NPC Meets and Events Diary

February 15th 2025

NPC Winter Dinner: Bentham Golf Club

Hello all 

Again it gives me pleasure to announce the clubs 2025 winter dinner, we will be returning to the Bentham Golf Club on Saturday 15th February 2024 

I am currently finalising cost and meal plans and will send out as soon as possible

I am also please to announce our guest speaker for this event:

The Roughton Keld Story

A tale of perseverance through the generations.

A major cave system at the top of Arkengarthdale, briefly entered in 1908 and then lost for over a century. Since the 1950s cavers have been digging and pushing dozens of different leads trying to gain access to this fabled streamway. Recently, a flood event opened a previously blocked way on, and a group of cavers from various clubs and backgrounds have been undertaking a significant digging, survey and exploration project.

Chris Curry presents a history of the cave system and an account of the current exploration.

I am hoping to do another quiz during the meal with a prize and as an important and special treat Carly will be carrying out a demonstration on how to use the defibrillator (Probably before drink starts flowing)  

Alongside the food there will be the opportunity for caving trip, walking trips, cafe trips, hut days etc, which will all be announced in the follow up email coming soon 

Any questions please contact via reply and will reply asap 

Kindest regards

Darren Jarvis 

February 15th 2025

Extra trip: Whitescar

Hey you! Do you have a wetsuit and the burning need to use it underground? If so we may have the perfect cave for you; it's wet, it's well de orated and it's fun…. It's White scar!

This trip is weather dependent (for fairly obvious reasons) and we need to be underground by 10.30. aiming to meet at the cottage for 9:00.

Contact Darren (07726 694757) for more info.

February 28th 2025

Members weekend: Link to Mistral, Crackpot Cave.

With the NPC's history linking it to Link Pot we decided that it's past due for a club visit. So prepare yourself for the Easegill mud and joint us for a through-trip of historical proportions.

If wallowing around in Easegill isn't your thing maybe a trip into the lovely Crackpot Pot is more your thing.

Cave 1: Link Pot to Mistral.

We are planning a through-trip to Mistral, potentially with a visit to Serendipity.

https://cncc.org.uk/cave/link-pot

Cave 2: Crackpot Cave (Swaledale).

A fine short trip in Swaledale, popular with well-prepared novices and experienced cavers alike, featuring a splendid main streamway and good formations.

https://cncc.org.uk/cave/crackpot-cave

Bring snacks, wine and nibbles and get yourself down to Greenclose for the weekend.

April 4th - 6th 2025

Members weekend: Marilyn to stream pot exchange and

Hello hello one and all. Today I feel like go ng on a Gaping Gill exchange.… But wait! This will be no normal GG trip. We will be sampling the delights of the Henslers master cave, tormenting ourselves in one of the Henslers crawls and finally exiting via the premier Stream Passage Pot. 

I can already taste the pints we shall consume on our successful exchange.

Cave 1: Marilyn to Stream exchange - two teams, two caves and a lot of fun 😎

https://cncc.org.uk/cave/marilyn

https://cncc.org.uk/cave/stream-passage-pot

Cave 2: Alum Pot - it's a classic, what more can I say?

https://cncc.org.uk/cave/alum-pot

Sign up and join us for a fun packed weekend of classic caves and exchange fun.

P.S. bring beer 🍺 or we might struggle with the celebratory pint.

Yours Lumens

May 2nd - 4th 2025

Member's Weekend: Dale head and Sell Gill exchange.

It's in that scary black book… you know the one for slightly mad cavers! Oh wait all cavers are slightly mad! I guess that means we need to visit this classic, deep and wet pothole (apparently there is a cornucopia of pitches 👌)

Requested by our very own tackle master, I cordially invite you; and hope you will join us in exploring it's reaches. Note: there is potential for long and short trip here.

Cave 1: Dale Head

https://cncc.org.uk/cave/dale-head-pot

Not for the faint-hearted description.

Cave 2: Sell Gill Exchange - it's a often requested trip for a reason; with the wet route and dry to keep you entertained it should be nice trip.

https://cncc.org.uk/cave/sell-gill-holes

Important: If you want to visit a particular cave, or are happy to arrange an event, please get in contact (email or the forum) and I will do my best to help out.

Yours Lumens

 

May 10th - 25th 2025

The NPC goes to France: Herault

“Nous vous invitons humblement à nous rejoindre pour notre voyage en France.”

Or roughly translated “We humbly invite you to join us on our trip to France”. Clive and several others are organising a return trip to the south of France. The delights should be many and varied but with particular emphasis on…

  • A sunny Mediterranean climate.
  • More wine than even the Pennie know what to do with.
  • Beaches but a short distance away.
  • Unlimited access to local the local boulangerie.

I am also reliably informed that… “The region is hilly, rather than mountainous and is much forested,except for heath/moorland such as on Mont Caroux.” and that there is a good range of caves to be visiting.

Please contact Clive to get more info and/or to put your name down.

clive@cdwestlake.co.uk

June 6th - 8th 2025

Members weekend: Ibith Peril and

July 5th - 19th 2025

NPC Families Trip to Herault, France 2025

There will be an NPC Families trip to the Herault, France from 05th to 19th July 2025 staying at the Camping Val d’Herault.  We aim to visit a number of the classic caves of the area including the Sergent, Rognès, Follatiere, Garrel, Lauret, Vitalis, Banquier and l’Esquirol.  There will also be the usual canoeing, climbing, via ferrata, walking, cycling, and of course ice cream!  All NPC members are welcome. Contact David Brock at dbrock@btinternet.com for details.

July 7th - 10th 2025

Dan-yr-Ogof

The rough plan is to drive down on the Monday. A big trip on Tuesday led by Martin McGowan, a big walk on Wednesday.

Staying at the Westminster Speleological Group cottage Caving Hut - Caerllwyn Cottage / Westminster Speleological Group

Please contact: Javed Bhatti or Martin McGowan

Our events

NPC run regular events all through the year. The first weekend of the month is a members weekend and it's the best time to come along and meet the most people, especially if you're thinking of joining the club.

Some caving trips are scheduled, however we encourage members to make their own plans depending on the weather and abilities of members.