Bath Swallet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bath Swallet
Bath Swallet entrance
Location	Burrington Combe, Somerset, UK
OS grid	ST47255845
Depth	37 metres (121 ft)
Length	76 metres (249 ft)
Geology	Limestone
Entrances	2 (Rod's Pot)
Hazards	Fall hazard
Access	Free
Registry	Mendip Cave Registry

Bath Swallet is a fascinating cave located in Burrington Combe, a beautiful valley on the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England. It's a type of cave called a "swallet," which means it's a place where a stream disappears underground into the rock. This cave is formed in limestone, a type of rock that water can slowly dissolve over thousands of years, creating amazing underground passages.

Exploring Bath Swallet

Bath Swallet is known for being 37 meters (about 121 feet) deep and 76 meters (about 249 feet) long. Exploring caves like Bath Swallet is a thrilling adventure, but it requires special skills and equipment. Cavers, who are people who explore caves, often have to squeeze through tight spots, climb down ropes, and navigate through dark, wet passages.

A Big Discovery: Connecting the Caves

A really exciting event happened on September 19, 2007. Members of two caving groups, the Wessex Cave Club and the Cheddar Caving Club, made an amazing discovery! They managed to connect Bath Swallet with another nearby cave called Rod's Pot.

Cavers had been working hard, digging upwards inside Bath Swallet. Their goal was to connect with a part of Rod's Pot known as 'Purple Passage'. And guess what? Their hard work paid off! They successfully linked the two caves together.

What is a Through Trip?

Connecting Bath Swallet and Rod's Pot created what is probably the third longest "through trip" in the Mendip Hills. A through trip means you can enter one cave and exit from a different one, travelling right through the underground system. It's like having two doors to the same secret underground world! This connection made exploring these caves even more exciting for cavers.