Simpson Pot

The entrance to Simpson Pot was noted by Eli Simpson in about 1910, but it wasn't until 1940 that he showed it to a group from the British Speleological Association, including Bob Leakey. On the first trip Bob Leakey, having left his companion near the entrance, free-climbed Five Steps Pot and traversed across The Pit before being stopped by a 6 m pitch. The following day the cave was explored as far as the Blasted Hole where the passage appeared to sump. Leakey visited the site on a solo trip, and found a crack above water emitting a strong draught. A party returned and removed the surrounding flake of rock with explosives allowing access to the passage beyond. The connection with Swinsto…

The entrance is in a shakehole, and enters a small active stream passage. This soon enlarges to walking size before plunging down a series of short drops called Five Step Pot. Below here the water drops down a 11 m deep hole called The Pit, but the voie normale traverses over the hole into a dry series. The passage drops down a couple of climbs and a further two short pitches before arriving at the 9 m deep Storm Pot, where the stream reappears in the roof. It is possible to follow the water through passages below The Pit. Below Storm Pot, it is necessary to negotiate a waist deep pool with limited airspace, known as The Blasted Hole. Beyond here the passage enlarges, and descends a further…