UK Caving forum

Will be posting any reports/logs we wish to be public detailing the continued exploration of Priory Road in Agen Allwedd in this thread from now on. GLEVUM HALL AVEN ASCENDED Afternoon all. Just for public knowledge, the aven in Glevum Hall has been re-ascended by David Kinzett CSS and Alex Stacey CSS on 06/04/2024. A bolt at the top of the aven exists, but rusted over (and nobody knows who originally ascended up or that it was ascended so full credit to whoever that may be). Suspect... Read more

I'd been looking at various lamp / battery combinations and came across some AA cells rated at the usual 1.5V, but which were Li-ion type batteries. All the other Li-ion single-cell batteries I’ve come across have a voltage of ~3.7, so how come these have a lower voltage? Also, they were rated at 3000 mAh, which surprised me, as a typical 18650 is also rated at around 2500 to 4000 mAh; it struck me as odd that you could, as it were, ' cram the same amount of electricity ' into a much... Read more

Hello, new here and I come with my begging bowl... I'm working on a documentary film about the first free climb of Gaping Gill main shaft by Paul Eastwood and Dave Hetherington completed in 1988. I know, on this forum of all places, I don't need to list Gaping Gill's stats ut I was struck by how understated the climb was. Given the impressive location, the fact that it's been almost 40 years since it was completed and, unless anyone here can tell me otherwise, I don't believe it's been... Read more

Why rock band Queen practised early harmonies in a Cornish cave Drummer Roger Taylor says Queen perfected their singing in a cave on a beach in Cornwall. www.bbc.co.uk Taylor recalled practising harmonies with May and Mercury in the caves at Chapel Porth beach in St Agnes. "I think we must have been in caves because of the nice reverberation, echo in there. So it sounds bigger," he said.

Eldon PC / Team Awesome - Albania 2026 – Back to the grind A few of us have let things slip a bit since Christmas so we’re heading back out to Northern Albania to get our yearly exercise. There are 12 of us this year, including 3 newer / younger / Awesome? cavers who’ve signed up for their first taste of Albanian limestone, long walk-ins and questionable life choices. The rest of us have been before and are mostly really excited to be heading back. ​ For those who... Read more

I have prepared an excel set of accounts for a charity last year with 73 transactions, I am in the process of getting upto the deadline (Thursday next week), but have asked 3 people and all have said yes, but all seem to be on holiday in September. Is there anyone who could check this, either you are a caver known by a few people with knowledge of Maths or an accountant/accounts person. Can you PM me if you can help.

The timetable is out now! Hidden Earth 2026 Timetable The full schedule of lectures, films and workshops. hidden.earth We're still tinkering with it so a few bits may change in the next week. Keep checking back to stay up to date. Last year phone reception was limited so this year there should be free wi-fi available around the site so you can get online!

50 unprotected unused 18650 cells free to a good home. 2600mAh. Collect from Lancaster, Dales (in person - can't leave at a hut for safety reasons) or Hidden Earth.

has anyone ever been to pleasley vale railway cutting pot before? i’ve seen it on the Peak Caving website a few times now and it always interests me being further away from the rest of the peak caves. i imagine it’s not that popular being relatively short and out the way but you never know!

Does anyone know what the earliest record of a female caver in the UK is? Or if not the earliest, then feel free to share early mentions anyway. Interested in anything before 1940. I've found lots about Mabel Binks but I'm sure she can't have been the only one / there must have been others before her

I'm an engineering student who caves. I'm wondering if a descender still needs improvement. I've primarily used a Petzl stop (newer version) and it seems to be the most widely used descender for European Cavers. I'm considering doing a college project on designing an improved descending device, safety wise, usability wise, ergonomics and etc. What do you folks think are the biggest flaws of petzl stop (newer version) , and how does it compare to other descenders and why are they're not as... Read more

Australia’s vast Nullarbor Plain hides deep caves that can teach us about alien worlds It might appear featureless, but one of the world’s largest limestone regions hides a remarkable underground world. theconversation.com Our new study, published in Communications Earth & Environment , reveals a new way to track these cave systems even when they are deeply buried. Our work helps explain the formation of previously mysterious, shallow trench features on the Nullarbor. It also provides a new way to identify hidden caves elsewhere – even beyond our own planet. ... The work... Read more