The South Wales Caving Club
Cantabria Expeditions.
Ongoing caving trips to the Cantabria region.
Next trip:- 13th April to 21st April 2024.
Lead contact: Gary Vaughan
Phone: 07836 727131 E-Mail: gary@dorsetland.co.uk
INFO
LINKS
. The trip to Spain went very well, a large number of through trips were completed without too many problems, plus many other caving and walking trips.
More info to follow, some pictures of the area in link on the left.
This site has information about the SWCC expeditions to the Cantabria region of Spain. The trip offered participants the opportunity to not only visit the best caves in the world but also the challenge of completing no less than ten world class traverses (through trips) ranging in duration from one and half hours to sixteen hours. For a full description of the caving please click on the 'Caves' button.
Cantabria is a very special caving area with which the SWCC enjoys a close relationship. Nestled half way between Santander and Bilbao, the main area of cave interest lies about 15km south of Spain’s fabulous northern coastline at a small town called Ramales. The club’s association with Cantabria commenced in 1997 with the clubs first major trip to the area which focused on exploration of the Pico San Vincente but at the same time a traverse of one of the world’s most renown traverses, Cueto to Coventosa. The 2013 expedition offered an opportunity for the club to renew its acquaintance not only with the many promising leads discovered in 1997 but also to once again descend the spectacular Cueto shaft and re-visit the spectacular Coventosa system with its cavernous passages and thundering river.
In terms of location Ramales is a short fifteen minute drive from the
Matienzo expedition campsite. Santander with its historical buildings,
parks and port is a fifty minute drive to the west. Bilbao with its bustling
streets and museums is about an hours drive to the east. Directly north
of Ramales is the small town of Laredo which sports a large popular sandy
beach ideal for small children. The nearby fishing village of Santonia
with its marvellous fish restaurants and small streets also sports another
fabulous beach.
On the Easter trips we stay at the Asador Anjana, about 2K from Ramales, a small pension and restaurant.
Updated 11.07.23