WARNING: You assume ALL risks involved in seeking this cache which takes you into a mining area with many hazards. Your route goes beside an unprotected cave with a dangerous drop and into another, albeit safer, mine. You are responsible for your own safety and those in your party. It is imperative that younger children are closely supervised whilst in or near the cave/mines. Please ensure that you heed all the “Warnings” listed below.
Mendip accept no responsibility for the safety of those entering any of the caves or using the woods without being part of a Mendip group with a Mendip Instructor. |
This multi-stage cache involves a 1½ mile round trip where GPS reception is not good in parts as the route is in a relatively dense north facing woodland. Click here to see the topography in FlashEarth.com. Your journey will give you the information required to complete the coordinates for the location of the hidden 'equipment' which you will need for the next stage; let's call this part a ‘kit clue cache concealed by a kindly cooperative cacher’.
The final clue is hidden in a micro container quite a way inside a cave - you need the 'equipment' to discover exactly where inside it is hidden. However, fear ye not as this cave has been mined and has a level footway with plenty of head room; though you will have to get on all fours to enter so mind your head! You will also need a reliable torch with good batteries which you need to provide yourself. Additionally, as caves can be quite damp and muddy and the 'equipment' is inclined to get very dirty, I would advise that you take gardening gloves and use wellies – not a trip for wearing your Sunday best!
This cache has been rated 3.5/4 applying the Geocaching.com ClayJar system. However you are warned that, given the terrain and nature of this challenge, by UK standards this probably rates 4/5 or 5/5.
Access
It is recommended that you park where suggested in Additional Waypoints below. The Mendip Snowsport Centre owners have kindly agreed to allow the odd cacher to park here - and who's to argue that we cachers aren't odd?! In return for the permission to park why not call into the excellent The Alpine Lounge for après cache refreshment and take a look at all the exciting activities they run here. You are advised to waypoint your car before you set out least you get lost in the woods.
The Route
From the car park follow the Ski Lodge road uphill to WP1.
Question: At the sign post, count how many white letters are on a green background plus how many white arrows can you see?
Answer = AB
Follow signposted public footpath into the woods heading due west to WP2.
Take the lower path, cross the stile and track along the bottom of the woods to the waypoint.
Question: How many first names are mentioned?
Answer = C
Continue along the path until your GPS points at right angles to the path - due South. Once it does this head the short distance uphill towards WP3.
WP3 - The coordinates for this cache are for a clue which is beside the entrance to ‘Mangle Hole’ cave. Take extreme care on your approach to this stage as the unfenced cave entrance is only a slit in the floor which opens onto a 120 foot drop - see picture. Ensure any children are closely supervised and on no account attempt to enter this cave. Cavers use ropes and ladders or SRT equipment to descend this cave belaying from the nearby tree to the left of the hole, looking uphill.
Question: What person's name (4 letters, uppermost carving) is carved into the tree?
Convert the name into 4 numbers DEFG using the code on a mobile phone key pad: ABC = 2; DEF = 3; etc..
Continue 'off piste' to WP4 to obtain your next clues.
Question: How many Rs are there? Answer = H
How many letters on the right hand sign? Answer = I J
Now head to WP5; Pearl Mine . Unlike the previous mines this one is safe as it has been filled, and now sealed up good and proper. Inspect the hatch, how many corners are there? = K.
| - - - Record your answers here - - - |
| A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
J |
K |
Total |
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
44 |
WP6 - Using the clues you have gathered find the next stage which is at N51 19.H(K-A)E W002 49.I(C+G)(D-C). Here you need to find the hidden ‘Kit Cache’ containing the ‘equipment’ you will need to take with you to locate the final clue – take the container - do not remove the contents yet! Please ensure that you return and re-hide this 'equipment' as you found it after you have completed your quest so that others may follow in your footsteps. NB: If the 'equipment' is missing this hopefully means that someone is ahead of you already; wait a while. If it doesn't return then it's been muggled :-(
WP7 - Now proceed to N51 19.HE(F-I) W002 49.ED(J-E) where you will find the entrance to ‘Sandford Levvy’ - this is at the foot of a small cliff face at the end of a short gulley. To find the final clue you need to clip the free end of the ‘equipment’ to the fixing point above the entrance. Pay out the equipment as you go into the cave, this will indicate when you are in the right area to solve the next clue. You don't need to go beyond the end of the equipment (if you wish to, there is further information below).
In this section you will find paving slabs on the passage floor. The central part are laid in pairs, side by side.
