15 minute read
Give It A Go
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Dark Magic
Inside a grassy hill near Ashburton is Pridhamsleigh Cavern. Its interconnected chambers leading to an underground lake are ideal for novice cavers. Anita Newcombe joined Richard Hanbury of Reach Outdoors to give it a go!
I’m meeting Richard at a parking spot close to Outdoors, billed later - we stop here to log our visit on Pridhamsleigh for a private early evening tour of a chalkboard. A very short distance now to the cave’s Pridhamsleigh Cavern. I’ve never been caving before so I entrance which is wide and reassuringly pretty with plenty have no real idea what to expect, apart from the emailed of greenery and vegetation hanging over it. Here Rich instructions advising me to wear a comfortable base layer stops to give a safety brie ng and talks me through what to and asking for my shoe size. When I arrive I’m tted with expect. He emphasises that it will be very dark and muddy a heavy-duty, all-in-one caving oversuit with wrist seals and but our head torches will illuminate our surroundings a long, covered zip up the front. pretty well. To this is added a sturdy caving belt with a square link buckle, a helmet, head torch and a pair of well- tting wellies. I give Richard “ e absolute silence in here is quite deafening – it presses on your eardrums with deep intensity – it’s a Are we ready? Yes I think so – here we go! Rich has already told me that the rst bit is just like climbing under a table (do you my phone in a dry bag along with powerful feeling. keep slippery rocks under your a small towel so I can wipe my table?). So I scramble through hands before touching the camera. He is carrying other – a bit awkwardly at rst, trying to get used to the watery safety kit including spare head torches and batteries. mud already coating my hands. Fairly quickly a big cave
Once togged up we stroll up the lane towards the cavern opens up ahead and we stop to perch on a couple of rocks climbing over a stile into the orchard at Pridhamsleigh – this is Crystal Cave. e absolute silence in here is quite Farm. e farmer exacts a small toll (£1.50 each), which deafening – it presses on your eardrums with deep intensity can be left in a box or, in the case of regulars like Reach – it’s a powerful feeling. Rich tells me that these rocks
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and caves sit in total quiet and complete darkness most of the time. To see what that’s like we switch o our head torches for around 30 seconds and just feel it. It’s a weird nothingness – you could be oating – you have no shape or form. It’s such an overpowering contrast to our normal lives. I touch my ngers against the rock to make sure I’m really still here. en the head torches go on again and Crystal Cave comes back into view. ere are some quartz rocks that give meaning to the original name but many of these have been eroded now. However we look up into what’s known as e Attic. ere’s a circular opening in the roof like a round minstrels’ gallery that you could climb into – if it wasn’t so high up.
We press on and I’m now getting used to moving around and using my caving suit to clamber, cling, edge along and slippy-slide around the place. We’re on what they call the ‘Tourist Route’ – there are harder challenges one can do but this is quite mind-blowing enough for me.
We emerge into another large opening called Bishop’s Cave. ere is a formation that looks eerily like a bishop pointing his nger towards the exit – handy if you get disoriented. Be aware though this complex, multilevel maze is not suitable for unaccompanied novices – it would be very easy to get lost. Richard explains that there are three levels to the system, not unlike the basement, middle oors and attic of a house. Every tunnel seems to have a choice of other tunnels to follow. Often I can’t see the way through until Richard points it out. None of the passages we attempt are really scary but there is a bit of body manoeuvring and wriggling to do, which is great fun and I can’t wait to see what lies ahead in the next chamber.
