One of my first memories as a very young child was being in a
dramatic place and seeing a group of people in strange attire
disappearing underground. This early picture must have stuck as
many years later, whilst at university nearby, I came across that
place and was fated to try caving. I loved it and for years caving
was a passion of mine. Now, years later again, I have decided to
set a cache which may in turn entice others to follow the same
destiny.
The Coordinates for this cache are for the recommended parking
area opposite the ‘Rock of Ages’ in Burrington Combe.
There are alternatives but this is probably the safest for parking
(see warning below) and gives access to both public toilets and the
nearby café/restaurant/bar, which I can personally recommend.
Please heed the warnings below especially with young children as
there are local hazards and caves can be dangerous places.
To find the cache location you will need to solve clues using
the information on the cave entrance signs - an example sign
is pictured below. These clues have been kept relatively simple as
the quest for this cache is to tour a variety of entrances rather
than stretch the grey matter too far. However, you will need to
read each clue carefully. Some clues require you to convert
letters into numbers - use the keypad of a mobile phone as your
cipher, e.g. acb = 2, etc. You’ll probably find a print out
of this page and a pen useful accompaniment to your visit.
The Route
From the parking area follow the Waypoints listed below. All but 2
are cave entrances where you will find the clues. The other two
waypoints have been added to provide a more enjoyable route. Please
note that GPSR reception can be extremely poor in the steep sided
Combe especially under tree cover. This can make finding some of
the coordinates, particularly the earlier ones, quite challenging.
However, they should be good enough given you know that you are
looking for cave and its identification plate, though don’t
necessarily expect an obvious hole in the ground –
you’ll just have to hunt around!
Start by walking up the Combe towards the first waypoint passing
the ‘Rock of Ages’, the inspiration for the famous hymn
by the Rev. Toplady, on your right. Keep an eye out for the first
cave, Aveline’s Hole, which is just around the corner on the
left bank of the Combe. As there is no sign here there is no
waypoint or clue to find, but you might like to take a look into
this impressive cave entrance which has always proved inviting to
passers by - please heed the warnings below should you choose to
enter! To cavers this is an insignificant cave as it only has about
300 feet of passage.
Waypoint 1 – Follow the path on the right side of
the road up the Combe looking for your first clue at N51 19.318
W002 45.175. Clue 1: Find the cave to discover which is
10th letter on its identification sign. Now use the mobile phone
cipher to convert this letter to a number = A.
Waypoint 2 – Continue up the Combe to cave 3 at
N51 19.248 W002 44.892. When you’re almost there
you’ll need to cross the road to find this one so take care
if you have children with you. This is one of the more challenging
of the Burrington caves as there are very tight sections in here.
Clue 2: What is the phone number that’s repeated
thrice? = B.
Waypoint 3 – You now leave the road and start up
the East Twin Brook Valley opposite to the fourth cave and clue at
N51 19.206 W002 44.900. Clue 3: Translate the letters
of the three words that make up the cave name into numbers using
the mobile phone cipher. C = the sum of the letters in the first
two of these words LESS the sum of the letters in third word less.
This cave, which swallows the streamway in all but the wettest
weathers, is also the only access to another cave Spar Pot for
which the external entrance is now blocked. Even cavers are advised
not to enter Spar as it is extremely unstable.
Waypoint 4 – Continue up the valley to N51
19.107 W002 44.920. You can follow the path, but if you
don’t mind getting wet follow the streamway for a more
adventurous ascent – not recommended for young children.
There is no cave or clue at this waypoint but it gives you a more
practical and scenic route to the next cave.
Waypoint 5 – The fifth cave and next clue is at
N51 19.248 W002 45.222 which is probably the busiest cave on
Mendip. There are two entrances to this cave. The upper entrance
which can be entered by non-cavers using extreme caution –
see warnings below, was briefly opened as a show cave towards the
end of the nineteenth century. The lower entrance should be avoided
as there is a slippery drop just inside. Many local cavers cut
their teeth in this lengthy cave which has a variety of different
passages, alternative routes, bats, a maze and even an alternative
exit. It hosts a particular infamous passage known as ‘the
drainpipe’ towards the bottom of the cave - a fun challenge
for most first-time cavers. Clue 4: Take the number of
letters in the second word of the cave name away from the number of
letters in the first = D
Waypoint 6 – It’s just a short hop down to
the West Twin Brook Valley steamway, to find cave and clue 6 at
N51 19.276 W002 45.238. If your GPS is troubled by the trees
you’ll have to hunt around a bit. This cave is nearly as
popular as the last cave thought it is tighter with it’s
claim to fame being the notorious ‘lobster pot’ a tight
hole in the floor which is a nightmare for larger cavers to extract
themselves from! Clue 5: The number of rows of text on this
cave’s sign divided by two = E
Waypoint 7 - N51 19.180 W002 45.791 also has no
cave or clue but will give you the best route to the next cave.
