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Located on the east flank of the Kingsdale Valley, Heron Pot is a gem of a trip when water levels are low. In such instances, you can complete a rewarding but never really difficult through trip. For those not in the know, a through trip is when you start at the entrance and exit at another location. Often this exit is lower down the hillside.

However, through trips are not that common in caving meaning you normally have to return the way you entered a cave system. In addition to this, through trips that have any vertical descent by abseil are fully committing if you decide to take the rope with you on each vertical section. Once that rope is pulled down the first section there is no going back. Therefore, you have to be 100% of your ability and water levels, otherwise your going to have a long wait until your call out procedure phones for cave rescue.

Why take the rope with you, is a good question some may ask. The idea being you enter one way and exit another, without having to go back and strip the rope out. Thus saving time, saving energy, having to take less equipment and more importantly giving a more adventurous journey.

The trip starts with a short slide into a reasonable roomy crawl, which soon leads to a fine winding passageway, one which you can stand up in. This passage way is a classic section of dales caving, lots of good features to see, roomy, twisting and with water flowing down. This gives a real sense of exploration without too much stress.

This leads you to the 1st pitch with the water cascading down. Two bolt anchors threaded with the rope and a 10m descent takes you to the bottom of pitch 1 and no turning back. You are straight onto Pitch 2. However, this does require some exposed climbing to reach the next set of anchors over the vertical section. This pitch is approx 15m with more water cascading down and takes you to more winding passage.

This then leads to a lengthy crawl, initially over small boulders and in water, until the floor of the crawl smooths out and makes life more comfortable. It is never really tight, but its either hands and knees or on your belly and in water.

Eventually you pop out in daylight, through a constricted and wet section of cave ( which is what the video clip shows ). So how do you know the exit is going to be passable. Well you need to check that out on the way in.

This was a 2 hour trip from car to car. Never really rushing, but still moving at reasonable pace and being efficient.

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The three main caves of the Upper Nidderdale Valley ( up the valley from Pately Bridge ) provide an excellent day’s caving. At the upstream end, Manchester Hole is a classic river cave which leads directly into the complex and sometimes intimidating Goyden Pot.  New Goyden Pot is the downstream continuation of Goyden Pot, entered via a couple of pitches, and has a magnificent river passage as well as a set of worthwhile inlet passages.

The route from upper end of Manchester Hole, through Manchester hole and direct into Goyden Pot with a good explore of Goyden Pot gives in my opinion an ace caving trip, one of the best in Yorkshire.  

Never to difficult, but with a wide range of interesting caving including accessable and interesting crawling, walking through chambers,  descending down winding streamways, vertical  pitches which can be descend by insitu ropes or insitu ladders and interesting boulder chokes. 

The trip through Manchester Hole starts with chambers and a stream-way, as this stream-way then narrows and the cave roof drops a varied and mixed section of caving has to be carried out. This involves crawling, shuffling down small vertical rifts, stooping and mixing it up through boulder chokes. You then enter Goyden Pot into an impressive main stream-way. Following this gives you access to Five Ways Chamber and then off you go again linking up passages and rifts with lots more traditional caving.

This trip is achievable for those that have never caved ( but who are taken around by a cave guide ) but are reasonably fit, agile, not scared of enclosed spaces and who love to take challenges. It this sounds like you, then get in touch we me and lets make it happen.

If you do decide to visit without a cave guide – One should note It does, require that water levels are average or below, and that water is not flowing down the entrance of Goyden Pot. The system floods drastically, in certain conditons and its in those conditions, that need to be avoided.

On any given good condition day, then flooding is not a concern. Hence visiting with someone who knows the system.

The BCA have published a publication which outlines the factors to be taken into consideration before committing to a trip. 

You should also take a survey with you and know how to read it as Goyden has a repustion for getting cavers confused and lost.

One last key piece of information to to check with Yorkshire Water regards there reservoir scour testing. As this will have dramatic effects on the water level within the cave system.

https://www.yorkshirewater.com/about-us/reservoir-scour-testing/#nidd

Left photo- entrance to Manchester Hole

Right photo – entrance to Goyden Pot

Finally finished the observation and assisting days I require, on my way to becoming a trainer and assessor for the British Caving Association ( BCA ) Local Cave Mine Leader Award.

This has consisted of a total of 12 days, with a mixture of trainers and assessors and visiting 5 different mines in the process, both metal and slate mines all within North Wales. Its taken over 18 months due to C19 and trying to slot all the days in to suit my other commitments. My time has had to be given free, as there is no payment until you start running your own courses, once you are approved.

I have observed all courses under the local cave and mine leader award structure including training and assessments courses. In addition to this, then I have had to prepare all my own lectures and resources.

It has been a very useful exercise and one where I have picked up tips and learnt a variety of knowledge. I have also had the pleasure of spending time with a wide range of course participants who have all been very keen and welcoming.

I would like to thank all the trainers, assessors and candidates who have made this all possible and working with me in order to get all this ticked off.

The next stage is for me to be personally assessed for my CIC mine module, which is planed for later in the year. This is where I spend a day underground in a large mine, being assessed 1.2.1 on my knowledge of mines and also leading a group in fairly challenging situations. Am I looking forward to this ? yes and no. It will be good to get it ticked off and to learn from other peers, but it is an assessment after all.

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BMC seminar Back on top :

This evening I attended the above on line conference run by the BMC. My role was as an observer on behalf of the Youth and Development Group ( YDG ) I am part of, for The British Caving Association ( BCA ) .

The workshop really highlighted the difficulties university clubs are facing in view of retaining members, bringing new members on board and preventing a whole range of skill loss due to C19.

Great idea by the BMC to organise this event, as one thing that was very apparent, club reps on the call really appreciated the opportunity to speak to others in similar circumstances and share their thoughts and ideas. Those clubs attending now have a range of ideas to move forward with.

My next move is to write a summary report for the YDG and then see how we can apply some of the points raised this evening via the BCA.

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CPD is key part of keeping abreast of any changes and being able to weigh up your skill set and knowledge. Given my role as Technical Expert then there was plenty today which was very relevant. Thanks for the hosts and MI for putting on the seminar.

The four areas covered were

• Hazards
• Inspections of climbing wall structures
• Customers
• Regulations of structures

With over 1 million people choosing the use indoor climbing walls in 2020, accidents will happen However, the climbing wall industry plays a keen and proactive rope in the education of climbers and reduction of accidents.

Most accidents are due to human factors and often poor or bad practice, in particular belaying. Its not only those new too climbing but those who have been climbing for many years and who may become complacent.

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