Wessex Cave Club

The Wessex Cave Club was formed in 1934 with the aim of "Initiating newcomers into the best traditions of the game". The language might have dated but the sentiment hasn't changed. The club exists to go caving and promote the sport of caving in all its aspects.

The Club is very active. A typical year's organised events included a trip to Castleton in Derbyshire, a Weekend in the Brecon Beacons, South Wales, and a couple of Yorkshire Dales trips, which cover the major caving areas of the country. There are also meets arranged in the less well-known areas of Devon and Cornwall, North Wales and Asynt in Scotland, to explore the caves and mines there. A whistle stop tour of Belgium caves (and beer) was organised over a long weekend. Training weekends are regularly held and an annual cave rescue practice to improve skills. The Club organises foreign expeditions, for example trips to France, Spain (see the matienzo web site), Slovenia and Tenerife. In addition, there are always members staying at the Hut organising their own trips. If you are around it is generally possible to tag along on one of these trips.

The Club has it own purpose built centrally heated hut, with a large mixed dormitory and separate ladies dorm, fully equipped kitchen, changing room with four showers, drying room and a power washer for cleaning kit, a training tower, members library, tackle store and a common room warmed by the clubs historic pot-bellied stove. The Club holds keys to most of Britain's locked caves and has leaders for restricted access caves.



The Club welcomes guests as well as members to the hut.

Don't day-trip to the Mendip, stay the night and enjoy the social side of caving as well.