I pull myself through a gap and emerge into the Coal Hole, a big cavern with various ways out. Richard shows me a hole in the ground called e Cellar (the coal cellar?) but we steer clear of this tricky and wet option. Instead we get ourselves onto e Coal Shute, a slippy, muddy slide down the shiny ‘people-polished’ stone down into the next
level of the system. More scrambling and now we are in a large, oddly shaped chamber called e Junction. We are very near our goal of reaching the underground lake – we just have to get through e Pit (which I must admit I don’t like the sound of) and nally we arrive at the beautiful emeraldTaking a break green pool they call e 1 kilometre Lake. I immediately think underground of the lake scene in Harry at the Lake Potter - this place “has known magic”. Looking into the water I can see lines that are laid out for scuba divers who make underwater dives between here and Pridhamsleigh Two. No one else is here today though. We are now 1.1 kilometers from the entrance and at the furthest point of the cavern. e lake is over 30 metres deep. I look about for the blind white cave shrimp, which is said to be the only thing that lives here but see no sign. After a little time soaking up the magni cence of this awesome azure chamber and taking photos, we start to head back. After clambering back through e Pit and e Junction we take a di erent route – more discoveries. Rich is lying on his back on a feature called e Double Bed. You have to clamber aboard and then roll over and basically fall out the other side where you meet e Mud Slide. After rolling over e Double Bed, which is great fun, I lie right back as I begin to descend e Mud Slide. is slows your slithery progress a bit as you glide down a couple of levels. en it’s back into Bishop’s Cave, through Crystal Cave and out again. It’s been a spectacular and memorable experience and now we’re o to the stream to wash the kit before heading home. It’s a bit like laundry day on the Ganges as we tread the mud out of the suits in the cool river. You can book caving experiences with Reach Outdoors and it makes a fun day out for groups of friends, family, children’s parties (8 and over) and anyone with a sense of adventure. If you fancy giving caving a go do make sure that you book a professional guide. reach-outdoors.com
A walk in the Parke...
Need to know
Distance: Various Exertion: Easy, gentle slopes Time: 45 minutes walking plus at least 1 hour admiring the scenery and exploring Terrain: Woodland and gravel paths. Dogs: Under close control near livestock Refreshments: Home Farm Café at Parke open 10am-5pm daily Accessibilty: Robust pushchairs. An all terrain mobility scooter can be hired Parking: Usual National Trust rates apply Start Postcode: TQ13 9JQ
Autumn is a fantastic time to explore the woodland trails and riverbanks at the National Trust’s Parke Estate at Bovey Tracey. It has a wide range of historical features, restored buildings, a working walled garden, woodland and riverside walks plus a lovely café to relax in once you’re done.
On arrival you can pick a lea et, which has an illustrated map detailing three routes of varying lengths to choose from for your walk. On our visit we leave the car park and go downhill to the walled garden and National Trust shop, then take the medium route. is leads us west up through the wooded hillside above the River Bovey, a ording spectacular views over the treetops towards the town of Bovey Tracey and beyond. e trail continues to the far edge of the grounds before dropping down to the riverside. e river is spanned by a wooden footbridge and there is a choice to follow, the riverside path or old railway line heading east and back to the estate house.
We choose to follow the pretty riverside path with its relaxing sunny glades. e river has a medieval weir, which once supplied a leat to power the local mill and still provides water to the rich grazing pasture on the Parke Estate. e path crosses back over the river to return to the 19th century house and there’s an interesting selection of trees in the park grounds that sprawl eastward in front of the house. e route returns you to the car park just a stone’s throw away from the pretty Home Farm Café with a wide range of tempting treats to nish o a good walk.
Brixham’s
Walk of Fame
Lighting Up Brixham, founded by Neil Worrell and Vicky Pritchard-Davies has unveiled the brand-new ‘Brixham’s Walk of Fame’.
This fabulous series of cast-iron plates on the Breakwater, etched with individual names, is designed to celebrate both locals and those who love Brixham, past and present.
Vicky says, “We’ve been planning this for two years. With over 200 names already immortalised we’re thrilled to have reached this stage. When I got cancer three years ago, I prayed that I’d see this day – and I have - so I’m understandably emotional”.
Neil adds, “I’m relieved to have the First Phase plates down, weighing over 70kg each, there is half of a ton of pure cast iron now bolted down. e material re ects the rich history of ore mining in Brixham as well as the rust on the trawlers in the harbour and the red sails of the heritage boats”. e rst name on the plates is Jackie Robinson, Neil’s wife who died in 2017 of a brain tumour. And whom he says, “was the inspiration behind all of this”. And with another 200 or so names already registered, the project is now well on the way to reaching the 1000 name target.
