The compelling path that clings top the side of the El Chorro Gorge is about to be “restored” so get on it while you can. 

Enough time had passed since the Slightly Cross Tunnel trips with memories of roof collapses, unstable walls and wader-sucking gloop. The second tunnel section of the long-forgotten Taunton Chard canal had to be investigated.

Styru and I supped a pint in the Canal Inn before heading across fields in search of the cunningly concealed tunnel portal. Once located, boats were inflated and dragged through the stoopy initial part of the tunnel to the start of the flooded section. A homemade raft was moored at the entrance to a passing chamber.

Casting off, we found that the tunnel was extremely pleasant, with deep water throughout. The northern end was reached after a 15 minute row, after which it was time to return and finish the job of trying to photograph the tunnel. It’s quite committing to row away from one’s D700, left on a tripod barely emerging above the water surface as rowing motions set up waves that threatened to swamp the camera.

It’s only a short tunnel, 400m in length, though the curvature and height of the passage makes it feel quite impressive, certainly worth a brief diversion from the nearby motorway. Almost certainly Somerset’s best underground boat trip.

All that matters is you Go In Big Drains…

An afternoon splashing around under Bristol, from the grimness of the Northern Foul Water Interceptor to the expansive Frome culverts.

Taunton has an underworld – who’d have thought it!

The newly-christened Law and Order culvert (owing to the pillars of the establishment under which it passess) is only short, but packs in several different features along it’s length. A first attempt was abandoned as the depth of the water exceeds even the stoutest of chest waders. Returning early on New Years Day with wetsuits was the solution.

Limestone pavements below the Lilstock Royal Navy Aircraft Range.

The Wiltshire location that never stops giving. We were supposed to be going draining when a last minute phone call provided a much better distraction.

The first shall be last to see this one, judging by subsequent events.

A last minute field trip with a cast of many. Thanks to Big T for this one.

One of the highlights of an excellent little Cornish tin mine that is accessible at various points in a sea cliff.

The long-awaited chance to tackle the CRTT finally arrived.  In the company of Spungletumpet, Rigsby, Bigjobs and AndyJ, we rappelled, climbed, swung, tiptoed and hauled our way through the heart of the Moelwyn mountains from Croesor to Rhosydd.

Mark Tanner took all the photos on this page (on his legendary 99p camera) I’d forgotten my tripod head.

Thanks to the dedicated mine explorers and adit enthusiasts, who maintain the fixed gear along the route.