Cave Descriptions

EuroSpeleo 2016 - Cave Route Description

The EASE GILL CAVERNS System

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Trips in this section

• Lancaster Hole to Fall Pot via high level route
• Lancaster Hole to Fall Pot via Wilf Taylors and Double Decker Passage
• Cow Pot to Fall Pot
• Routes onwards from Fall Pot
  • Exit via Lancaster Hole
  • Exit via Cow Pot
  • Round trip to Stake Pot and back to Fall Pot via Main Drain
• Fall Pot to Stop Pot
• Upstream Ease Gill: County Pot, Wretched Rabbit, Pool Sink and Top Sink
  • County Pot to Stop Pot
  • Wretched Rabbit to Stop Pot
  • Exit from Stop Pot via Wretched Rabbit
  • Pool Sink to Stop Pot
  • Top Sink to Stop Pot

 

Overview:

Marking the boundary of Casterton Fell and Leck Fell is Ease Gill, a large stream valley with a number of sinks for water along its length. The water enters an extensive cave system, Ease Gill Caverns, with multiple entrances.

The system was originally limited to the area to the north/west of Ease Gill (Casterton Fell), but was then connected to a number of the Leck Fell caves on the south/east side of the Gill. In 2011 the connecting of two cave systems on Leck Fell extended the Ease Gill system through as far as Ireby Fell Caverns. As the entire system now runs under the three counties of Cumbria, Lancashire and North Yorkshire, it is often referred to as “The Three Counties System” although the route between these three counties is only accessible to divers.

For non-divers, Ease Gill Caverns offers over 20km of cave to explore, with an outstanding main river passage (known as the Main Drain), which can flood in wet weather, and huge fossil caverns above which can be traversed for the majority of the cave in almost all weather conditions. Many through-trips (from one entrance to another) are possible, with something to suit everyone.

All entrances except Wretched Rabbit require some ropework to enter, and a few sections further into the cave have small rope ascents/descents too. However, this is a mostly horizontal cave system.

Route finding in the system is not easy; a survey and description are vital. The descriptions here will be useful; however, they should not be treated as your only means of navigation. Groups must do their research from the many caving guidebooks available. A selection of these guidebooks and a survey of the cave will be available to view at the event.

The entrances rigged for Eurospeleo are divided between the downstream entrances to the system (Lancaster Hole and Cow Pot) which converge at a huge chamber called Fall Pot, and the upstream entrances to the system (Wretched Rabbit, County Pot, Pool Sink and Top Sink) which converge at a large chamber called Stop Pot. An enormous, fossil route between Fall Pot and Stop Pot (Montague Passage) can be traversed to allow a through trip between all of the different entrances.

A simplified map showing the various routes/entrances in the system is shown.

The descriptions included here describe the route from each of the entrances to either Fall Pot or Stop Pot (whichever is closer). Additional descriptions are included for some short round trips near the downstream end of the system which are very enjoyable.

Plan your route - where you wish to enter and exit the cave - and use the appropriate route descriptions to assist with your navigation.

An overview of the route from Fall Pot to Stake Pot and onto Stop Pot is included to allow the two ends of the system to be connected, travelling in the upstream direction. For this trip in reverse (i.e. going downstream), the description for Top Sink to Stake Pot (and also onto other entrances not rigged for Eurospeleo on the other side of the fell) from the guide book ‘Not for the Faint Hearted’ will be available as a printed page at the conference, with kind permission of Mike Cooper.

A very thorough online guide to the cave system can be found here, written by one of the caving clubs who are very active at exploring and surveying the cave: www.rrcpc.org.uk/easegill

Tube Map
Route 1

Lancaster Hole is the most popular and almost all weather route into the downstream reaches of the Ease Gill System. It enables lots of caving in its own right, and provides the perfect start for a through-trip to the other entrances. A (usually dry) 35m entrance pitch and only 25 minutes of easy caving leads to Fall Pot, where the Main Drain can be accessed, or the high level route can be continued towards Stop Pot and the upstream parts of the system.

