Trip Report – Kingsdale and Ribblehead

Heron Pot

Sunday 7th September

Present: Tim Butterworth, Jessie O’Shaunessie, Derek Perttiglio, Tamlin Barton, Ross Davidson

A quick trip, appropriate after our gruelling exchange on Sat. We rigged the high traverse route, requiring an aerial splay of legs over a pit of doom. Nice pitch, smooth and atmospheric with a waterfall to one side to appreciate on the way down. Three in the group went and did the through trip, water very low, the others derigged and were met by helping hands upstream by the through trip bunch.

Katnot Cave and Ribblehead Cave

Monday 8th September

Present: Jessie O’Shaunessie & Tamlin Barton

We followed the public footpath down to the stream by Ribble Head House, crossed the lovely old arched bridge and unknowingly trespassed up the river on the south bank, having no idea we weren’t on access land. Katnot is impressive, boasting a large 4-5m high canyon not unlike the long churns, but with a good fast flowing stream in a ‘half pipe’. Tam was wearing a wet suit and managed to float down the pipe in sections, would be good to dam up for a more sporting trip. We went up a dry inlet until it widened out into an infinite flat bedding. Upstream Tam followed a sludge passage and Jessie went most of the way up the long wet canal hands and knees crawl. I would advise anyone visiting Ribblehead to go for a visit, a great beginners trip.

On the way back we crossed barbed wire and around into the field with Ribbleshead Cave. We were excited, having read the 1980s description, but alas, our hopes were smashed to pieces. The farmer had filled in the downstream entrance with a digger and rubbish; there was also no sign of the upstream dig, clearly this had also been filled in. Boo. We had no idea we were trespassing all this time, but good to find these things out in innocence. The farmer was around tending sheep, but we seemed to sneak around without him noticing. We appreciated a bloated sheep carcass, just dumped beyond the barn discharging its gory grimness. Maybe blackmail maybe a good way to open this fine cave up again.

–Tam