

SRT & rigging practise. Short 'yomp' across the Dales up to Sell Gill. Entered via the dry way. 3 pitches into main chamber. 


Present: MCl, EPo & DeWi plus Mike Peters (Craven Pothole Club)

Ogof Draenen, Pwll Du, South Wales

A trip to Gilwern Passage and then on to the Galeria Garimpeiros Extensions.  The intention was to see how Chris performed in the 30m duck in theGwter Fawr Streamway and then explore Breadfruit Boulevard and the Saint Giles Series.  Unfortunately the duck was heavily silted and none of us could physically fit through!

Chris Webb in Galleria Garimpeiros - Ogof Draenen.

Chris and Keith - Hearts of the Olden Glory Streamway - Galleria Garimpeiros.

Chris Webb in the Breadfruit Boulevard Duck.

See more Ogof Draenen photos here


Present: KEd, BMa & CWe

Caves of the Clydach Gorge, South Wales

We headed to the lay-by above Nant Rhin and scrambled down to the stream.  I could see from the road that there'd been a bit of a mud/rock slide. The nice new entrance to Nant Rhin seemed to have partially collapsed and was half blocked with rubble, including a couple of small dislodged scaffold bars sticking out of a pile of rocks in front!  I shifted a bit of the rubble out of the way, and went in to have a quick look as far as the streamway. Just inside, the boards and scaffolding are still intact and solid, and beyond that, the cave 'proper' is fine, but I think a lot more rubble and mud will wash down in front of the entrance next time it rains heavily, needing shifting again.  We didn't go in any further.

Next we rapidly dispatched every inch of available passage in Ogof Clogwyn. [Nice shelving! :-)]

Finally we motored along the rifty passage in Shakespeare's Cave and got soaked to the skin in the (remarkably cold) ducks up as far as the sump.

Present: MRo & CWe

Caves of the River Neath Valley, Breconshire

Little Neath River Cave 
A trip on a very warm day through the canal to the second sump and returning via the canal bypass. The warmth of the water entering the cave filled the passages with fog, somewhat spoiling the splendour of some of the larger river passage. 

Chris viewing the formations in Canal Bypass.

Cwm Pwll y Rhyd 
A trip down the valley to the lesser caves started with a short foray into Cwm Pwll y Rhyd, but the smell of decaying matter soon forced our retreat. 


White Lady 
A short trip in one entrance and out the other, some nice limestone in such a short section of cave 


Town Drain 
A quick trip to the end and back in this very linear cave. some impressive scalloped limestone passage in the first 100m or so. Will be back with the camera. 


See more little Neath photos here


Present: BMa & CWe