How to find:

Grid reference SD 6640 8072

From Bull Pot Farm follow the footpath through the gate at the side of the house and past the fenced enclosure of Bull Pot of the Witches on the right after 100m. The footpath then goes steadily uphill and crosses a wall at a gate. Cross over, turn left and follow the wall. After 200m on the left is another stile across the wall. Ignore this (Cow Pot lies just across here) and turn right and follow down into the dry valley away from the wall, where the lidded entrance to Lancaster Hole is found after only 100m at the bottom of the dry valley.

Navigation:

The entrance pitch is a 35m easy descent, broken by ledge 5m down. Take the obvious route onwards from the bottom along a tall passage. After 30m you will reach the top of a boulder slope looking out over a chamber, Bridge Hall, with a huge piece of fallen flowstone on the floor at the bottom of the boulders. At the bottom (far end) of Bridge Hall, on the right, is a small hole leading downwards with some scaffold bars (Kath’s Way).

Go down through the boulders in Kath’s Way and into a short crawl. This soon enlarges into easy walking sized passage. This should be followed for a few hundred metres along the very obvious and worn route, until a steep muddy slope is reached on the RIGHT with foot-steps cut into the mud. Climb up here, and then go immediately back down a similar slope on the other side. A large T-junction is reached at the bottom. Go right and traverse along the right hand wall of the large passage, taking great care not to fall down the deep holes. After 50m you will find yourself stood on blocks overlooking the enormous Fall Pot straight ahead.

There are two routes down Fall Pot. One is a rope which goes almost straight over the edge, with a short traverse line belayed on the blocks near the edge. This passes two re-belays during the 12m descent. The other route is down through boulders, about ten metres further back, where twin-traverse lines protect a climb, leading to a 5m slippery pitch. At the bottom of this 5m pitch continue into a narrow rift and then step down 1m into a chamber.

From the bottom of both routes, continue forward to emerge into the vastness of Fall Pot, with the rope from Cow Pot descending down the middle of the chamber.

The route onwards along the high level route (towards Stake Pot and Stop Pot) is a muddy ascent straight on following the right hand wall. The route down to the Main Drain starts as a crawl into the boulders just below the huge block on which the Cow Pot rope lands. Once into this crawl, after 2m, turn left and slide down a narrow slot over a sloping polished slab. Then, follow the obvious worn route down through the boulders to a 2m drop onto blocks above the Main Drain, with an easy climb down to the water.

The water at this point below the boulders is usually only 20-50cm deep. If it is deeper than this, take extreme care, and avoid completely if exceeding 1m in depth.

Tube Map
Route 2

This is a more interesting and varied route, leading down to the Main Drain with a climb up through boulders into Fall Pot. Be aware that there are some quite challenging climbs on this route. Also be aware that the climb up into Fall Pot is through a boulder choke from the Main Drain and may be difficult to find from below. It is strongly recommended to preview this route from above first (see the end of the Lancaster Hole to Fall Pot description for how to get to this).

Navigation:

Follow the Lancaster Hole to Fall Pot description as far as the steep muddy slope on the RIGHT. Ignore this turn and continue ahead. A junction is soon reached. A slither over a block on the right leads onto Fall Pot (via an alternative route); however, a traverse along a shelf on the left leads to a muddy upward slope (with steps cut into the mud). This is the start of the route. At the top of the mud slope is a tiny iron ladder leading to an awkward narrow sideways squeeze.

Through the squeeze, the following 30 minutes of caving is mostly easy crawling, with no particular navigation issues; simply follow the obvious worn route. At one point this involves a flat out wriggle on dry mud under a low arch. After passing some very nice stal, an obvious T-junction is reached. Go right and follow the easy passage, ignoring the holes in the floor. At the next junction keep right and very soon you enter a large tunnel with a 1.5m shelf dropping into Wilf Taylor‘s Passage.

