Devonshire Caves- Back

Here are some of my images of caves I have visited in Devon. There are few large cave systems in Devon and those one can visit tend to be muddy. However there are some unusual sites. There are two major clubs in Devon the Devon Spelaeological Society and the Plymouth Caving Group. The DSS is the older of the organisations and has a field hut in Buckfastleigh. The PCG have done a considerable amount of mine exploration and mapping both in Devon and Cornwall.

The Sidmouth Tunnel

This curious underground feature lies about 250 metres east of the river mouth at Sidmouth. Driven in the early 19th century to carry stone from quarries further along the coast it was abandoned when the train that was supposed to use it was found to be too big. The tunnel contains deep water in sections and is home to lesser horseshoe bats. About 200 metres remain, and when the cliff line erodes back to the tunnel, which runs parallel to the cliff, there will be a very spectacular cliff fall! Although the rock is relatively unstable red marl it contains enough calcium carbonate for stalagmite formations to have developed making the walls quite colourful in places.

Bunker's Hole

This short cave near the hamlet of Dean outside Buckfastleigh is only accessible through a leader system. In the late 1960's a small extension was entered leading to a low tunnel smothered in aragonite crystals. This form of calcite seems to develop on the junction between slate and limestone and is rarely seen except in some caves in South Wales and the Quantock Hills of Somerset.

Afton Red Rift Cave

Although not particularly long this system offers both a satisfying round trip, some beautiful formations and some sporting traverses. It consists of a winding phreatic rift leading to a large terminal chamber. There are a couple of series of small side passages and a small hard to reach stream passage.

The entrance	Looking out	The gate	Start of the traverse
The traverse	Near the far end of the traverse	Near Flower Chamber	In Flower Chamber
Leaving Flower chamber	Traverse near start of Upper Series	Upper Series	Upper Series
Crystals in Upper Series	Entering Main Chamber	Entering Main Chamber	The famous curtain in Main Chamber
Main Chamber formations	Main Chamber formations	Bottom of Main Chamber	On the route to Watkins Squeeze
Formations near Mud Hall	Near Mud Hall		Watkins Squeeze

Pridhamsleigh Cavern

Situated just outside Buckfastleigh this is the second longest cave system in Devon and has been accessible for at least 2 centuries. It was presumably revealed, like most Devon caves, by quarrying. A large entrance portal leads to an insignificant crawl into the rest of the system - about 700 metres of so of complex, maze like muddy passages through which a variety of routes can be taken. The cave is very popular with outdoor pursuit groups, Scouts, and army cadets and has suffered as a consequence with very few of the stalactite formations first seen by the original surveyors 60 years ago now apparent. Cavers have also excavated many of the mud filled passages by their traffic converting crawls to standing height. The Deep Well, originally a cave diving site plumbed to a depth of 5 or 6 metres has become choked with mud and can now be waded across to the detriment of the formations on its previously rarely visited far side. The cave ends in a clear green lake. The water levels in the lake vary considerably throughout the year and these fluctuations became more noticeable when the A39 dual carriageway was constructed past the entrance. It is known that civil engineers encountered many cavities in the construction of the road and it may be that drainage patterns were interrupted. Eels have been seen in the lake suggested a link to surface waters. It seems unlikely that they make their way in via the cavers route! Divers started exploring the lake in the 1950's but it was not until the early 70's that a route at 25 metres depth was found through an archway into the vast chamber of Pridhamsleigh 2. If drained this chamber would be something like 40 metres high 40 metres long and about 25 metres wide. However it is filled with water to a depth of 34 metres. The size of the void has allowed suspended sediment to settle creating astonishingly good visibility and above water are some of the most spectacular speleothems in Devon. The lake is still being explored and mapped by Devon cavers.

If you wish to visit the cave please approach by approved route through the orchard containing the ancient dove cote, which is just over the bridge crossing the A38 dual carriageway. In 2007 the access fee was £1.50 payable down a chute in the tiny kiosk by the gate. Failure to do this risks removal of access to the cave as well the adjacent Dog Hole. The farmer has considered CCTV to observe trespassers so be warned.

The entrance	Looking out	further in
The real entrance	Just inside	On the way to Crystal Chamber
Formations in the lower series below the excavated Lobster Pot	In the entrance passages	Smashed stal in Crystal Chamber
One of the other ways into Crystal Chamber	Tony Boycott entering Bishop's Chamber	Divers crossing Bishop's Chamber
The curious hole up to the Attics in Bishop's Chamber		Near the Attics
The hole in the Attics	Floor detail in the Attics	Helictites in the Attics
Route from the Bear Pit to Crystal Chamber	Far side of the Well	Looking across the Deep Well
Entering the Flooded Rift	The Flooded Rift
		Oxtongue Climb
Traversing round the Pit	Grand Gallery	View down Grand Gallery
The Lake in high water	View from the old diving platform	More view of the lake
Brian Johnson prepares to dive	Divers in the Lake (photo courtesy of PCG)	Jim Durston on the line junction at 25 metres
Surfacing in Prid 2	Aragonite on the walls in Prid 2	Straws in Prid 2
Stal cascades into the lake of Prid 2	View from the ledge above Prid 2 lake
View from the ledge above Prid 2 lake	View from the ledge above Prid 2 lake	View from the ledge above Prid 2 lake
On the ledge above Prid 2 lake	Ray Stead on the ledge above Prid 2 lake	On the ledge above Prid 2 lake
On the ledge above Prid 2 lake	On the ledge above Prid 2 lake	On the ledge above Prid 2 lake

Scottish Caving    (Animation)	Mendip Caves	Caves of the Forest of Dean