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BANK
HOLIDAY HOLE
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BANK HOLIDAY HOLE
NGR SD 6772 8057
A small cave located on the limestone bench on the east side of EASE GILL. The entrance is in a prominent shakehole, where a stream sinks, about 150m across LECK FELL from the entrance of SLIT SINKS and due south of THE BOREHOLE
A 2m entrance climb into a chamber leads to a hands and knees crawl for 25m to a flat out squeeze over cobbles. This breaks out into a 2m high rift passage developing into a winding stream canyon averaging 3-4m in height and 1m wide for 100m with some nice formations including a fine 2m long curtain. A small muddy inlet enters on the right and can be followed for 10m. The cave ends in a boulder collapse which is near to the surface and the resurgence, which is located on the limestone bench above the opposite bank to SLIT SINKS
See survey
Photo: Pete Muckalt in Entrance of Bank Holiday Hole during its intial exploration. 1984.
NGR SD 6757 8054Alt 332m Length 107m
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NGR SD 6761 8064Alt 338m Length 24m
Slit entrance at stream level in true left bank of EASE GILL. Twisting, sideways going for 12m to impassable inlet on the left. Short crawl into small chamber and a window to a wide aven. Roof inlet is too tight and outlet is a muddy crawl. See photo
NGR SD 6672 8832Alt 274m Length 90m
The entrance lies 91m upstream of MISTRAL HOLE behind a boulder against the scar on the true left bank of EASE GILL. It is partly obscured by landscaped digging material.
Short crawl into chamber with a floor of boulders separated by deep fissures. Bedding plane at the rear of the chamber continues as a dug out crawl. This continues low with a squeeze to a small boulder filled chamber. At the opposite end of the chamber is a tight slot and squeeze to another bedding plane crawl which breaks out into ATOLL CHAMBER a large flat roofed passage close to the HOBBIT in PIPPIKIN.
NGR SD 6758 8053Alt 335m Length 40m
Stream sink in Oxford Cave Beck. Climb down 4m leads to a stream passage. Downstream is a wet crawl to a large white formation. Under this is a low bedding for about another 20 m to a tight rift. The water has been traced to Bat Cave. Upstream beyond a squeeze is a wide bedding, which has been pushed for 10 metres. It heads towards Oxford Cave 3
NGR SD 621798Alt 62m Length 80m
Small stream emerges from a rift entrance on true right bank of CASTERTON BECK. crawling leads to an awkward small chamber guarded by a duck. Branch on the right goes for 10m to a blockage where a waterfall can be heard, this water probably comes from the gill. The main cave continues as a hading rift for 15m until a low section is by passed on the left. A small stream emerges from a blockage at the end, the sink for this is in the quarry only 30m away.
NGR SD 6760 8052Alt 327m
Sutrface collapse into rift passage with way on blocked by surface debris.
NGR SD 6737 8049Alt 305m Length 15m
The entrance is situated on a ledge in the cliff face on the south bank of EASE GILL opposite the tributary of HOWE GILL. A low crawl,recently dug passes a small inlet on right (too tight) and the way on continues as a flat out bedding to the head of a 5m pitch. A clean washed chamber at the base closes down to 100mm holes. The bedding continues above the pitch but is choked solid.
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1. An obvious bedding plane entrance across the gill from COUNTY POT The way on quickly lowers to a crawl and choked passages. Two other caves to the left and right of No.1 are short and choked with boulders. Length 8m
2. The entrance upstream of No.1 and higher in the scar. Stooping passage to a sudden entry into a fine chamber. A climb down overhanging blocks leads to the floor with several blind holes and a short passage, although one of the holes has been descended to a pitch with a very tight take off and no natural belay, down this leads to a rift which heads back under the gill, both directions are blocked by cobbles and boulders but a draft could be detected. Back at the chamber there is a climb up onto a shelf which has two inlets, One a narrow fissure, the other an easy going passage to a small aven. Length 33m
3. Immediately left of No.2 is a sideways slide into a high canyon and an easy traverse past a short side passage on the right to a boulder choke. Length 21m
NGR SD 6749 8055Alt 300m
Cave in base of waterfall at Cow Dub, only
accessible in extreme drought. See photo 
COW DUBS II NGR SD 6749 8053Alt 300m
Length included in Ease Gill Caverns total
Entrance in rock walled hole just downstream on the left from COW DUBS waterfall itself. The hole leads to a flat out wet crawl to the head of a 3m drop. Below this a body sized tube , which can be extremely wet, is followed by more crawling to where the way enlarges to walking sized passage to a 5m pitch into the top of BUTTERFIELD'S PASSAGE in COUNTY POT
NGR SD 6774 8071Alt 326m Length 12m
A hole under a boulder up on the south bank of EASE GILL drops 3m into a passage. North end chokes under gill bank, but the other continues through a deep pool, which is often sumped to a very tight twisting fissure.
