Part two of the Levels of Middleton Dale. Map of adits and accompanying history HERE.
Nothing as spectacular as Shining Cliff mine (Level 6). Now got enough for the second report. Whether I get on to a third depends on getting into some of the more difficult adits.
Moving from East to West:
1, Bossen Hole(?)
I was looking for Level 2 but think I got this placed confused with it. It’s located on north side of Middleton Dale via a footpath which leads to an exposed ledge, half way up Castle Buttress. The cave is at the east end of the ledge.
Up we go:
Very nice views back into the valley:
In we pop:
And back out again:
2. Middleton Dale Level 4 (Triple Hole)
Apparently, this goes on for 91m. Sadly I didn’t get too far in as it simply looked too hard to navigate, even though it is Graded at I/II. So, a quick look and leave job.
Getting in is OK:
And under the rock of doom:
But then we run into what I see as pretty unpassable!
3. Middleton Dale Level 6 (Fingal’s cave)
Here the large rift-like entrance is a climb up to the left of Level 4. Although it’s 62m in, didn’t get to the end as the initial passage is very stoopy.
Another rock of doom!
Looking back down:
Stoopy mined passage:
4, Middleton Dale Mine Level 7
This proved to be the next most significant level after Shining Cliff. It runs for 106m in a straight line. Sadly, though, it doesn’t have the pretties of Shining Cliff. It does, however, have a number of rather dodgy looking deads stacked above the adit. Plus, it’s a bit of a squeeze to get in and out.
Adit approach:
Here’s the squeeze:
Slipping carefully past the mine secca:
And we’re in:
On we push:
Past some of those dodgy stacked deads:
It does get a bit samey:
And rocky:
Here they mined upwards:
We eventually reach the end:
So, time to head back out:
And negotiate the squeeze:
Nothing as spectacular as Shining Cliff mine (Level 6). Now got enough for the second report. Whether I get on to a third depends on getting into some of the more difficult adits.
Moving from East to West:
1, Bossen Hole(?)
I was looking for Level 2 but think I got this placed confused with it. It’s located on north side of Middleton Dale via a footpath which leads to an exposed ledge, half way up Castle Buttress. The cave is at the east end of the ledge.
Up we go:
Very nice views back into the valley:
In we pop:
And back out again:
2. Middleton Dale Level 4 (Triple Hole)
Apparently, this goes on for 91m. Sadly I didn’t get too far in as it simply looked too hard to navigate, even though it is Graded at I/II. So, a quick look and leave job.
Getting in is OK:
And under the rock of doom:
But then we run into what I see as pretty unpassable!
3. Middleton Dale Level 6 (Fingal’s cave)
Here the large rift-like entrance is a climb up to the left of Level 4. Although it’s 62m in, didn’t get to the end as the initial passage is very stoopy.
Another rock of doom!
Looking back down:
Stoopy mined passage:
4, Middleton Dale Mine Level 7
This proved to be the next most significant level after Shining Cliff. It runs for 106m in a straight line. Sadly, though, it doesn’t have the pretties of Shining Cliff. It does, however, have a number of rather dodgy looking deads stacked above the adit. Plus, it’s a bit of a squeeze to get in and out.
Adit approach:
Here’s the squeeze:
Slipping carefully past the mine secca:
And we’re in:
On we push:
Past some of those dodgy stacked deads:
It does get a bit samey:
And rocky:
Here they mined upwards:
We eventually reach the end:
So, time to head back out:
And negotiate the squeeze: