Oxford University Cave Club

'Some 20m on was a rather entrancing shakehole. It was choked with rocks and animal bones, but emitted a similar glacial draught to 54/4. I GPS'd it and then remembered I had a crowbar with me. A couple of minutes work revealed a chamber below - one or two more (firmly wedged) rocks and we should be in... to what?'
From Martin Laverty's log book entry, 15/8/01

It seems almost unbelievable that a new entrance should be found 50m from 1/5, but this is what Martin Laverty did near the end of the summer. He returned with Simon, who put in his first bolt and looked down the first pitch. Eager that this cave may find a way into the 'blank area' between sods 3 and 4, Andrew Simon and Richard returned and quickly killed the cave. It is worth noting that the 'huge draft' described by Martin was absent on the final trip.

Location

From 1/5 walk back towards sod 4, away from the path, for ~50m. The entrance is an alcove in the side of a shakehole.
GPS E:343374, N:4789216, altitude 1637m.

Description

Survey

Scramble down the muddy, chossy entrance to the head of 'Simon's first bolt' pitch, 12m. A small chamber lies across the other side of the pitch head. The drop lands in an irregular shaped chamber, 5m wide at the widest point. A tricky free climb up 5m leads to some formations (Hidden Contraband). A passage leading off at floor level takes you to a 5m pitch into a larger chamber with small boulders littering the floor (Nothing to Declare). This was closely examined, but no way on was found.

Tackle