Left can be followed through fine walking height passage to eventually reach a sump.

However, the way on is right, following the dramatic, highly scalloped, rift-type passage. This passage is followed for about 30 minutes down to the Main Drain via a series of exciting obstacles. First is Double Decker Pot. This starts as an awkward stepped climb down into a knee-deep pool of water. There are various pieces of in-situ rope to assist with this (the last step down is approximately 2m). Immediately after this, another exposed climb down is found by dropping down a slot between some rocks following an in-situ handline. An exposed traverse down a descending ledge leads to a final drop to the floor of the chamber. A short distance onwards and a final 3m climb down over a pool of water in a rift is reached. 50m beyond here, the Main Drain is met.

Right (downstream) quickly reaches the downstream sump.

Approximately 100m upstream is an obvious boulder choke above the stream on the right (as you walk upstream). This is directly below Fall Pot. Hopefully, you will recognise this if you explored it earlier from above. Climb up to the highest point on the balcony of boulders overlooking the stream. Above this a 2m climb up leads into the proper boulder choke. The route is very well polished. Continue up the well-polished blocks. After a few metres, an awkward squeeze sloping upwards on the left is found. Up this, and then turn right to emerge out of boulders just below the Cow Pot rope. You can choose to exit via Cow Pot or go back to Lancaster Hole (see description for Cow Pot or Routes onwards from Fall Pot).

Before climbing out of the river at Fall Pot it is worthwhile exploring upstream for 15 minutes, as the stream passage is spectacular and contains some excellent deep pools and water chutes. Eventually you will reach the Stake Pot boulder choke (the way on in the river is blocked by large boulders). Here, you can turn around, however it is also possible to climb out of the Main Drain here and return to Fall Pot via the high-level route (see separate descriptions for Stake Pot).

Tube Map
Route 3

Cow Pot is an alternative and usually quieter route to reach Fall Pot with a spectacular final pitch through the roof at Fall Pot itself. This is mostly on rope, and is certainly the most technical route into Ease Gill that is rigged for Eurospeleo. Be warned – there is a squeeze below the entrance pitch to deter the larger caver, and this can be especially tiring on the upward journey.

How to find:

From Bull Pot Farm, follow the footpath through the gate at the side of the house and past the fenced enclosure of Bull Pot of the Witches on the right after 100m. The footpath then goes steadily uphill and crosses a wall at a gate. Cross over, turn left and follow the wall. After 200m on the left is another stile across the wall. Cross the stile and Cow Pot is directly ahead. A scramble around/down the edge of the hole leads to a limestone outcrop where the entrance pitch rope is belayed.

Navigation:

The entrance pitch lands in a large open air chamber. The way on is not the most obvious route! It is actually the very narrow descending slot higher up at the opposite side of the chamber (there may be various pieces of rope here for assistance). This is best negotiated feet-first and leads to a 2.5m drop into a tiny rift. This is very physical and tiring on the upward journey!

A crawl leads to a junction, go left and follow the enlarging and twisting wet passage for about 50m. Soon, the passage enlarges significantly and the floor cuts down on the approach to the mega Fall Pot pitch. Do not follow the floor down, but instead traverse high up on the left until the rope is located. This traverses the roof of the pitch and then a spectacular descent with large hanging rebelay drops directly into Fall Pot.

Additional reading: Selected Caves (page 77), Northern Caving (page 65)

Routes onwards from Fall Pot

From the back wall of Fall Pot (with the obvious muddy path), pass behind the enormous block with the memorial plaque attached. One rope is then seen hanging down the wall, which provides one route to the top of Fall Pot. The other route is found by stepping up (via a convenient chock stone) into a narrow rift. An awkward step up around a right hand bend reaches the bottom of a slippery roped climb which is best done by prussiking. This emerges up through a hole at the top of Fall Pot. 

