Caving, Climbing, Fun

How to get started outdoor climbing independently

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There are all kinds of different climbers. Indoor boulderers are often amongst the best technical climbers. However, they might have no intention to put on a harness and use a rope. Some top indoor lead climbers have no interest to get started outdoor climbing. On the other end of the scale, many trad climbers are doing relatively easy routes. Only long-lasting, heavy rain will push them into an indoor gym, if that. (Trad climbing or traditional climbing is where you set your own protection, without any pre-existing bolts or anchors.)   NO ONE SAYS YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO GET STARTED OUTDOOR CLIMBING It is perfectly fine to stay indoors for all your climbing activities. However, if, like me, you are planning on using your indoor gym experience as a stepping stone and training practice for the great outdoors, then you’ll probably ask yourself at some stage: How to […]

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Caving, Climbing, England, Fun

Best Caving Locations in England

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Ellie & I only started to do some caving about three years ago. We had come across the so-called Wild Wookey experience at Wookey Hole in the Mendips in Somerset. It turned out to be one of the best caving locations in England. The three hours underground were so much fun, we have been going caving ever since. HOUSE-KEEPING To be clear, this article is not the gospel. I have only been caving in England a dozen times so far (not counting show caves), and some of the caves below I have never been to. The Three Counties System, for example, I’m scheduled to explore month after next month. This means I have thoroughly researched it, but not entered it, so far.   Feature photo (c) BerkeleySqB; above 2 pics (c) Somerset Adventures; Where not otherwise indicated: (c) BerkeleySqB Where I haven’t visited the cave myself yet, my information comes […]

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Caving, Climbing, Fun

Why I Love Caving

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I find it very hard to describe why I love caving. Ever since my first attempt at it I know I love it, and so does Ellie. One of the more obvious reasons is that the bigger the challenge the bigger the sense of adventure. CAVING IS PRIMAL Moreover, I like that caving feels primal. Our ancestors were cavemen and women. You can’t get much closer to nature than literally immersing yourself into Mother Earth. WHY I LOVE CAVING: IT COMBINES MANY DIFFERENT SPORTS I love that caving combines so many different sports and techniques. Climbing and caving are heavily interlinked. Not just in that caving does usually include a fair bit of climbing. Both sports involve scrambling and vertical work using ropes. The founder of the world’s premier climbing gear brand Petzl, for instance, Fernand Petzl, was a famous caver. OFTEN IT IS LIKE UNDERGROUND CANYONING Caving can be […]

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Caving, Climbing, Fun

Swildon’s Hole – Through Sump 1 & Beyond

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A few months ago, my buddy Richard, a fellow travel blogger from Chalk and Cheese Travels, suggested, we could do a little caving trip together, maybe Swildon’s Hole Sump 1 and beyond. He had never done any caving. I had done a few days underground, but was without any doubt still very much a beginner. WHAT IS A SUMP In caving, a sump refers to a section of an underground passageway that is completely (or almost completely) submerged in water. This makes it impossible to breathe, while your face is under water. Sumps can be of any length, from just half a metre to several dozen metres. I believe, you usually stop calling it a sump, if it’s more than 50 or 100m. It just becomes a ‘submerged part of the cave.’   Feature pic (c) Somerset Adventures; all others (c) BSqB unless where otherwise mentioned SUMPS ARE CONSIDERED CHALLENGING […]

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Caving, Climbing, Fun

Caving at Pridhamsleigh Cavern in Devon – Quite the Adventure

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A couple of weeks ago I went on another caving adventure with Somerset Adventures. Following Goatchurch Cavern and Swildon’s Hole in Somerset, this time we picked Pridhamsleigh Cavern in nearby Devon. I specifically requested a ‘tough and challenging’ experience that would push me to my limits. DISCLOSURE (PREVIOUS COLLABORATIONS) AND PRICING For complete transparency, I should mention that I have been invited on a number of activities by Somerset Adventures in the past. I did pay the full price of £150 for this one-day caving trip, though. If you are happy to join a group or you are a group of 3 or more, then the cost goes down to £60 per person. The half-day speleological experiences start from an amazingly good value £35 per person. Further discounts are available, for example for young folk. EASY TO GET TO FROM LONDON The train from London to Exeter takes around two […]

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