Sidcot Swallet Explained

Sidcot Swallet
Location:Burrington Combe, Somerset, England
Map:Somerset
Coordinates:51.3213°N -2.7541°W
Geology:Limestone
Entrance Count:1
Difficulty:Easy
Grid Ref Uk:ST47545828
Hazards:None
Access:Free
Registry:Mendip Cave Registry[1]

Sidcot Swallet is a cave near Burrington Combe, in the Carboniferous Limestone of the Mendip Hills, in Somerset, England.

It was named after the Sidcot School Speleological Society who explored it in 1925.[2]

A swallet, also known as a sinkhole, sink, shakehole, swallow hole or doline, is a natural depression or hole in the surface topography caused by the removal of soil or bedrock, often both, by water flowing beneath.

After Goatchurch Cavern, Sidcot Swallet is probably the most popular cave on Mendip for novice parties. What it lacks in length or depth is adequately compensated for by its sporty squeezes and narrow crawls. Despite its popularity, many calcite formations still remain intact in the farthest reaches of the cave.[3]

See also

Notes and References

  1. 61 . Sidcot Swallet . 2012-03-30.
  2. Book: Witcombe, Richard. Who was Aveline anyway?: Mendip's Cave Names Explained. 2009. Wessex Cave Club. Priddy. 2nd. 161. 978-0-9500433-6-4.
  3. Book: Irwin . David . Anthony . Knibbs. Mendip Underground: A Cavers Guide . 1977 . Mendip Publishing . Somerset . 0-9536103-0-6.