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Goatchurch Cavern
Directions
The cliff path starts behind the public conveniences and
is a very steep climb up the east side of the gorge. At the
top, you will find a number of paths; seek the widest of them,
which goes away from the gorge and to the right out onto the
heath. Where there is a choice of paths and both are wide,
take the right fork. Eventually, the path comes to a T-junction
with another path that leads back to the road at the top of
the gorge near Ellick House.
Cross the road and walk left up to Ellick House. Turn off
on the bridle path beside Ellick House leading up between
trees onto Black Down. When the path splits, follow the bridleway
hard right. A broad and a narrow path run parallel along the
edge of the common and it does not matter which one you take.
After a while the path sweeps left then right in a loop to
cross a ford over the East Twin Brook.
As you approach the deeply cut valley of the West Twin Brook,
take the narrower path leading to the right and down through
woodland to Goatchurch Cavern.
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Continue
past the cavern, down some steps and across the East Twin Brook
to inspect Sidcot Swallet up on the opposite bank. For a brief
diversion, you can follow the stream down about 50 yards to
see it disappear into the ground in the side of a cliff via
an unnamed swallet (then retrace your steps back to Sidcot Swallet).
Walk upstream 20 yards from Sidcot Swallet to a path leading
steeply up the bank to the northern edge of Black Down. At
the T-junction turn right and follow another path, which then
sweeps left and meets another wide path. Take the wider of
the two paths opposite. Cross a stream then notice the deep
depression, which is Rod's Pot, on your right. A little further
ahead on the left is the more open entrance to Bos Swallet.
Where the path divides 3 ways take the middle route. Go through
a gate into the woods at Rowberrow Warren then cross the stream
and follow the path right. A few yards further on, the stream
turns away from the path and heads straight for a cliff. It
is worth diverting for a few yards to see the stream plunge
beneath the cliff into the twin mouths of Reads Cavern.
Return to the path and continue past the Forestry Commission
sign at the entrance to Rowberrow Warren then, at the next
intersection, take the right hand fork. The track runs between
private land and the National Trust managed area of Dolebury
Warren.
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