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The site contains a growing collection of “mini travel guides”, based exclusively on our personal
experiences. More than just a blog, these travel-log style guides are intended to inspire, inform and occasionally amuse.
Browse these pages, and you'll find a mix of walking guides, maps, cave descriptions and cave surveys /
cave route descriptions and much more - all supported with a series of original photography,
"How to get there" guides and various anecdotal notes.
You are more than welcome to print off any of our travel guides, route plans, etc. for your own personal use,
but please remember that they are not, and cannot, be complete in every detail, but rather should help to point the reader in the
right direction, without taking away the element of adventure. Nor are the guides a substitute for
good practice either above or below ground, and those new to caving, walking, volcanoes, etc. are strongly
encouraged to seek guidance as appropriate – either by joining a caving club, a mountaineering club, using
the services of a professional guide, or whatever suits the situation.
Above all though - enjoy!
14th July 2010 - Back from Iceland, next stop Sicily!
Iceland proved to be incredibly interesting and a photo gallery and more information will be published on this site very shortly. Circumstances have dictated that
our hoped-for trip to see some Indonesian volcanoes later this year has had to go "on hold", but instead we'll be returning to Sicily in late August
to spend some time in the West of the island around Trapani and Erice, and of course we will be visiting Mount Etna
and our friends at Hotel Corsaro.
25th May 2010 - Volcanic eruption in Iceland stops
Would you believe it - the eruption at Eyjafjallajökull has now stopped, at least for the time being. Time to plan some caving and glacier trekking in Iceland instead then,
though there's always the chance something will start up again before we arrive in June!
For all you lava-hungry hopefuls out there, you can still check for daily updates at the excellent website of NORDVULK - the Institute of Earth Sciences - Nordic Volcanological Center.
The 26th April sees the release our latest film - here's the synopsis:
Since mediaeval times, mankind has left an indelible mark on the landscape, shaping it, working it, tending it –
and continues to do so today.
"From Ore to Orchids" explores some of the unlikely and sometimes uncomfortable inter-relationships
between man, industry and nature. A film designed to raise more questions than it answers, "From Ore to Orchids"
highlights the unexpected and almost symbiotic relationships that have developed over time, through history, and into
the future that we all have the opportunity to influence.
Click here for further details and purchasing information.
24th April, 2010 - Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland - assisting with survey of volcanic ash in the UK
Work constraints are preventing us being able to travel to the current eruption in Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland. Frustrating though this may be,
we have some small compensation in that we're helping with a survey by the British Geological Survey
to monitor the deposition of volcanic ash in the East Midlands and surrounding areas. And we can't resist letting you know that if you're unable to get to the current volcanic eruption in Iceland, you can,
courtesy of the BGS, make your own cut-out-and-keep 3-D model of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano.
March 2010 - Walking in the Cirque de Mafate, Reunion Island
This illustrated guide to a four-day trek in La Réunion's awesome Cirque de Mafate is
the first of a series of walking and canyoning descriptions that will soon be appearing on this site based on our experiences on Reunion Island in September 2009,
including information about the still-active volcano Piton de la Fournaise, which last erupted in January this year (2010).
February 2010 - Nenthead Mines
Busy, busy, busy - the only way to describe the lifestyle of the Winster Cavers. Writing up our La Reunion
adventure seems to be taking second place to some more video editing - some of which will be on YouTube very shortly.
In the meantime, we have also been taking a lot of underground photos.
Newly uploaded is a fresh photo gallery of some shots taken down the impressive Nenthead lead mines.
View the Nenthead lead mines photo gallery
September 2009 - La Réunion
We're back from our two weeks on the tiny volcanic French island of La Réunion (east of Madagascar, somewhere in
the Indian Ocean!. We've been walking in the Cirques of Mafate, Salazie and Cilaos, visited the active volcano, Piton de la Fournaise,
and been canyoning in the Grande Ravine and Fleurs Jaunes. Here's an overview of the trip,
with some useful information. if you're into adrenaline and stunning landscapes, just go there. It's awesome!
We also kept a blog going whilst visiting:: Follow our La Réunion blog at:
http://www.winstercavers.org.uk/reunion_blog.aspx
Looking for information on Winster, Derbyshire? To find out all about Winster village, visit the Winster village web site.
For a veritable mine (excuse the pun!) of information about the historical family trees of Winster, immerse yourself in Dawn Scotting's amazing Winster Ancestry web site.
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