Ashwood Dale Resurgence
One of Derbyshire's largest risings, situated right next to the A6 east of Buxton. Whilst the lower risings next to the river level flow all year round, the main rising dries up each summer and issues a very large, cold draught, enough to tempt most cave diggers.
There is only one natural surface sink known to flow here, which is Illy Willy Water in Chelmorton. However a dye test from a shakehole near Hindlow Quarry (4.2km away) was proven to flow here in under 29 hours, suggesting a mostly vadose route...!
First mention of digging the site was in 1964 by one of Eldon's founding fathers John Needham. Since then it has been dug (a little bit) by at least 2 other Eldon teams to its current length of about 8m.
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- Written by: Joe Buck
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Chris, Luke, Joe and Rob
Ashwood Dale’s proximity to Luke’s house meant we were treated to a rare outing from him. We tried to cram three cars in the small layby, but with Rob due to join later on he’d have to find his own spot. Neither Luke nor Chris were particularly enthused by the horrendous walk up the A6, as we desperately tried to avoid being flattened by a lorry, but the comfortable and sociable dig entrance more than makes up for it.
I went first at the face and continued chiselling out blocks from the fractured roof, which seems to be a kind of thin hading bedding. I made about a foot of progress as we shuttled the kibbles back round the awkward corner about halfway down the cave. Three was the perfect number as it required one person to remain in the middle and negotiate it round the corner without it getting caught up.
Chris and Luke took over next and we all rotated so I could sit in the sun and drink beer and chat to Rob, who had now arrived. The boys made excellent progress and eventually emerged with some big blocks out of the corner so that the kibble could just about make it all the way through without the need for someone in the middle.
Luke took over next and I sat behind him backseat digging and providing little to no help. Unfortunately, possibly due to the relentless heavy chiselling, my drill began making a horrendous crunchy noise, which I don’t think it’s supposed to do. Weirdly, it sounded absolutely fine when drilling, and only made the noise when on hammer only. With capping being painfully ineffective in the shattered rock, we were forced to call it a night and head for our new favourite pub in Taddington, miles away from Luke’s house.
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- Written by: Rob Eavis
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I've not even really thought about this place since a single digging trip here in 2012 with Dan, however some recent dye testing work i've been doing has had me visiting this site every week since March. Come early June the flow stopped and shortly after the large(!) draught started. I didn't remember that it draughted so this certainly piqued my interest. Last week i popped in for a look to find it clean, dry and very short, making it a great summer dig!
Just me and Joe for the first hit, armed with a set of capping gear each. Joe hit the face first whilst i tidied up the rest of the passage to make it suitably ready for abuse. The end is very shattered, possibly from the previous diggers using large pills, so mostly it needed SDS chiselling, and lots of it. Progress was rapid. On a whim i had brought a drag tray and rope and i was glad.
After an hour or so we swapped and i got to play. I like capping but productive chiselling is nearly as much fun. I got loads out of the roof, much of it falling on me it was so loose, and the trays kept filling. A 110v breaker would probably be quicker but a pain to manoeuvre in there. Hilariously the draught was blowing so strong in our faces that our eyes and lungs were filled with drill dust; maybe full face masks next time!?
By the end of the session we had made probably a metre of sizeable new passage, much more than i had expected. Unfortunately from our new vantage point the path ahead looks to continue very tight for a good while, so hopefully we can continue to achieve similar progress over the next few trips.
Headed to the Queens Arms in Taddington to an brilliant pint (22, by Dancing Duck Brewery) and warm pork scratchings. Lush.
Such a nice summer dig
Scary roots in the roof
The face