WILLIAM PENGELLY CAVE STUDIES TRUST
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THE CAVES
Higher Kiln Quarry Caves
On the eastern side of Buckfastleigh Hill this disused quarry contains a number of cave entrances. It is approached from the main Buckfastleigh to Ashburton road by taking the turn marked Russets Lane.
Partition Cave
GR: SX 7434 6654
This small cave which has a length of about 25m is situated on the eastern side of the Reed's Cave entrance. The entrance to Partition Cave is a low opening some 2m above ground level that leads into a low bedding plane chamber.
Disappointment Cave
GR: SX 7431 6650
The entrance is a small opening at the bottom of the quarry face a few metres to the south of Reed's Cave. Just inside, the cave passage opens out. A small crawl leads off to the left parallel with the quarry face. The main passage continues until a small chamber, 3m high, is reached. There are some calcite formations in this chamber. The passages have a total length of 5Om.
Rift Cave
GR: SX 7432 6650
Houses an important bat colony, and has been grilled with the assistance of the Worldwide Fund for Nature.
Spiders' Hole
GR: SX 7437 6642
The entrance to this cave is at the southern end of Higher Kiln Quarry. Situated 2m above the quarry floor the entrance is a tube some 1.5m in diameter from which a tunnel slopes up to the right for 5m. This tunnel forks, the left hand branch opening into a small chamber but going no further. The way on is through a narrow opening in the floor with a 2.5m drop onto a ledge and a further 3m drop into a chamber. This bedding chamber is about 12m long and 6m wide but only about 1.5m high. The cave has a total length of 50m.
Reed's Cave
GR: SX 7437 6642
One of the most richly decorated Devon caves, though only accessible to cavers; there are other important recreational caves close to the Centre.
Joint Mitnor Cave (also known as Bone Cave)
GR: SX 7434 6644
In which there is a most important and extensive deposit of bones from the Last Interglacial Period of about 100 000 years ago.
OTHER CAVES
Bakers Pit Cave
GR: SX 7420 6649