NGR SD 6745 8052Alt 314m Length 10m
Entrance is is covered by boulders in a thick patch of bracken about 20m down the valley from where the wall joins the gill at COW DUBS, well up on the left bank near to a pointed boulder. A straight descent of 8m down the rift lands on a sloping floor which funnels down to a larger passage which quickly chokes in either direction.
NGR SD 6756 8059Alt 314m Length 10m
Situated directly below BAT CAVE. Water falls into a nasty wet bedding plane which has been pushed under the gill to a low sump. In flood the water from here was seen to enter County Pot from the roof above Confusion Corner
NGR SD 6774 8072Alt 327m Length 10m
In sizable shakehole on bench above EASE GILL opposite Pool Sink. Short cave in awkward rift series.
NGR SD 668803Alt 374m Length 6m
Fissure in gill directly below the entrance to LINK POT Now filled in, if anyone wants some digging tools it is believed that the NPC left some at the bottom!!
NGR SD 6636 8191Alt 305m Length 12m
HAZEL SIKE is the next gill north of AYGILL. Entrance is on the true right side of a small gorge below a dry waterfall. Pleasant hands and knees crawl to a small chamber with a dig in the floor.
NGR SD 66178065Alt 296m Length 20m
Shaft by the track to HELLOT SCALES BARN (at present unstable at the top )is a straight 18m descent to a passage. Inlet to the northwest ,beyond a wet squeeze, ascends rapidly to become tight and choked. A small stream runs down the tunnel which chokes where the water sinks in a narrow fissure.
NGR SD 6622 8125Alt 296m Length 9m
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The shakehole with a drainage gully entering, on the opposite side of the track a few metres down from BULL POT of THE WITCHES. A straight 8m climb down leads to a small chamber and a loose boulder choke. At one time a passage through this led into CAVERN 32 in BULL POT of THE WITCHES |
NGR SD 6753 8050Alt 328m Length 3m
Situated up the side valley above COW DUBS. Climb down into short passage and a further drop into a choked bedding cave, Blocked at present.
NGR SD 6619 8162Alt
291m Length 5mDepth 9m
Situated down valley from lime kilns. Deep shakehole with cliff at back.Entrance on right of cliff-face,loose rock on right wall. Climb down shoring leads to dig Climb down narrow rift for 7 metres to iron ladder. At present being dug in rift continuation.
NGR SD 6631 8171Alt 305m Length 12m
Situated in a large shakehole between CASTERTON POT and AYGILL. Fissure descends to a squeeze under the right wall and loose debris slope into a loose chamber from which a short passage descends to a hole in the floor with a choked crawl below.
NGR SD 660799Alt 232m
Eleven small caves all situated by the LOWER
EASE GILL KIRK, with No's 1-7 being in the true left bank of the
gill, and described going upstream, whilst No's 8-11 are in the
opposite bank and are described going downstream. See original 1930's
survey.
1. 30m before the obvious cave in the rocky banking below a grass slope. A small passage giving awkward sideways crawling to where a calcite false floor blocks the way on. Length 8m
2. In the main rocky cove low down. A short choked muddy crawl.Length 5m
3. Larger entrance close to No.2 and above it. An ascending tube ends at a calcited choke. Length 8m
4. 5m beyond No.3 and low down. Muddy hands and knees crawl to a step up to a 'T' junction. Both ways quickly close down. Length 12m
5. NGR 6611 7996. (Alt:235.) Reached by a climb up the rock wall. A straight phreatic passage. The walls are covered with a powdery stalagmite deposit, and the way on is blocked by a calcited choke.
6. NGR 6611 7996. (Alt:240.) Directly above No.5 A 5m ladder is required to reach the entrance from the top of the scar.A large phreatic rift passage ends in a sand and mud choke. Has been dug. Length 6m
7. Obvious opening in the left bank at the foot of the waterfall leads to a chamber. To the right pinches out, whilst to the left an easy climb up a series of steps leads to another entrance above the waterfall. Length 8m
8. Below the waterfall in the right bank is a rift entrance which quickly reaches where the way on is choked with silt. Length 5m
9. Large open rift which can be followed to a dig in a small tube. Length 12m
10. Directly above No.9 about 10m above ground level, the entrance can only be entered by a pendulum into the awkward shaped entrance. A slippery phreatic tube which ascends to a choke. Length 8m
11. This is situated in the the wall opposite No.1 and is reached by a dangerous climb up peeling blocks.A stooping size passage leads to an over tight inclined bedding passage beyond the initial squeeze, whilst to the right and low down is another squeeze into a small chamber. Several small openings lead off, but all are impassibly tight. Length 18m
NGR SD 6692 8057Alt 312m
Situated in a large shakehole 40m south of the stream sink close to the wall.A timbered shaft entered a small draughting chamber which has now collapsed.