Neil & Vicky started ‘Lighting Up Brixham’ two years ago after both having had setbacks in their lives and wanting to make a di erence. ey both raised money for national charities but then Neil suggested that they did something directly for their town. ‘ e Walk’ is already making a di erence. Neil says, “All pro ts go to the town - we work for free, and ‘ e Walk’ is already funding our new initiative ‘Brighten Up Brixham’ to paint houses pastel colours. It’s also funding six more seasonal lights to add to the fourteen already here.”
Neil explained, “We’re passionate about the town - and so are thousands of others. is new project enables people to celebrate their love for Brixham and support it, in a physical and permanent way. Brixham receives more than half a million visitors a year and is currently bouncing back strongly from the pandemic.” Vicky adds, ‘Everybody can have their names on the Breakwater from £145. In our view, it’s nicer, and cheaper, than a bench - and no varnishing required! You can stand on ‘ e Walk’ and re ect on the people whose names are inscribed - and who will be there for decades. Imagine your children and grandchildren visiting in 20-30 years time…. It’s emotional for many and they have already told us so – often with tears in their eyes”. Money raised by e Walk will be invested in permanent town improvements and Vicky and Neil are hopeful that the venture will raise thousands of pounds. Registration for Phase Two of Brixham’s Walk of Fame is now open. brixhamswalkoffame.com lightingupbrixham.com
AROUND THE BAY What’s On
Please check before travelling as events are subject to change.
Adoption Events 9 October, 1 & 23 November & 8 December
Kents Cavern
Step into the Stone Age at these wonderful prehistoric caves. Regular tours are running daily from 10am – 4pm. Halloween fun during October’s Half Term. Yoga in the Caves until 18 October. Book online. 91 Isham Road, Torquay TQ1 2JF 01803 205136 kents-cavern.co.uk
Agatha Christie’s Greenway
Visit the stunning holiday home of the Queen of Crime. House, garden, shop and café are open. Car parking must be prebooked. Dogs on leads welcome in garden. Times: daily 10.30am-5pm. Greenway Road, Galmpton TQ5 0ES 01803 842382 nationaltrust.org.uk/greenway Families for Children is holding information sessions to give you the opportunity to fi nd out more about adoption. All events by Zoom at various times (see website). Booking: online, by phone or email. All welcome. 01364 645480 familiesforchildren.org.uk
Dartmouth Food Festival 22-24 October
Enjoy Dartmouth’s annual food festival with 3 days of delicious local and regional food and drink, internationally renowned chefs and wonderful stands to browse, taste and buy. dartmouthfoodfestival.com
Coleton Fishacre
Enjoy a visit to the country home of the D’Oyly Carte family and travel back in time to the Jazz Age. House, garden, shop and café are open. Times: daily 10.30am-5pm. nationaltrust.org.uk/coleton-fi shacre
British Canoeing – Sea Kayak Award 9-11 October
This is a 3-day training course and assessment for kayakers with some previous experience (training is also available for beginners – please ask). Course cost: £250 to include use of boat and kit as required. Reach Outdoors, The Seashore Centre, Goodrington Beach, Paignton TQ4 6LP 01803 524950 reach-outdoors.com
Brixham Battery Open Day 24 October
The whole Brixham Battery site will be open for this special event. There will be tours of the grounds, tunnels, gun fl oors, living history displays, weapons talk with blank fi ring and military vehicles. Free admission but consider a donation, dog friendly. Times: 11am-4pm. Brixham Battery Heritage Centre, Fishcombe Hill, Brixham TQ5 8RU brixhambattery.net
Fougou Jazz 26 October
Wendy Kirkland & Pat Spakes Sextet featuring Roger Beaujolais on vibraphone. Tickets: £12. Preston Conservative Club, 299 Torquay Road, Paignton TQ3 2EY 07967 790358 fougoumusic.com
Halloween Fair, Dartmouth 30 October
Celebrate Halloween with a lots of wonderful stalls selling crafts, cards, jewellery, herbal body care products, bags, driftwood pieces, bags, books and cakes plus balloon models and a children’s fancy dress competition. Held in aid
