Caplecleugh Low Level

The Cretin

The Cretin

Active member
Just a Heads Up.

Caplecleugh Low is sumped at the minute, at the usual place.
Looks like it’ll be like that for the foreseeable, too.
Probably worth avoiding it - you won’t get through.

(I have some pics, but can’t seem to post them.)

Cheers.

Leif.
 
is it saying to large in small writing on the image Leif ?
 
yes until we get some funding photos need to go through a compressor . You can download free apps for this . Its annoying but at-least we are up and running .
 
Its been a few years since I last did my famous "Fish Trip" but am up for it as soon as its passable.

Re photos, I simply size them down in Photoshop.
 
Royfellows said:
Its been a few years since I last did my famous "Fish Trip" but am up for it as soon as its passable.

Re photos, I simply size them down in Photoshop.
Click to expand...
Chatting to Heb on Sunday, he said you’d post mentioning “Fish Trip”.

It’s not looking good for Caplecleugh at the minute - water is backing up from a few falls heading outbye, with a significant fresh fall outbye further still.
It needs some serious amount of drainage pipe digging in, which I don’t think anyone will have the appetite for. For starters it isn’t a pleasant place to be digging.

It’ll be a real shame if it’s lost. A lot of the best trips start there. I reckon it’ll end up like Barneycraig before too much longer though.
 
Is the pic looking inbye or outbye -- i.e. is it likely to and get gradually shallower as you go (more airspace). If you had a diving mask and snorkel to ceiling suck and it's short/improving you might be able to pass that (probably borrow a pony bottle for safety if poss). Could it be be a brave trip for the aqueously prepared?
 
cantclimbtom said:
Is the pic looking inbye or outbye -- i.e. is it likely to and get gradually shallower as you go (more airspace). If you had a diving mask and snorkel to ceiling suck and it's short/improving you might be able to pass that (probably borrow a pony bottle for safety if poss). Could it be be a brave trip for the aqueously prepared?
Click to expand...
It’s looking inbye.
Yes, it is on an incline.
But…
Is it worth the risk?
It’s possible to access the workings beyond by other (much longer.) means, so trips into the Caplecleugh Mines are still perfectly possible, just a bigger proposition.

The Five Mines trip is obviously no-go, but that wasn’t done that frequently.
 
M Bundlethwait said:
Well, if I did that, that wouldn't be exploration now would it, I do believe the route is common knowledge, maybe not.
Click to expand...
You’re a troll account, surely.
Come on, own up, who is it?

Nobody is stupid enough to believe Caplecleugh can be accessed “from the other valley”. The plans are readily available for starters.

Poor effort sir, please try harder next time.
 
I thought carefully before coming in on this, and now I am here my hope is calm potentially troubled waters.

Common knowledge yes, also common knowledge is the falls, water up to roof height, and bad air. "Mole" (John Hine of Coleford) did a lot of work in Whitesike which has now stopped. I think he was driven by the idea of restoring the connection, a mad impossible dream, a bit like some of my escapades in central Wales.

I dropped a sump at the extreme western end in the company of "Heb" and found roof hight water and bad air, in which I had to do a hanging chageover.

On a positive note, this thread has re awakened my interest in the document I wrote way back, "Caplecleugh Mine Explored" which describes my adventures and discoveries. I will update it and make it available. It was criticized and being a bit vague on the locations of each trip, so I will include some partial plans with the proverbial 'X marks the spot'

Below is an extract from KC Dunham, yes there was a route, no there is currently not. Lets keep it nice.
vein section_KCD.jpg
 
Royfellows said:
I thought carefully before coming in on this, and now I am here my hope is calm potentially troubled waters.

Common knowledge yes, also common knowledge is the falls, water up to roof height, and bad air. "Mole" (John Hine of Coleford) did a lot of work in Whitesike which has now stopped. I think he was driven by the idea of restoring the connection, a mad impossible dream, a bit like some of my escapades in central Wales.

I dropped a sump at the extreme western end in the company of "Heb" and found roof hight water and bad air, in which I had to do a hanging chageover.

On a positive note, this thread has re awakened my interest in the document I wrote way back, "Caplecleugh Mine Explored" which describes my adventures and discoveries. I will update it and make it available. It was criticized and being a bit vague on the locations of each trip, so I will include some partial plans with the proverbial 'X marks the spot'

Below is an extract from KC Dunham, yes there was a route, no there is currently not. Letkeep it nice.
View attachment 737
Click to expand...
The Whitesyke connection is well and truly gone now Roy.
Caplecleugh shaft shed a load more spoil a year or two ago - you’d never know the level continues past there now, unfortunately.

Dave Sargent was continuing with the WS dig, again up until a couple of years ago. He’s unfortunately no longer around - the final fall is a jumble of scaff bar, acro’s and mess. It really can’t have been a pleasant place to dig, so fair play to the bloke.
I was sick in my mouth a bit just looking at it.

The other poster is deffo taking the mickey though - I can spot that a mile away, given that I’m usually just as game…
 
I avoid referring to "Caplecleugh Shaft" as such, fearful of causing confusion with Sir Lancelot Allgoods Caplecleugh Engine Shaft, which I believe Heb and I discovered. Yes, I have seen the mountain of spoil where there use to be a 40 foot drop.
Thinking about it, there may well be a possible way down from one or more of the many covered shafts on the Dowgang. Heb and I made it up to the Little Limestone Level at one point, but falls after a short distance in either direction.
Interesting times.
 
We got past the dig in Whitesyke via a level higher up the valley, and from that point we managed to get along around 450m in on Whitesyke, I think we where around 450-500m short of Whimsey On the Flatt (think this is the big surface one in the triangular field up Fiddlers. Deep water, big slabs of roof and a pinched in level...... An isolated place with not much traffic.

Terminal Fall
image1.jpgimage2.jpg
 
Royfellows said:
I avoid referring to "Caplecleugh Shaft" as such, fearful of causing confusion with Sir Lancelot Allgoods Caplecleugh Engine Shaft, which I believe Heb and I discovered. Yes, I have seen the mountain of spoil where there use to be a 40 foot drop.
Thinking about it, there may well be a possible way down from one or more of the many covered shafts on the Dowgang. Heb and I made it up to the Little Limestone Level at one point, but falls after a short distance in either direction.
Interesting times.
Click to expand...
Caplecleugh Engine Shaft? As in, up in Caplecleugh High Level?
 
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