Follow the left hand wall of the large dry passage leading away from Fall Pot (watching out for some very deep holes in the floor). You will soon reach a steep muddy slope leading up on the left hand side. Follow this up, and then immediately back down another muddy slope. The way on at the bottom of the slope is left, going under or over a large block which initially obscures the passage ahead. The passage eventually lowers and finally an ascending crawl up polished blocks emerges through scaffold bars into Bridge Hall. Follow the upwards route and along a passage to reach the rope to the surface at Lancaster Hole.

This route out is quite technical and physical (particularly the awkward slot below the entrance).

In the middle of Fall Pot, a free-hanging rope will be seen descending from very high up in the ceiling. Climb the rope, past some re-belays and traverse away from the pitch. Follow the obvious passage leading away from the pothole for about 50m (a mixture of walking, crawling and stooping).

Keep left along this passage, but after about 50m, a short flat-out crawl on the right enters a standing height rift. Here you will find a very awkward 2.5m climb up into a tight, ascending tube (usually with rope for assistance) towards daylight at the bottom of the Cow Pot entrance pitch.

Tube Map
Route 4

This is an excellent short round-trip taking in some magnificent passage and streamway. Be aware that the climb up into Fall Pot is through a boulder choke from the Main Drain and may be difficult to find from below. It is strongly recommended to preview this from above in Fall Pot first (see the Lancaster Hole to Fall Pot description).

A slippery ascent against the wall of Fall Pot (with the wall on your right) leads to a sloping block (with a short rope). Scramble up this and into a short crawl which can be followed for a few metres. Then step up a metre and crawl a few metres further to emerge out through blocks into a large dry passage.

This wide, walking height passage then continues. This soon changes to a 100m section of wide-block filled passage with many holes in the floor. The typical route starts by following the right hand wall, then the left hand wall, and then back to the right again. Be aware that there are many possible routes and many very deep holes along this short section of awkward passage and the mud is especially slippery.

Beyond this section of passage is a broad flat balcony overlooking the huge hole of Stake Pot, where the river can be heard far below.

Stake Pot must be negotiated by a climb/abseil from a rope belayed on the left hand wall. This descends (very awkwardly) via several ledges. This is very slippery and may be best abseiled. At the bottom, turn left (if facing towards the rope going back up the other side of Stake Pot) and to follow the slope down towards the sound of water to reach the Main Drain.

There are several routes down through boulders to the Main Drain at Stake Pot. Follow the most obvious and worn route. A metal plate bolted to a rock acts as a step for one awkward section, and then a few minutes of further navigation through blocks in a downstream direction is needed before the passage opens out into a magnificent stream passage free from boulders.

It is also possible to go upstream from the bottom of the Stake Pot boulder choke. This leads into several hundred metres of EXCELLENT river passage, ending at the final boulder choke at Oxbow Corner. It is worth allowing 30 minutes to walk upstream and back to enjoy the excellent stream passage before heading downstream from Stake Pot.

Follow the river downstream of the Stake Pot boulder choke for about 400m (via a few quite deep pools and water chutes). Eventually, the stream widens and takes a left turn just before the downstream sump.

Approximately 100m upstream of the sump is an obvious boulder choke above the stream on the left (as you face downstream). This is directly below Fall Pot. Hopefully, you will recognise this if you explored it earlier from above. Climb up to the highest point on the boulders overlooking the stream. Above this a 2m climb up leads into the boulder choke. Continue up the extremely well-polished blocks. After a few metres, an awkward squeeze sloping upwards on the left is found. Up this, and then turn right to emerge out of boulders back in Fall Pot.

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Route 5

This is a description of the route from Fall Pot to Stop Pot, to allow connection from the downstream entrances (Lancaster Hole and Cow Pot) to the upstream entrances (Wretched Rabbit, County Pot, Pool Sink and Top Sink). This route is mostly horizontal caving and additional navigational aids are recommended (the survey will be available to view at the congress).

