Percy Bysshe and Cove Cave

[germajella]

Hi Just registered with this forum. I have been walking in the Mourne Mountains for a number of years now. Been on top of Slieve Donard on New Years morn' for the last two years (up on my own - big deal!) but only visited the caves in the Annalong valley on Wednesday past. I have to say I was more impressed with the cave at Percy Bysshe. On the Sunday before I did a recce with my 10 year old son and I only went as far as the end of the 2nd chamber.  My son was more eager than me! But during the walk with two of my brothers I gained more courage and went to the end of the third chamber which was quite a good scramble. (The brothers were too big around the middle to get into the second chamber!) After walking round to Cove we climbed up to the side entrance and had a look down inside the cave. Then coming down again I scrambled up the watery entrance and stood at the big boulders at the top opening. Next time I would like to go in from the bottom and come out at the top! Other than than that I have done the Mourne Wall Walk once back in 2007. Again on my own. Started at Carrick Little car park to get Slieve Binnian out of the way first! Would need a lot more walking before trying it again - which I hope to do again some time.

[suspectmonkey]

Welcome to the forum, and well done with tackling the caves!  I will be the first to put my hand up and say the thought of wriggling through caves is a wee bit daunting to me, and I wouldn't say I'm claustrophobic!  Think could do with losing a few pounds before I tried anything like that  

[germajella]

Thanks for the welcome! But I have to say tackling the caves in numbers is more reassuring and I guess the wise thing to do. Also familiarity too. For example the first time I went up Bernagh from the steps I remember being totally scared of falling. Now having done Bernagh so many times now I wonder what the fuss was about.

[Eamonn]

Welcome germajella, I've been up to cove cave a couple of times now. It's good fun squeezing through the hole at the top. I'm free most saturdays, give me a shout if you want to give it a go.

[ChuckMcB]

Welcome germajella.
Well done on conquering the caves....here's no way you would get me in there. but like you say it could just be familiarity ....hmm...naw, no way.

[MG1]

Hello and welcome

[RedLeader]

Welcome.

I'd love to explore the caves. They look awesome:
http://www.virtualactual.com/where/

[Eamonn]

Does anyone want to do the caves next saturday?

[MG1]

I would like to see the caves but next Sat isn't good for me.

[LennyJ1]

germajella welcome

Not been here long myself, great bunch of people here.

Would love to go to the caves myself sometime.

[LandyLiam]

i walked around the percy bysshe yesterday but didn't see any obvious entrance, there was one opening which looked a bit small for a man of my stature  so can anyone pinpoint the entrance, its's not an easy walk around it when trailing 4 kids behind

[ChuckMcB]

Does this pic help any? (I've also added a note to this map showing it's entrance)



It's hands and knees to get in....but after about five/six feet you can then stand up ....or so the wife told me from inside it...you 'aint never getting me in there  

[germajella]

I was up there today with my two brothers and two of my youngest boys. The first photograh is the approach up from the main path up from the car park. The second photograph shows my youngest boy at the far end of the cave. It's a tight climb up to the first shelf. Then a crawl through a narrow opening. Then a climb down into a seven or eight foot chasm. Then at the end to the left is this tight corner.
Well worth another visit

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51785859@N03/4765249951/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51785859@N03/4765891548/

[LandyLiam]

many thanks, i should be able to find it next time, kids were a bit dissapointed that i brought them all the way up there and didn't find it 

[LandyLiam]

well i managed to find the Percy Bysshe cave today




sorry about the poor quality pics but it was very foggy all day


bit tight to get into the second chamber


then i remembered you were supposed to climb up but i chickened out as i am a bit claustrophobic and as you can see it was still very tight

i'll be back when i've lost a few pound though  (and a dryer day would help too)