Darfar Potholing Club, based in the Manifold Valley, Staffordshire

The entrance of Waterways Swallet

Chris, Ian, Graham, Pete and met at the Royal Oak car park at around 12 noon. After getting ready, we all went over to Blore and parked in the caver's car park.

After having a look at the large shakehole and the stream sink, we descended the cave to the bottom of the gallery via the 9m pitch where some abseiling training was done using a Figure Eight descender and the new 25m club rope. Use of cowstails for protection at the pitch head was also made. All descended the pitch without problems.

After a look around the gallery, the others went to have a look at the top of the scaffolding in the K.C.C. dig which leads to the new series. (In pairs.) We also restored access to the original 'Final Dig', dug latterly by members of D.P.C. in the early 1990's.

2 1/2 hours were spent down the cave in all with the return to the car park made by around 15:30pm. A very pleasant trip with very little mud. (A nice change!)