The description for most of this route in the opposite direction (Stop Pot to Stake Pot) can be found in the guide book ‘Not for the Faint Hearted’ and this will be available on printed sheet at the conference, with kind permission of Mike Cooper.

The route starts as a slippery ascent against the wall of Fall Pot (with the wall on your right) which leads to a sloping block (with a short rope). Scramble up this and into a short crawl which is followed for a few metres, then step up a metre and crawl further to emerge out through blocks into a large dry passage.

This fine, wide and walking height passage then continues. This soon changes to a 100m section of block filled passage with many holes in the floor. The typical route starts by following the right hand wall, then the left hand wall, and then back to the right again. Be aware that there are many possible routes and many very deep holes along this short section of awkward passage and the mud is especially slippery.

Beyond this section of passage is a broad balcony overlooking the huge hole of Stake Pot, where the river can be heard far below.

Stake Pot must be negotiated by a climb/abseil from a rope belayed on the left hand wall. This descends (very awkwardly) via several ledges. This is very slippery and may be best abseiled. At the bottom, climb the rope going up the other side of Stake Pot and back into the high-level large passages beyond.

This passage continues for some distance. Several formations are passed, including Bob’s Boss (a large stal) and the Painter‘s Palette (a multi-coloured calcite feature on the wall and floor). Two large holes (Scylla and Charybdis) must then be traversed on the right (fixed safety ropes). This is all easy progress for about 25 minutes with no navigational issues.

A junction with Oxbow Corner is then reached. Here, the way on (which must not be missed) is a small step up onto a shelf on the right to reach a wide, 25m long crawl (the complex boulder slope on the left of this shelf leads down to the Main Drain (at Oxbow Corner) which can be followed back downstream to Stake Pot if desired).

Beyond here, the high level passage is well worn and leads after 50m into the very large Oakes Cavern (the first of four almost consecutive huge passages/chambers on the route). At the far end of Oakes Cavern, on the left, is the start of a quite unique section of passage, the Minarets. This is a beautifully formed, triangular walking height passage with flat mud floor. After 30m this ends and a short crawl under the right wall enters another passage. A further crawl then enters the final passage, to emerge into the next massive chamber, Cornes Cavern.

The Minarets can be bypassed by a short 5-10m crawl at the end of Oakes Cavern, leading directly into Cornes Cavern, but it would be a shame to do so as the Minarets are very fine short passages.

The huge passages continue onwards after Cornes Cavern for about 30 minutes, passing through two more huge caverns (Snail Cavern and Monster Cavern). Towards the end of Monster Cavern, the way out is up on the right hand side at the back of the cavern, leading to a wide, stooping height passage.

This stooping height passage soon reaches a very wide, stooping height junction (Main Line Terminus). One route continues straight ahead (keeping to the right wall; however, the way on is to cross the wide junction and into large ongoing passage diagonally opposite. This soon gains height and the passage is covered with boulders. Progress becomes slow, as climbing up and down through the blocks is required. After 60m, a balcony is reached overlooking the blackness of Stop Pot, with a slot down through boulders on the floor on the right leading to the top of a fixed iron ladder.

Climb down the ladder into Stop Pot. This is one of the central junctions of the Ease Gill system, and exit can be made via Pool Sink, Top Sink, County Pot or Wretched Rabbit. See the guides for these entrances in reverse for the route out (although a separate outwards guide for the route through Wretched Rabbit is provided).

Upstream Ease Gill: County Pot, Wretched Rabbit, Pool Sink and Top Sink

The upstream end of Ease Gill has numerous entrances in Ease Gill Beck, including County Pot, Wretched Rabbit, Pool Sink and Top Sink, all of which bring water into the Main Drain. All routes unite at Stop Pot, allowing a number of exchange trips to be undertaken between these entrances, or a longer trip down the main passage towards the downstream entrances (Cow Pot and Lancaster Hole). The Top Sink to Lancaster Hole trip is a particular favourite, and will challenge most cavers physically and navigationally.

