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GB & Withyhill Cave (12 October 2025) 14 Oct 2025 20:53 #21936
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- dchadwick
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Shortly after my breakfast (at 6am) Lukasz appeared. He was keen for a quick trip before his long journey home.
A short time later a WCC member appeared and let us have a key to GB. We assembled our caving kit and headed over to the parking.
We were in the cave at 8am. After a quick visit to the helictites at the top of the fixed ladder, we headed down to Main Chamber and across the bridge to White Passage.
We then went down the loop and up to the window overlooking Main Chamber. Continuing down, we soon came to Ladder Dig. As this was a quick trip, we did not intend to go into Ladder Dig.
We headed up the (currently dry) waterfall, which has changed significantly since I was last there, and out of the cave.
Team: Lukasz & Dave.
Time: 1 hour 20 minutes.
While I was on this trip, Dave King had contacted Ros about caving in Fairy Quarry in the afternoon. At about 13:00 Dave messaged to say he was free from his morning activity and to meet him in the Fairy Quarry car park.
The plan was to have a look in Withyhill Cave and then visit Fernhill Cave.
We changed quickly and headed over to the cave. After a short faff with the padlocks, we were in the cave.
A few minutes later we started to get calcite formations. Lots of areas had conservation tape and many sections of tape needed repair. While Dave was busy repairing the tape, I was taking photos.
We passed hundreds of formations including many unlikely helictites, clear straws & huge curtains.
We eventually got to the Green Pool climb. This is a snug climb that I had failed to get through on my previous visit. Ros & Dave got up it with a minimal amount of fuss. I took three attempts and a lot of encouragement from Dave before I managed to get through to the Green Pool chamber.
The Green Pool was well worth the effort with copious amounts of calcite, including a pom-pom at the end of a long straw.
Getting back down from the Green Pool chamber was nearly as much fun as getting up there!
Having spent 3 hours in Withyhill, we did not have time to visit Fernhill. Maybe next time.
Team: Dave (warden), Ros & Dave.
Time: 3 hours.
Other trips on the Sunday were:
Swildons Hole: Bean, Laura & Phil.
Goatchurch Cavern: Martin & family.
A short time later a WCC member appeared and let us have a key to GB. We assembled our caving kit and headed over to the parking.
We were in the cave at 8am. After a quick visit to the helictites at the top of the fixed ladder, we headed down to Main Chamber and across the bridge to White Passage.
We then went down the loop and up to the window overlooking Main Chamber. Continuing down, we soon came to Ladder Dig. As this was a quick trip, we did not intend to go into Ladder Dig.
We headed up the (currently dry) waterfall, which has changed significantly since I was last there, and out of the cave.
Team: Lukasz & Dave.
Time: 1 hour 20 minutes.
While I was on this trip, Dave King had contacted Ros about caving in Fairy Quarry in the afternoon. At about 13:00 Dave messaged to say he was free from his morning activity and to meet him in the Fairy Quarry car park.
The plan was to have a look in Withyhill Cave and then visit Fernhill Cave.
We changed quickly and headed over to the cave. After a short faff with the padlocks, we were in the cave.
A few minutes later we started to get calcite formations. Lots of areas had conservation tape and many sections of tape needed repair. While Dave was busy repairing the tape, I was taking photos.
We passed hundreds of formations including many unlikely helictites, clear straws & huge curtains.
We eventually got to the Green Pool climb. This is a snug climb that I had failed to get through on my previous visit. Ros & Dave got up it with a minimal amount of fuss. I took three attempts and a lot of encouragement from Dave before I managed to get through to the Green Pool chamber.
The Green Pool was well worth the effort with copious amounts of calcite, including a pom-pom at the end of a long straw.
Getting back down from the Green Pool chamber was nearly as much fun as getting up there!
Having spent 3 hours in Withyhill, we did not have time to visit Fernhill. Maybe next time.
Team: Dave (warden), Ros & Dave.
Time: 3 hours.
Other trips on the Sunday were:
Swildons Hole: Bean, Laura & Phil.
Goatchurch Cavern: Martin & family.
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