18th November 2012 with Alex Gee.
“A local bloke from Rodney Stoke, more fond of beer than labour, was recommended by a friend, to go and be a caver…”
In the last few weeks a couple of different people have mentioned to me the existence of a cave, or more accurately a rock shelter that has turned up some Bronze Age pottery. So on a fine frosty sunny morning collected Alex from the Belfry and headed over to Draycott Sleight (sleight is a Mendip word for ‘sheep pasture’) and a walk over to the Stoke Woods area. Followed the footpath down through the woods to reach the field stile, then southwest to a stile into Little Stoke Woods where we located a number of possible sites on the outcropping limestone rocks.
Not entirely convinced we continued the search until we arrived at the likely location of the site we were looking for – Ewe Cave ST 4886 5040 +/- 7 metres, elevation ~80 metres.
There were very obvious signs that persons unknown had already been scratching around this site in the past.
Some of the rock exposures encountered in the area had some very interesting signs of weathering.
On the return back up the hill to Draycott Sleight we decided to continue up to take a look at the entrance to Draycott Cave.
A fine 2.5 hour morning stroll with great weather and some fine panoramic views that are not fully appreciated in a photographic image.
Lunched at the Hunter’s Lodge Inn, Priddy to discuss an enjoyable morning’s walk.