Location (all entrances):

After passing Bull Pot Farm on your right, continue up the ascending track straight ahead (not through the gate on your right towards Lancaster Hole/Cow Pot).

At the top of the track a vague track across the fell commences, marked by posts, some with fluorescent markers. After 20 minutes, cross a wall, and follow this wall down a steep descent to Ease Gill at a bridge. Walking upstream (left) on the riverbank, various entrances to the cave system are passed on the left. First, after 75m is County Pot (with large metal trapdoor). Second (200m further) is Wretched Rabbit (a crawl slightly above and next to the stream by a large boulder). Another 100m further is Pool Sink, a rectangular crawl next to a pool (which may be dry). Finally, a considerable distance beyond (about 500m further, after the valley has broadened, and about 70m after an old ruined sheep fold) is Top Sink. 

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Route 10

County Pot is a complex and very interesting cave in its own right. It has a number of main routes to the Main Drain and some attractive passages. There are two short pitches down and a chimney climb up on the main route.

Navigation:

Below the metal trapdoor entrance a climb down leads into a narrow passage. This soon enlarges slightly into a winding passage with a few easy climbs down to quickly reach the head of a 6m pitch. Below here an obvious route reaches a 2m climb down into Broadway, a large walking passage.

Keeping the wall you have just climbed down on your right, follow the passage up a slope and then down into Showerbath Passage. Follow this to a junction with a stream entering on the right (this is called Confusion Corner, and if exiting via County Pot this junction is very easily missed). Continue downstream to a climb down into Spout Hall.

Two routes lead on from the bottom of Spout Hall which soon unite (the more obvious being the crawl in the stream). On the right only a few metres after the two routes unite (and only about 20m from Spout Hall) is a small hole in the right wall which leads immediately to a 3-4m chimney up into a bedding plane (Poetic Justice) with a scoured stal floor and stal pillars. A short distance along here a 3m drop leads into a separate stream passage (usually with only a small trickle of water), and a few metres along this passage (downstream, if water is flowing) is a 7m pitch.

From the bottom of the pitch (Pierce‘s Passage) an easy walk reaches a junction. Trident Passage enters on the right; however, the way on is downstream. Follow the water downstream all the way via some mud crawls to reach Eureka Junction (a major T-junction) in the main river (Main Drain).

Turn right (upstream) and follow the walking passage. After 100m a boulder collapse is reached. The finest route through here is a low wet stoop in the water on the left. A few metres in you pop up into a crawl above the water for a few metres to the end of the choke. Alternatively, to the right of the choke is a wide low bedding plane crawl through the choke. Beyond the choke, follow the water upstream for a very short distance to the bottom of the Stop Pot boulders. A climb up the boulders reaches an iron ladder leading towards Lancaster Hole and Cow Pot. Continuing upstream in the river continues on towards Pool/Top Sink.

Additional reading: Selected Caves (page 76)

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Route 8

Wretched Rabbit is a largely uninspiring, but speedy route to and from the Main Drain, descending quite quickly via a large rift with several climbs on fat handlines. Wretched Rabbit is popular as it is the only easy non-SRT route (i.e. no ropework) in or out of the upper end of the Ease Gill system.

Navigation:

The entrance is a low crawl which leads to the top of four challenging free-climbs with big thick ropes. Inexperienced groups may wish to take their own rope. At the bottom, continue to a large hole in the floor with block walling (there may be water falling here). Traverse around to the left and into the passage directly beyond.

This passage twists and turns for some distance to a 5x2m chamber. Straight on beyond here and a 1.5m drop into a stream canyon is reached. This is then followed down some cascade climbs, and then past a giant stalactite. Further slightly awkward passage eventually reaches a 2m drop down into a crawl with large dark cobbles. Drop down and follow the crawl downstream for 50m until walking height passage is regained.

