Dowbergill Passage

Description
Dowbergill Passage is a mile long, 20m high, straight rift. It is the main part of one of the best through trips in the country, but route finding can be challenging, and exhaustion, cold water, squeezes and flooding all present hazards. Heavy rain can force cavers onto traverses and sump the duck near the connection with Dow Cave. There have been many rescues from this cave passage.

From the end of Providence Pot at Stalagmite Corner, Dowbergill Passage continues downstream as easy walking passage to Skittle Chamber. The passage continues and eventually reaches Bridge Cavern. A boulder slope here is unstable and should be climbed carefully. From Bridge Cavern there are over 300 m of enjoyable streamway to 800 Yards Chamber, the halfway point.

The usual route from here continues in the streamway. It is narrow at first but does widen. A boulder choke is encountered which forces an ascent from the stream to pass. Soon, another boulder choke, at Brew Chamber, is reached. This is most easily passed using a route through the middle, involving a chimney and a reversal. A hole in the floor leads back to the stream level route. A dubious handline drops into the stream which continues through The Narrows. Alternatively, it is possible to traverse above The Narrows then drop back into the stream. Downstream, the water eventually flows into a sump and the way on is through the Rock Window, a hole in the true left wall just above water height.

The water deepens to chest height downstream from the Rock Window, causing neoprene clad cavers to feel smug. Eventually, a climb out of the water offers some relief at the start of the Gypsum Traverse. This climb is complemented by a dubious handline belayed to rusting bolts. The Gypsum Traverse offers a drier alternative to the streamway, which becomes deeper and less roomy. The traverse is more of a crawl/stoop and soon there is a climb down into Syphon Chamber. Across the pool, another untrustworthy 'handline' leads up to the continuation of the traverse which ends abruptly at yet another ageing handline down to water level. A wide canal leads to a duck under a flowstone cascade, then the passage rises up and connects with Dow Cave. This can be followed downstream to the outside world.

More challenging trips are possible by traversing above the stream. There is a traverse up from 800 Yards Chamber Heading in a downstream direction and the traverses can be joined/left at several other points downstream of 800 Yards Chamber. The traverses are strenuous and routefinding is difficult. The major features of the stream level route can be passed unnoticed on the traverses.