Mendip

Introduction
The block of limestone that is the Mendip Hills is not particularly extensive yet there cannot be another area in the world that has been so exhaustively searched for caves. The sport of caving came early to the Mendip Hills popularised by the pioneer speleologist Herbert Balch. On 16th August 1901 he entered Swildons Hole for the first time. In spring of 1902 he was the first to explore Eastwater Cavern.

Geology
With the exception of a small area of Silurian volcanic rocks, the Mendips are made up of sedimentary rocks ranging in age from Late Devonian (approximately 385–359 million years old) to Mid Jurassic (about 161 million years ago), dominated by the Carboniferous Limestone, the favourite rock of British cavers. A detailed account can be found on the British Geological Survey website and in two associated books written and edited by Andy Farrant.

Areas
Based upon the areas in Barrington and Stanton (1977) Mendip: The Complete Caves and a View of the Hills


 * Western Mendip (including Brean Down, Worlebury Hill, and Steep Holme. Mendips, west of, and including Shipham)
 * Central Mendip (between Shipham and the A37 Shepton Mallet to Bristol Road)
 * Eastern Mendip (east of the A37 Shepton Mallet to Bristol Road)
 * Surrounding Areas (e.g. Quantocks, Avon Gorge)

Longest Caves
1 Swildons Hole 9144m

2 St Cuthbert’s Swallet 6751m

3 Wookey Hole 3657m

4 Upper Flood Swallet 3150m

5 Eastwater Cavern 2800m

6 Stoke Lane Slocker 2180m

7 Gough’s Cave 2135m

8 GB Cave 1950m

9 Longwood/August System 1650m

10 Thrupe lane Swallet 1417m

11 Shatter Cave System 1373m

12 Tyning’s Barrow Swallet 1280m

13 Fairy Cave System 1170m

14 Manor Farm Swallet 1060m

15 Wigmore Swallet 1000m

Show Caves

 * Cheddar Gorge Caves

Including:


 * Gough's Cave
 * Cox's Cave
 * Fantasy Cave
 * Wookey Hole Caves

Pubs and Restaurants

 * Hunter's Lodge Inn, Priddy
 * The Crown, Churchill
 * The Queen Victoria, Priddy

Accommodation

 * Mendip Caving Group has bunkhouse accommodation for up to 30 Map
 * MCG cottage bookings
 * Wessex Cave Club accepts group bookings of up to 20
 * Location map
 * WCC cottage bookings
 * BEC (Belfry) bookings Large groups accommodated in Mendip's best caving hut!
 * Cerberus Spelaeological Society. Situated in the heart of East Mendip caving area!
 * Shepton Mallet Caving Club Rates are reasonable and visiting groups are to stay.

Local Caving Clubs
See Mendip section under Clubs