Go-Below - An Underground Adventure

For two years I have had the intention of getting to an old abandoned slate mine in the mountains of Wales. Well Wednesday July 11th 2012 was the day that we decided to book a trip with Go-Below Underground Adventures With the recent wet weather and having a couple of spare days we decided that the time was right. We arrived at the Conwy Falls Cafe in plenty of time before we met up with our guide for the day, Miles, and also 7 other people who were making the trip. After a brief safety hearing we were kitted up with a harness, helmet, lamp, wellington boots and safety equipment before heading off to the mine in THE GENERAL

A great way to start the adventure as the drive to the start of the mines lasts for about 15 minutes as we make our way along the narrow lanes. When we reach the car park it is another 30 minutes walk up the hillside through the old quarries and through a wooded area to the start. It was a great bright day with the sun shining and some great views back down the valley below

After a few last minute checks it was time for us to descend into the mine

This is where the Wellies and waterproof trousers came in use as there was a lot of water and in places it was ankle deep. Being underground, it was also quite damp but not really cold. The only light was from our head torches, no electric down here!
We soon came across an old pully left rusting on the tracks

This was a straight forward walk down the tunnel but being six foot, I did have to bend down quite a bit which was no problem for me. We got to the end of the tunnel to be met with a small dinghy that we had to paddle across the small lake to get us to the other side.

We all made it across safely and dry :-) It was now time to make our way again and this time the obstacle was to get across another small pool. These pools and small lakes are deep, very deep, reaching down about one hundred feet or more with sheer drops all around. There are safety lines to which we were hooked up to as we had to walk round one or two of these. The way we were to get across the next pool was to go by zip-wire. It's only a small zip but exciting nonetheless.

After everyone had crossed safely we found ourselves in quite a large cavern and was the perfect place for a spot of lunch and a rest.

It's a fascinating place with a lot of history to it and you get a sense of how tough and dangerous it was working the mines. This experience was quite the opposite really and most enjoyable. Our guide, Miles, was a good leader and that made it enjoyable as well.
Our next adventure was to do an abseil down about 30feet

After the abseil we had to go back up by means of walking up a stream. It wasn't powerful and was done without anyone falling over or getting to wet.

We had a couple of stops where we could explore one or two of the tunnels that came to a dead end so we didn't get lost. One of the tunnels led to what is known as the ladder of death!! An old rusting ladder that was used so the miners could get from one floor to another.

After climbing the rest of the stream it was now time to make our way out of the mine by way of climbing up the waterfall. Again it wasn't powerful but we had to be roped up as it was a bit slippy and there was plenty of hand and foot holds. It proved quite wet for some but waterproof trousers came to my rescue :-)

All what was left was to make our way to the exit where the light was shining through to light up the large cavern

After leaving the mine it was a straight forward walk back down though the old buildings with the views looking straight down the valley

Back to the cafe in the truck where we said thanks for a great adventure with Go-Below

A short video



Cheers
Andy

Esk Valley 29-6-2012

Friday saw me going back up to the Lake District and meeting friends off the Walking Forum for a trip around the Esk Valley. The intention was to follow the river Esk from Brotherilkeld Farm at the bottom of the Hardknott Pass and make our way on to Scafell and Slight Side. Unfortunately it didn't quite turn out as we had planned as the weather took a turn for the worse when we got to the col between Scafell & Scafell Pike and also a member of our party wasn't feeling to good at this point. A decision was made and we split into two groups, one party carried on to bag the summits and the rest of us decided to head back down the way we had come. The weather wasn't wet, but there was a strong wind blowing and it was quite misty. Everyone was safe and OK and all got down in one piece. It was another fantastic day in another area that I have not been before but will hopefully go back in clear conditions to make it to the summit.
The day started early as we had planned to meet up at 9-9.30am. The drive was fine and I was soon at Ambleside where I was to take the most scenic of drives along the Wyrnose Pass and the Hardknott Pass Luckily there seemed to be only myself and a few sheep on the pass at this time in the morning, about 8.30ish, so I took my time and took a few photo's

The weather seemed to be smiling on us as we set off as it was quite warm with just a small breeze and no rain, which considering the past days and weeks was very welcome.

We were soon walking beside the river on good paths through the fields as we made our way to Esk Falls and the Lingcove Bridge

After all the recent rain the going under foot up to here was very good. It was to get fairly wet later on but certainly not knee deep in mud or anything!. The falls were certainly looking in good form

Gaining height as we made our way through the bracken, the views started to open up with a bit of cloud cover on the highest fells

As we got to the top of the falls we found ourselves in an open area, Great Moss, that was like being in a bowl, with the high fells all around. I was pleasantly surprised by this and although the views were great today, in clear weather it must be a truly awesome sight.

Certainly see where this area gets it's name from as it was in places very mossy and quite boggy. One or two miss placed steps and down you went :-)
We made our way round, following the river, and came under the impressive looking Cam Spout Crag

As we wanted to be on the other side of the river, to follow our route that was to take us up along the Cam Spout,

we had to find a safe enough crossing.

As we didn't have a makeshift bridge with us we had to improvise............

Well it was such a lovely day we had to take a dip at some point :-)
After messing about in the river we headed upwards and the view back down into the valley opened up below

We decided to have a lunch stop next to the waterfalls and there's not many open air cafes like this place. A wonderful setting with great views

 After about half an hour it was back on track and yet another water crossing. Not as bad as the last one but this was to become a common theme as the day went on. We must of crossed a hundred streams throughout the day

As we started to get higher we entered the cloud base and the wind started to pick up so shelter was taken behind the rocks when ever we came to a stop

We got to the col and the wind here was quite strong as it blows up the gullies

This is where we decided it was best to split up, as I said earlier, as one of the party wasn't feeling too good so we made our plans to meet up a bit later and back we went.

We made our way down and then decided to follow the path at the bottom of the falls that took us underneath Cam Spout Crag and passed Sampsons Stones

Going this way made it more interesting than a straight there and back as we were now on the other side of the river and passing under the the Crags of Silvery Bield and High Scarth and seeing the valley from a different angle

It was quite a straight forward walk back following the wet path with no major obstacles, apart from the odd stream or ten :-)

We all met up at the last of the falls before making the short journey back to the cars through the farm

Looking back at the days walk with the clouds lifting, we decided to have a drink and a chat before we went on our separate ways

On the drive back along the passes I took my time just for another look back here and there and took in the old Hardknott Roman Fort

And also passing the Three Shires Stone that marked the old boundaries of Cumberland, Lancashire and Westmorland.

A quick stop off in Ambleside where the wind was whipping up Windermere

And all that was left was the journey back down the M6 which passed without any delay.
So another great day out in great surroundings with great company.
Cheers