Hidden Earth 2026

Valley to Valley in the North York Moors

45 minute Lecture|Matt Ewles

Abstract

Everyone loves a valley-to-valley through trip. Well, maybe except Rostam.

When we first put crowbar to the ground in the North York Moors 19 years ago our hopes weren’t high. A few choked rifts would have scratched our digging itch.

What we found was a 1.6 km system with a magnificent streamway, later to become a 2.8 km system with the incorporation of Jenga Pot, a 3.8 km system with our 2020 extensions and finally a 4 km system with more extensions in 2025, plus we gained a lifelong digging partnership which meets every Wednesday all year round.

As the icing on the cake, what soon became the dream of connecting the Hutton Beck system to the River Dove valley, was finally achieved in April this year.

In this talk, I’ll provide a brief background to the system but focus mainly on the newer discoveries, the connection and the traumatising five hour valley-to-valley through trip, just in time before the Forest of Dean gang produce a much better one.

I’ll also round up various other intriguing projects and prospects across the Jurassic Limestone of the North York Moors which should happily keep us busy for the next 19 years and show that the North York Moors still has something new to give.