Posted by Rob Boden on September 08, 2006 at 17:55:50 from 88.104.194.248 user humyar.
In Reply to: Peter Duck's Cave posted by RichardG on September 08, 2006 at 10:23:03:
I'm part of the group who made the first discovery, or at least applied the leap of mind to think that Swallowdale could be in the High Topps area. The cave is very small, it would just hold four people. The entrance is much smaller than other quarry workings I've seen, - only about three feet high whereas most quarry openings were standing height.
However, there is some evidence of the smooth channels in the rock made by jumpers - the metal rods that were used to make a hole in the rock, then filled with gunpowder and lit to bring down chunks of rock. They were hit with a large hammer and turned a quarter turn each time.
There are few distinct signs of spoil, there are some loose rocks that could have been excavated from the cave though the area is full of loose rocks!
There is a lower waterfall, but it is much more dramatic than you would expect. I'd encourage people to visit - just go up Tilberthwaite Ghyll for about half a mile, curving northwards when you get to the open High Topps area. Follow the stream, ignoring the footpaths and the footbridge when you get up there to enter the little valley.
Rob