Snailbeach Mines Trip ~ from Piers Hallihan

The booking is now confirmed for a trip to explore Snailbeach Mines in Shropshire on the weekend of 16th – 18th November. A number of people have confirmed their attendance but there are still places available.

Basic campsite accommodation is booked at nearby Pennerley for Friday and Saturday nights and will cost £5 per tent per night.

For those who want a little more in the way of creature comforts, there is a Youth Hostel at Ratlinghope (the locals pronounce it Ratchup if you’re asking for directions) about a half hour drive from Snailbeach. This will cost £15 per person per night if you are a YHA member or £18 for non members.

For even more comfort, there are two B&B rooms at the Stiperstones Inn, about a mile from Snailbeach (My old local and where you’ll probably find the rest of the group for most of Saturday evening, the food is excellent)

The underground side of the trip will take place on Saturday and you will need to be SRT proficient as there’s about 250 feet of descent and re-ascent involved in the round trip.

On Sunday, depending on numbers and time there may be a short trip underground, or more likely, a guided tour by local experts around the excellently preserved surface industrial archaeology.

For those who don’t feel up to the SRT on Saturday, the area is excellent for walking .

Please contact me piershallihan@yahoo.co.uk for more details and to confirm your attendance if you haven’t already – Our hosts from Shropshire Caving and Mining and Mining Club will need to know numbers fairly soon to work out how many guides are needed.

This trip is open to non club members as well so feel free to bring a guest, provided that they can show proof of BCA insurance cover (The temporary cover offered by the Try Caving scheme is not suitable as this is not a novice trip!)

Regards Piers

Provisionals Weekend - a record breaker ~ by PCW

As you may know we had a storming Provisional's and Beginner's weekend a couple of weeks ago with record numbers going underground. Claire was super organiser and ably supported by at least a dozen members who led trips or cooked and served a very welcome evening meal.

"The experience was far more than I could have hoped for. This was not just a trek into some caves. This was an adventure. We made our way across very rocky, uneven passages, through vast cavern. We traversed deep holes in narrow passages, edging along braced against the walls with only a drop below us. We crossed a narrow ledge overlooking a waterfall as it cascaded into an abyss beneath us. We marvelled at the wonderful and bizarre geological formations which had been created over the centuries. We crawled through narrow muddy passages, squeezed through holes which looked barely large enough to fit through, clambered over ledges and slid down muddly slopes." Colin

Anyway, follow the link for lots of pictures and reports from new cavers in their own words!

If you have any of your own photos you'd like to share please email them to me.

Fireworks - Sat Nov 3rd

Don't forget! Bring one BIG ONE each! Starts around 7pm.

Looking forward to seeing as many members and families and friends as possible.