What is the total number of slabs laid side by side? Answer = LM
Before entering this mine please read the warnings below. This is for your own safety and for the conservation of both this cave and its permanent inhabitants, the bats. You only need to go onto hands and knees to pass the entrance which has been backfilled to discourage the public from wandering in, once inside it is easy walking, though mind your head! If you choose to go further into the cave than the ‘equipment’ will allow then please heed to advice in the ‘Sandford Levvy’ section below.
When packing up the ‘equipment’ please follow the printed instructions to make its re-use easier for others. Can you also return and re-hide the ‘equipment’ at its location before proceeding to bag the cache; who knows; there may even be someone there waiting for it?
The Cache - An Ammo can - which will take larger items (don’t you just hate those tiny caches?!) is at the following location N51 19.(H-L)(M/2+G)(M-I) W002 49.(L)(J)(C x (J-L)) - enjoy your reward. Please sign the log book and remember the geocaching guidance ‘Trade up or Even’ when trading items. Thank you for coming.
WARNINGS:
Caves – Caving is not a dangerous sport if carried out by trained and responsible cavers following recognised safety procedures. However, to the uninitiated caves can be dangerous places.
WP3; Mangle Hole - You are strongly advised NOT to enter this cave under any circumstances. Whilst they might look innocuous the entrance shaft is deep (120 foot drop at Mangle Hole) which makes them extremely dangerous. Children and animals must be closely supervised around the entrances at all times.
WP7; Sandford Levvy - There is always a risk when going underground. However, the entrance passage of this particular mine/cave is often entered by non-cavers without incident. If you choose to do this cache then you do so entirely at your own risk! Please use extreme caution - ensure that each member of your party has a reliable lamp – it is pitch black once away from the entrance . Make sure that someone who is not entering the cave knows where you are and precisely when you are expected to return so that they can raise the alarm if you fail to report back. If you are doing this cache alone (not advised) then carry a spare torch and batteries. Pre-arrange to leave details of your specific route with someone at the end of a phone. They must agree to ring in an emergency (see below) should you fail to report back at your ETA.
If you choose to go further in than the clue then you must take extra precautions in addition to those above as this passage can be followed for over a quarter of a mile into the hill. The cave has been mined in solid limestone and follows a more or less straight line into the hill. There are 2 cross roads in the cave and it is strongly recommended that you do not venture into these side paths. Looking upwards and to the right at the second crossroads you can see the aven which may be the famous ‘Gulf’ – see the BEC article below. If you reach the end remember that you have gone into the hill you were just on top of - stop and think how much rock is above your head!!! If you dare turn out your lights and experience total darkness - enjoy. In the event that your light fails DO NOT ATTEMPT to feel your way out as you could follow a side path where there are dangerous drops. Instead stay exactly where you are and await rescue – you see now why you left an ETA with someone else?!!
IN THE EVENT OF AN UNDERGROUND EMERGENCY dial 999 and ask for ‘cave rescue’ stating the name of the cave where the problem is – WP3 is Mangle Hole, and WP7 is Sandford Levvy.
Cave Conservation - There are many calcium formations in the cave which are easily damaged by dirty hands or feet – please don’t touch. Orange tape has been placed to warn you of most of these though you will need watch your footing so as to avoid the cave pearls in the middle of the path (see images).
Bat Conservation - Bats, which are a protected species, live in this mine and can often be seen flying around. If you find sleeping bats hanging from the rocks please leave well alone especially over the winter months when some species hibernate. Even your body heat can disturb hibernating bats. For further information see the The Bat Conservation Trust website.
In General - Being a former mining area there are many hazards – watch your footing and take care not to fall into the many small trenches; even a small slip can break a limb!
Further information:
Mangle Hole - This cave was discovered in 1970 and is thought by some to be the legendry lost Gulf of Sanford – for a fascinating article on this see this Bristol Exploration Club article.
Sandford Levvy - This horizontal tunnel was originally excavated in 1830 by a local entrepreneur looking for ores. Small traces of galena , sphalerite and ochre can be still be see today. The mined shaft breaks into natural cave passage in places with an aven which extend upwards over 150 ft to near the surface; yet another contender for the lost Gulf? In WW2 the Home Guard used this cave – just imagine what Mainwaring and his troop must have got up to in here!!!
Caving - If, having done this cache, you are interested in having a go at caving, contact one of the many local caving clubs who will be happy to take you on a taster trip - Click here to see the Caving UK website and a list of clubs