Shortly after walking height is regained the climb up to the dry bypass (for use in times of wet weather when Eureka Junction is flooded) is found. This is a slippery 5m climb up boulders above/on the left into a large overhead chamber. An awkward climb over a slab leads to the far end of this chamber where a flat-out crawl can be followed for 20m to emerge on a balcony into Stop Pot.

Alternatively (this is the easiest route but may be flooded in very wet weather), continue down Wretched Rabbit passage for about 100m to the end at Eureka Junction in the Main Drain. Turn right (upstream) and follow the walking passage. After 100m a boulder collapse is reached. The finest route through here is a low wet stoop in the water by the left wall. A few metres into this you can step up into a crawl above the water for a few metres to reach the end of the choke. Alternatively, to the right of the choke is a low crawl through the choke. Beyond the choke, follow the water upstream for a very short distance to the bottom of the Stop Pot boulders. Ascend the boulders into the large chamber to where an iron ladder leads upwards towards Lancaster Hole and Cow Pot. Continuing upstream in the river leads towards Pool Sink and Top Sink.

Tube Map
Route 9

From the highest point on the Stop Pot boulders, spiral downhill towards the water.

Dry route (for use in wet conditions):

Half way down the boulders and part way up the right wall is a window, leading into a flat out rocky crawl. This soon reaches a chamber with a climb over a boulder with a drop down on the other side. Through here, a slippery 5m climb down through blocks leads into Wretched Rabbit Passage only 50m upstream of Eureka Junction. Follow the water upstream and see Traditional Route below starting from second paragraph.

Traditional route (for use in dry/moderate conditions):

At the bottom of the Stop Pot boulders, enter the main streamway and follow downstream to where boulders impede progress. Against the right wall, a crawl along a tube about 1m above the water is followed by a drop into the water (typically only about 0.5m deep) and then a stoop in the water for a few metres. Alternatively, a low crawl on the left of the boulders is also possible. The stream passage then enlarges to walking proportions and after 100m Eureka Junction is reached, with an inlet passage entering on the left. Only a short distance up this left passage a fork is reached: Right goes towards County Pot, and left goes into Wretched Rabbit Passage.

Taking the Wretched Rabbit branch (left) the passage passes under the drop in from the dry route and then lowers to a crawl. After 50m this passes under two cross rifts. Climb up the second (an easy 2m climb into overhead passage). After about 5 min of awkward progress along this winding passage is a drop back to the stream. Continue upstream in more twisting passage which eventually passes a huge stalactite (look up!)  and then two easy climbs (4m and 1.5m) up cascades.

Beyond these climbs the passage continues for a short distance and then an awkward 1.5m climb up is reached to a higher passage. This climb/junction is easy to miss. It can be found straight ahead of you above a notable left hand bend in the passage.

Up here soon reaches a 5x2m chamber. Go straight on through here and after more twisting passage you will eventually emerge at a large hole with block walling (this may have water falling). A climb around the right and onwards up into the large rift reaches the bottom of four staggered and quite tricky climbs with fixed ropes. At the top of the final climb a short crawl emerges to the surface.

Additional reading: The full Lancaster Hole to Wretched Rabbit route is found in Selected Caves (page 79-81)

Tube Map
Route 7

Pool Sink is an entertaining and clean-washed route into the upper end of Ease Gill. This entrance has four short pitches, interspersed with mostly walking passage, but also some crawling. Pool Sink joins the Main Drain near Holbeck Junction, only a short distance upstream of Stop Pot. Therefore an exchange with other entrances is possible. Pool Sink is also an excellent trip by itself.

Navigation:

The small rectangular entrance crawl leads to an awkward bend in a tight tube. Beyond here the cave gets bigger. Follow the water downstream via four fine pitches.

