Moorland Caver (2003)

NGR:SE 86908505
Altitude:165m
Length: 80m
Depth: 22m
Access: Obtain key from the Forestry Commission
Grade: III
Entertainment value: III

Obvious gated entrance in quarry floor circa 1m long and 0.4m wide. Entrance Pitch is 9m to ledge and is best rigged from the gate framework. The Second Pitch of 6m follows immediately from the first and can be rigged from an in situ hanger. Prior to descending this pitch it is advisable to “garden” the pitch head of potential missiles. The pitch lands in a large rift up to 3.6m wide and 15m high continuing in both directions. The section of left continues as big passage for circa 30m. This section of passage is rather spectacular, if somewhat unusual for a windypit. A pit has to be negotiated, followed by a small mud slope, which ends at a blank wall. To the right of the foot of the pitch are a series of unstable boulder ruckles. Climb up the choke and along the top until a 2m drop is reached landing in a small under cut “chamber”. From the chamber continue along the rift. This section is very narrow and a slip here could lead to a difficult and protracted rescue. At the end of the narrows a wedged block is reached, climb down beyond the block into a large continuation of the rift. A further choke is soon reached, the way on being through a small hole down to the left. Beyond the choke the rift ends in a blank wall.

Tackle
Entrance: 9m ladder, short belay to car tow hitch or scaffold pole over the entrance
2nd Pitch: 6m ladder, spreader and crab to in situ hanger (Installed 1997).

History
The entrance was first noted by S.C.C. members in summer 1995. However no work was done until 1997 when the entrance was enlarged and the windypit explored. O.F.A.P.I. was surveyed by an M.S.G. team who had considerable difficulty entering the hole (the entrance had to be further enlarged) giving rise to the name “Old, fat and past it”!

Memoirs of a Moldywarp (2008)

Moorland Caver (2003)

NGR: SE 507859
Altitude: 310m
Length: 17m
Depth: 11m
Access: No known restrictions.
Grade: II
Entertainment value: II+

Extremely difficult to find, located 8m down the cliff under spur, half way between Hillfort and Boltby Quarry.
Narrow, rift-like entrance running parallel to escarpment. Initially sideways
walking until a small chamber is reached. From the chamber the explorer is reduced to crawling in the floor of the rift. A short crawl leads to an excavated squeeze dropping down into a second small chamber. A circa 5m climb lands in a third small chamber.
The obvious way on down a rubble slope leads to the boulder floored Main Chamber. At the southern end of the Main Chamber a narrow rift can be followed to a bend where it soon becomes too tight. Small scale digging at the opposite, northern end of the chamber has revealed various narrow rifts which have yet to be entered (further digging needed).

History
Discovered and explored by S.C.C. between December 1998 and January 1999.

Moorland Caver (2003)
NGR: SE 508838
Altitude: 360m
Length: 14m
Depth: 11 m
Access: No known restrictions
Grade: II
Entertainment value: II+

Obvious hole surrounded by a substantial wooden fence.
1 m descent down onto a boulder bridge Climb down the side of the bridge, back under it and into the main rift. The main rift is about 6 m long and is best traversed halfway up. At the foot of the climb down into the rift a crawl leads off and ultimately chokes. An 8 m ladder is useful for the return out of the rift.

Tackle:
Entrance/main rift: 8m ladder useful, belay to fence (sling / spreader).

History
Discovered by a group of walkers who were following along the footpath when one rather rotund lady suddenly disappeared up to her waist and stuck fast in what is now the entrance.
First explored by E. and D. Shield (M.S.G) in 1998.

Memoirs of a Moldywarp (2008)

Moorland Caver (2003)

NGR: SE 694868
Altitude: 70m
Access: Kirbymoorside Council.

Three small caves on either side of Kirbymoorside Council Yard.

1. Length: 4.5m
Grade I
Large walled up entrance in cliff on West side of valley.
Remove loose top blocks to gain access to a short, roomy passage ending in a bad collapse.

1a. Length: 3.5m
Grade I
To the left of 1, a small hole turns to the right and ends in the middle of a bad collapse with a vocal link to 1.

2. Length: 30m
Grade I
Entertainment Value II
In cliff face on East side of valley, behind the Scout Hut.
Entrance is half filled with rubbish (care). Sliding down over rubbish pile gains lovely roomy passage lowering to crawl into high aven. Low bedding beyond was restricted by calcite overlying an earth floor. A small channel has been chipped through the calcite to reveal a short continuation.

Buckland – Reliquiae Diluvianae (1823)

Northern Caves Volume 5 (1974)

Moldywarps Speleological Group – Journal 8 (1976)

Moorland Caver (2003)

NGR: SE 707867
Altitude: 50m
Length: 9m
Access: Ravenswick Estate
Grade: I
Entertainment Value: II+ (if den is occupied)

Entrance in West cliff 3.5m above the normally dry river Dove. Passage lowers to a crawl and is choked after a small aven.
This is currently being used as an animal den and a visit can be a trouser soiling experience.

Northern Caves Volume 5 (1974)

Moldywarps Speleological Group – Journal 8 (1976)

Moorland Caver (2003)

NGR: SE 710878
Alt: 70m
Length:12m
Access: Ravenswick Estate
Grade: I
Entertainment Value: I

Wide walled up entrance at the base of a cliff 180m upstream from bridge and 20m down from Dowson’s pot.
Crawl on mud floor in bedding plane to small chamber with slumped block. Squeezing under block gains small passage ending in abandoned dig.
Replace blocks back in entrance wall after use.

Pennine Underground (1965)

Northern Caves Volume 5 (1974)

Moldywarps Speleological Group – Journal 8 (1976)

Moorland Caver (2003)

NGR: SE 705877
Length: 6 m
Access: Ravenswick Estate
Grade: I
Entertainment value: I

From the “car park” by the trout farm follow an indistinct path up the hillside until a low crag is reached, the obvious entrance lies in the South end of the cliff.

The hole originally consisted of a short rock shelter consisting of a single chamber (now full of dig spoil). A short crawl leads to a blank wall. To the left a squeeze leads into a rather dangerous choked continuation with no obvious way on.

History
The hole has been known locally for a number of years, the extension was dug by a joint S.C.C. / A.C.C. team between January and February 1999.
The boulder choke is notable as it tried to eat Andy Brennan, much to everyone’s amusement.

Pennine Underground (1965)