Yorkshire cave areas: Easegill system

The Easegill system is the largest system in Britain, with over 70km of passage. It links the previously separate systems of Lancaster, Pippikin etc.

The most popular entrances into the system are

Lancaster Hole, a single 33 metre drop
Pippikin, a tortuous but fascinating series of passages and pitches
Link, a short shaft, tight at the top
Mistral, an easy entrance in the valley, useful as an exit for the weary!
County Pot, a rift entrance with one pitch which is worth a single ladder
Wretched Rabbit Passage, a lovely winding rift with some short climbable pitches
Cow Pot, a scenic entrance shaft, and impressive drop into Fall Pot by three routes, Sneaky, Direct or Devious
Pool Sink
Top Sink
Bull Pot of the Witches
etc.

A short distance from the bottom of Lancaster Hole are the Collonades, some columns stretching from ceiling to floor. Back in the early 1960s one was climbed and broken and had to be repaired with a bit of glue! (see Conservation).

Around the corner is the main drain, a large stream passage, with the inevitable terminal sump.

There are also large rubble- or mud-filled chambers, and tight twisty passages, making trips into Easegill rewarding although difficult for route finding.

The Red Rose Cave and Pothole Club have a hypertext guide to the Easegill and Three Counties system.

The World of Wonder contains two articles describing trips into Easegill.

John Gardner has some articles describing routes through Easegill plus Goyden Pot.

See also the Exeter Speleothem Research Group Database which describes a study of speleothem luminescence in samples from Lancaster Hole.

Access

A permit is required. Negotiations are currently under way with the landowner regarding paths, permits and fees. All entrances must be accessed by crossing the stile and following the wall to Cow Pot. From there walk across to Lancaster Hole and thence to the beck. Follow the beck upstream for access to County etc.

This page is currently under construction.

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