Oxford University Cave Club

Club Caving Meetings, Michaelmas Term 2019

There were discussions last term regarding extra trips, including North Wales and Ireland.
If you're particularly keen on either of these locations then let chair@oucc.org.uk know and we'll get the ball rolling.

Accommodation:
BEC: Bristol Exploration Club; BPF: Bull Pot Farm; MCG: Mendip Caving Group;
NPC: Northern Pennine Club; Orpheus: Orpheus Caving Club; SMCC: Shepton Mallet Caving Club;
SWCC:  South Wales Caving Club; TSG: Technical Speleo Group; UBSS: University of Bristol Speleological Society; 
WCC: Wessex Caving Club; Whitewalls: Chelsea Speleological Society; WSG: Westminster Speleo Group;
YSS: Yorkshire Subterranean Society.

Cost covers: loan of equipment, transport, accommodation, food on site; but not food in transit or what you spend in the pub! See here for more information.
Trips must be paid for in advance. Payment is by an online system.
https://www.oxforduniversitystores.co.uk/browse/product.asp?compid=1&modid=1&catid=1722

Your first caving trip? Read this important information and complete this online OUCC Pre-Trip information form

• If you haven't been caving with us before but wanted to give it a go, membership and insurance for your first term with OUCC is free!

Going to the Dales? Going to Spain? Don't know the ropes ? - try SRT Training.

PLEASE help and volunteer to organise a weekend. If no-one organises the weekends they won't happen.
There is a detailed crib sheet on the website telling you exactly how to organise a weekend. TAKE A LOOK.

Other meets may be organised - please check at Wednesday meetings or via the OUCC mailing lists.

As usual details of the trips will be advertised closer in time. They will mostly be advertised on the oucc-all mailing list.
So if you want to stay up to date, please sign up following the instructions on the website: http://www.oucc.org.uk/current/mailists.htm

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OUCC trip MT19 2nd Week – Mendip  

This trip to the Mendip Hills will be from the 25th-27th October.   We'll be visiting Mendip for the first trip of term. Popular for the Cheddar caves (and cheese), but we'll be staying in the more adventurous caving area of Priddy, in the Wessex Caving Club hut, boasting a good mix of novice-friendly and more challenging caving trips.   There are vertical training facilities at our accommodation, and it's definitely worth booking a session to learn SRT (Single Rope Technique) if you're planning on joining the Peak District trip later in the term.   The Mendips are approximately 2 hours from Oxford.   If you are keen to attend as a day trip (either Saturday or Sunday) then please contact the Meets Secretary; day trips will involve arranging  alternative transport for at least one journey, and while we will do our best, this can’t be guaranteed.    

OUCC trip MT19 4th Week – Mendip  

This trip to the Mendip Hills will be from the 8th-10th November.   We're on Mendip again for the second trip this term. If you came on the previous trip then there will still be hundreds more caves on Mendip that you haven't visited so you should definitely sign up!   For the information of those attending as their first trip, we'll be staying at thge Shepton Mallet caving Club hut in the village of Priddy within very short walking distance (2-15 minutes) of some of the best adventure caves on Mendip. There are trips to suit novices and more experienced cavers, plus we're staying in a great cottage to host caving games. Cambridge University's Caving Club will be just down the road, and we'll be sure to set up a competition on the Shepton Mallet Club's squeeze machines.   We may book training in SRT (Single Rope Technique), however won't have priority on this trip, so let your leaders know if you're keen to learn the ropes.   The Mendips are approximately 2 hours from Oxford. If you are keen to attend as a day trip (either Saturday or Sunday) then please contact the Meets Secretary; day trips will involve arranging  alternative transport for at least one journey, and while we will do our best, this can’t be guaranteed.    

OUCC trip MT19 6th Week - South Wales (CHECC)  

This trip to South Wales will be from the 22nd-24th November.   CHECC is the Council of Higher Education Caving Clubs, and this is their annual event joining Southern and Northern university caving clubs in training, lectures, games and (of course) caving.   The South Wales region features some of the finest caves in the UK. We'll be staying between Penwyllt and Llangattock, so there are plenty of options between novice and challenging caves.   There is fancy dress on Friday night, so get your theme suggestions in early. Saturday is for caving, followed up by cave-game olympics (all above ground!), and more caving on Sunday if you're up for it!   Note for experienced cavers: please, please wake up early if you're planning a trip into Ogof Daren Cilau - best to avoid the traffic jam in the entrance crawl!   ­­

OUCC trip MT19 7th Week - Peak District  

This trip to the Peak District will be from the 29th November - 1st December.   We'll be staying in the scenic village of Castleton (look it up, it's awesome!), at the TSG Hut, great for walking and even better for caving.   The Peak District offers a great selection of caves for novices and first-timers, but also a chance for those that have learnt SRT (Single Rope Technique) on previous trips / oxford training sessions to put their new skills into action.   Titan offers the UK's longest pitch, and is on most cavers' hit list.   For those without experience in SRT, Saturday will likely feature a trip into Peak Cavern, with a great streamway, some challenging obstacles and some impressive formations.   For those wishing to come up for a single night, the nearby town of Hope is connected by rail to Oxford, and is only a few miles away from Castleton by bus.“If you are keen to attend for part of the weekend, then please contact the Meets Secretary; this will involve arranging  alternative transport for at least one journey, and while we will do our best, this can’t be guaranteed.