Waypoint 8 - The seventh cave N51 19.350 W002
45.873 also has two entrances each with its own sign so
you’ll need to search to find the clue here. Clue 6:
Looking at the cliff, how many nails hold the sign on the right in
place? = F. This cave houses many bats so if you visit at twilight
you are bound to see them.
Waypoint 9 – Cave 8 N51 19.313 W002 45.642
is a relatively insignificant cave for cavers so you may find the
entrance and clue sign fairly overgrown. Clue 7: How many
letters make up the first word of its name? = G
Waypoint 10 – Cave 9 is at N51 19.333 W002
45.599. Despite its name, it requires a clear-headed team to
tackle it as there is a 40 foot ladder pitch in this cave! Clue
8: If Cave = 1; Hole = 2; Cavern = 3 and Pot = 4; Swallet = 5,
what does this name score = H
Waypoint 11 – Cave 10 provides your final clue at
N 51 19.348 W002 45.538. A tricky entrance leads to a
relatively short but thoroughly enjoyable cave. This has a special
place in my heart as it was my first cave. Clue 9: Using the
same options as the last cave what does this one score? = J
Waypoint 12 - The last cave entrance on this tour N51
19.361 W002 45.507 is on the way to the cache and worthy of a
stop although there is no name plate and hence no clue here
| - - - You can record your
answers here - - - |
| A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
J |
Total |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
51 |
The Cache - First check that you have interpreted the
clues correctly - they should total 51. Then decrypt the
following waypoint to locate the cache using the clues you
found:
N51
(A+G-B)F.GE(B-F) W002 (C-D)E.(F-E)(Hx2)(D+G).
NB: During late summer/early autumn the 3 tracks leading to
the cache get overgrown with bracken and can be nearly impossible
to distinguish. You'll just have to trust your GPSr and go for it!
The cache site will be relatively obvious when you get there.
Having recovered the cache and logged your visit the quickest
way back to the car is due North East down the steep and slippery
slope. For a more refined journey back head towards Waypoint 7 then
go down the West Twin Brook Valley until it meets the road. Why not
do Sparafucile’s
West Twin Brook Adventure cache on your way back to the
car?
WARNINGS:
Caves – Caving is not a
dangerous sport if carried out by trained and responsible cavers
following recognised safety procedures. However, to the uninitiated
caves can be dangerous places. You are strongly advised NOT to
enter the caves – the rock is slippery and some have drops in
or near the entrances. That said, the entrance passages of two of
these caves, Avelines and Goatchurch, are often entered by the
public without incident. If you choose to follow their example then
you do so entirely at your own risk! Please use extreme caution -
ensure that you stay within sight of daylight, carry a torch and
make sure that one of your party who is not entering the cave knows
where you are and when you are expected to return so they can raise
the alarm if necessary.
Vehicle security – car
thieves operate in this area. Vehicles left on their own in remote
areas are particularly vulnerable. Please ensure that you remove
all valuables from your vehicle. Home Office Secure Your Motor
website
Road safety – the first
part of this route involves a trek up Burrington Combe. The road
can be busy so you are advised to follow the pathway on the right
hand side and be particularly aware of any children in your
party.
Ticks
– ticks live in the open moor land above Burrington. Whilst
ticks are not dangerous in themselves they can carry Lymes disease
so you are advised to keep your arms and legs covered especially
when brushing past bracken and other foliage – shorts are not
recommended! Lyme Disease Action
advice
Further Information
Caving - If, having done this cache, you are interested in
having a go at caving, contact one of the many local caving clubs
who will be happy to take you on a taster trip - Click here to see the Caving UK website
and a list of clubs
Weather -
Click here for a weather report for nearby Weston-super-Mare.
Use the amber tabs on this link for other weather options.
To see a 1:50K Ordnance Survey map showing the Additional
Waypoints (below) copy the coordinate and paste into this website