After the final pitch, follow the water downstream in a tall passage, and over boulders. Just before the route at floor level becomes impassible, climb up onto a ledge on the left which leads into a crawl. This crosses the stream below and winds back down to the stream again via some oxbows. A descending traverse then passes the Bacon Slicer (a huge angled piece of shattered limestone), and leads down to the stream.

In the stream, a few oxbows on the right are passed and a section of stooping/crawling leads to a squeeze past a block. A short distance downstream a seemingly blank wall is encountered, which is actually a huge obstructing block, which can be crawled under in the water. In the chamber beyond here, the stream continues downstream into lowering passage until a crawl on the right is located. This leads, after a short distance, to the Ease Gill Main Drain, emerging from behind a block.

Go upstream for 30m to reach Holbeck Junction.

At Holbeck Junction, climb up the boulder slope and take a passage on the left. This enlarges and re-joins the main streamway. The stream soon drops down a small hole (which can be followed to Stop Pot); however, a dry route can be taken over blocks to a traverse a few metres above the stream on the right hand wall, and then left hand wall, then entering Stop Pot at the bottom of boulders.

For Wretched Rabbit or County Pot, following the water downstream. This soon reaches a boulder collapse and a crawl above the water on the right hand wall, followed by a low stoop in the water, regains large stream passage. Approximately 100m beyond is Eureka Junction with County Pot and Wretched Rabbit inlets entering on the left

Alternatively, climbing up the huge boulder slope into Stop Pot reaches a metal ladder leading to Montague Passage and the route to Lancaster Hole and Cow Pot.

Additional reading: Selected Caves (page 83), Northern Caving (page 60).

Tube Map
Route 6

This is the top entrance to the main Ease Gill system, offering some entertaining caving in its own right and the start of some excellent through-trips. Route-finding is complex and, in common with much of the Ease Gill system, care needs to be taken of loose boulders. The trip from Top Sink to Lancaster Hole or Cow Pot is one of the finest adventures available.

Navigation:

The description for Top Sink all the way to Stop Pot (and then onto Stake Pot) from the guide book ‘Not For The Faint Hearted’ will be available on a printed sheet at the conference, with kind permission of Mike Cooper. This description should be used to navigate.

For any cavers wishing to complete the famous Top Sink to Lancaster Hole or Cow Pot trip, follow this guide as far as Stake Pot (this will take about 4 hours). Here, depart the guidebook description and ignore the Stake Pot Series on the left (this leads towards entrances to the cave which are not rigged for Eurospeleo, although a trip down to Cape Kennedy is very worthwhile).

Instead, take the obvious fixed rope leading down to the bottom of Stake Pot.

You can then descend through boulders to the Main Drain and follow this downstream to Fall Pot (see guide for Round trip to Stake Pot and back to Fall pot via Main Drain).

Alternatively, climb back up the other side of Stake Pot on the ropes back into the high-level passage. The passage beyond here has a number of very exposed and deep holes in the floor, but is traversed by keeping to the left wall, then the right wall, and then the left wall again. After about 100m of difficult progress, a wide, solid-floored cavern is reached. A short distance beyond here is scramble up to a balcony looking out into the vastness of Fall Pot. About 10-15m back from the edge, a crawl leads downwards through boulders to a rope which allows a slither down a block into Fall Pot. Follow the left wall of the chamber down muddy steps and at the bottom you will see the rope entering from Cow Pot on the right, with the route towards Lancaster Hole straight ahead. See section ‘Routes onward from Fall Pot’ for information on exiting via either of these entrances.

 

Additional reading:

Selected Caves (page 84), Northern Caving (page 60), Not for the Faint Hearted (page 82). The Selected Caves and Not for the Faint Hearted descriptions cover the full route from Top Sink to Pippikin Pot (via Stake Pot). Pippikin Pot is not rigged for Eurospeleo; however, these guides enable navigation as far as Stake Pot.