NGR SD 668 802Alt 297m Length 9m
Situated in a large gully up on the left bank just downstream from LINK POT Narrow rift entrance leads to a 9m pitch down to a small chamber and a pool.
NGR SD 6757 8059Alt 314m Length 10m
Entrance located just upstream and on the opposite bank to SWINDON HOLE A drop down into a short section of rift leads to a calcite choke and a low wet bedding plane leading off at the base
NGR SD 6711 8039Alt 297m Length 9m
Entrance lies 137m downstream of HOWGILL SINK in boulders at the foot of the bank 14m from the gill. 6m pitch into a rift leads to a short tight crawl through to a small chamber with a boulder floor.
NGR SD 675806
A series of caves associated with the tributary gill opposite OXFORD POT
1NGR SD 6751 8057. Entrances are situated 15 metres downstream from Gelder Hole. At gill level water can be heard through the lower entrance, a bedding slot under the cliff on the left bank. The easier(!) entrance is an easily missed rift on a grassy ledge 10 metres above. Downstream, currently choked, soon leads back to the rising below. Upstream, a tight squeeze in a narrow canyon soon raises on a tight bend into a small bedding. Then, awkward going over pools and cobble obstacles as the passage narrows, leads after 22m to a choke. 6 metres back from the choke a strong draught enters from the left (looking downstream) through rocks choking a tiny inlet. This is likely to be the entrance below a crumbly scar in a small pit just below Oxford Cave II.
2. NGR SD 6756 8055. Situated below the prominent scar in bedded limestone. A wriggle through onto wider passage where stream sinks in the floor. Upstream is a pleasant crawl to a series of impassable choked inlets below the surface stream bed. Length 46m
3. NGR SD 6761 8052 . Entrance is up the gill on the right beneath a covered manhole. A climb down to a 'T' shaped passage leads to a chamber and a further twisting passage which develops into a tortuous traverse. Length 21m. Stream can be heard at end.
NGR SD 6784 8081Alt 332mLength 11m
Situated about 30m southwest of the BOUNDARY POT eyehole. entrance in a bouldery rift . Climb down sharp rock into a chamber and a narrow passage to an inlet waterfall. Downstream a low passage chokes beneath the entrance chamber.
NGR SD 6783 8080Alt 332mLength 10m
Situated about 40m southwest of the BOUNDARY POT eyehole. Open pot with rebar over entrance next tp a bouldery rift . Climb down sharp rock into a chamber and a narrow passage
NGR SD 678 807Alt 333mLength 17m
Prominent rift in scar by EASE GILL gill. Letterbox entry shaft to a tight section followed by easy going leads to the KEYHOLE and a wide passage. After a few metres debris reaches nearly to the roof directly over a boulder choke in UPPER 'T' PIECE PASSAGE in POOL SINK Blocked at present.
NGR SD 6765 8066Alt 332mLength 20m
A small shallow cave above the tributary waterfall just opposite Wretched Rabbit Entrance. Entry from boulders above into a passage which quickly lowers to a low crawl heading towards the ink above.
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SHEEPFOLD CAVE Situated at the back of the prominent sheepfold upstream of and on the opposite bank of SWINDON HOLE . A dry crawl to the stream in a 1.2m high passage to a junction. Right is sideways going for 18m to a shingle choke. To the left is an inlet, which is an awkward struggle to a small waterfall where it was possible to emerge beneath a huge boulder at the sink higher up the fell (Now blocked). |
NGR SD 6668 8000Alt 332mLength 35m
A step up and a short rift passage leads to a 2m drop into a small aven chamber with an impassable floor rift as the only outlet. Just before the 2m climb down a tight descent in a rift in the right wall is followed by a very tight crawl round a bend to meet the same impassable floor rift.
Entrance is in a deep shakehole
The way on is a 3m wet climb down a rift in the floor to the head of the 4m second pitch. This is very tight at the top, but enlarges lower down., landing on a boulder floor where the stream sinks. The water entering from the roof of the first and second chambers comes from the sink just over the wall from the entrance.
It is likely that the water enters the Pippikin system at a very tight inlet between Hall of the Ten and Hall of the Mountain King. The floor of the entrance shakehole is very close to the boulder choke at the top end of the large passage in Svengland in Pippikin.
NGR SD 6619 8162Alt
301m Length
m
Situated in shallow dry valley between end of Bullpot Farm Lane and green lane to Barbondale on line of Dent Fault. Entrance covered with tin sheet
NGR SD 659 799Alt 204mLength 9m
On the left bank of Leck Beck 91m downstream of LECK BECK HEAD on the limestone shelf. A short oxbow with a narrow active inlet.
