© Chelsea Spelaeological Society - Updated July 2022
CLUB EVENTS AND MEET REPORTS 2017
January 28-29th Annual
Dinner and AGM
Some 30+ members gathered for some slap
up feasting at The Bear in Crickhowell,
including Tony Moult over from Poland. Steve
Sharp showed some video filmed with his
GoPro that included a virtual tour of the pretty
OCAF Lower Series. Sunday’s AGM provided
a friendly forum to discuss the club’s
governance and its activities. We welcome
Helen Farr on to the committee and Matt
Voysey as our newsletter editor.
February 24-26th Mines
in Cornwall
An excellent time was had in Cornwall, with
eight members enjoying the delights of mine
exploration, coast walking, pasty eating, beer
drinking, sunshine and even ice cream.
Saturday's venture was to Bellan Mine in the
Cot Valley. On Sunday we went to Cligga
Mine, very impressive and dramatically
situated in the cliffs with multiple windows
looking out to sea. Lots of big passages and
interesting geology. View photos
March 17-19th Whitewalls
Holiday Booze Weekend
We had an excellent trip to OFD Northern
Lights Series on Saturday, with a bumper turn
out 16 cavers attending. Most of us
hadn't ever ventured into this section of the
cave before, and we were all very impressed
by the diversity of the cave passages and
formations. This was followed by an evening
of holiday-themed fun, with a good variety of
beverages brought for all to enjoy or endure
(not many dead). Sunday's caving trips were
to Craig a Ffynnon and Moults Hole.
CHELSEA
SPELÆOLOGICAL
SOCIETY
Caving in Wales,
the South of England,
and beyond
April 12-19th Easter in
Northern Scotland
A week of splendid scenery in the Far North of
Scotland staying at the Grampian hut. We did a
good mix of activities while we were there
including caving, mountain hiking, coast
walking, assisting mountain rescue with a
casualty carry, and enjoying the local beers.
High water levels meant that some of the caves
were more "lively" than usual, and while above
ground we were basking in a mix of glorious
sunshine and snow. View photos
.
May 5-7th Whitewalls
Cottage Maintenance
A weekend of hut maintenance activities, see
photos, with a bit of botany thrown in. Early
May is the best time to see the bluebell
woods above Crickhowell or wonder at
carpets of primroses, orchids, saxifrage, and
rare trees coming into leaf and flower on the
Craig y Cilau national nature reserve near
Whitewalls.
May 26th-29th Yorkshire
As our meet coincided with the Bradford
Winch Meet we were able to do a Gaping Gill
through trip, entering Stream Passage Pot
and exiting Bar Pot, marvelling at the GG
Main Chamber on the way. Later on a pull-
through trip from Top Sink to Wretched Rabbit
took us around the Easegill System.
June 23rd-25th Summer
BBQ at Whitewalls
On Saturday 11 intrepid cavers ventured into
Draenen for an enjoyable jaunt to the pretty
Waterfall Series. A very scenic and varied trip.
Twenty-two members and millions of midges
attended the BBQ, and the Sunday trip was
made to Upper Southern Stream.
July 14-16th
Pembrokeshire Coast
Great fun was had on the Pembrokeshire
Meet. We stayed at a camp site in Little
Haven within easy walking distance of the
coast and decent pubs, and indulged in a
multitude of activities including caving,
kayaking, coast walking, puffin watching, and
boozing by firelight. View photos.
August 4-6th
Mendip
We had a fun-packed weekend on Mendip,
with caving trips to Wookey, Charterhouse,
Home Close, Swildon's, Sidcot Swallet and
Hobnail/Thrupe from Friday to Sunday. Plus a
BBQ feast, drinks at The Hunters, lots of
wriggling through the Shepton's obstacle
course coffee table, and a visit to the
festivities at The Belfry. View photos.
June 3rd Big Sink
Joe Duxbury had very kindly offered to lead a
Wet Sink trip on this weekend, but as all
attendees on the day had actually done that
before, we twisted Joe's arm to divert to Big
Sink instead. We found this cave to provide a
very interesting and sporty trip, and an
enjoyable time was had by all.
October 13-15th North
Wales Mines Weekend
Various club members did the hair-raising
Croesor-Rhosydd mines through trip with the
zip wires, inflatable dinghies and Indiana
Jones style rickety bridges. Another ‘serious’
SRT trip into Llanberis Copper Mines Eastern
Workings took place the next day. Thanks to
LC&CC for use of their club hut at
Tanygrisiau. View the meet photos and some
more great photos of the through trip.
November 3rd-5th
Bonfire Weekend
Caving, bonfire, fireworks, barrels of beer,
outdoors food and fun with caving chums.
Based at Whitewalls.
December 1st-3rd Curry
Weekend at Whitewalls
Local caving trips, then make and share a
large variety of home-made curries. Rice and
poppadoms, pickles etc provided.
August 25-28th Bank
Holiday at Whitewalls
Mine, Wine and Dine
Paul Tarrant led nine club members through
Nantymwyn Mine near Llandovery on the
Saturday which began with a mine entrance
hunt, then SRT and the blue stals (above).
Stuart organised a white wine and cheese
testing event for the Sunday evening which
developed into some birthday celebrations
with cake and indoors fireworks.
September 15-16th New
Property & SRT Practice
This was the weekend that work started on
the Sunday School, now that we formally own
it. A handful of members cleared the
overgrown stone steps from the tram road,
dug a trench at the back to help drainage,
and removed most of the junk from inside.
The basic SRT training session also went
ahead with practice inside Whitewalls then on
5m and 25m pitches in the local quarry.
Sept 29th to October 1st
Hidden Earth
The BCRA’s National Conference was again
at the tried and tested Churchill Academy in
Churchill village on Mendip. Club members
also got together for a Thai curry at a
restaurant near Cheddar on the Saturday
evening.