Rod's Pot

Rod's Pot is a limestone cave in the Mendip Hills of Somerset, set above Burrington Combe and a short distance from the village of Priddy. It is a vertical, pothole-style cave aimed at experienced cavers, not a casual sightseeing stop.

What is Rod's Pot like?

The cave lies along a line of swallets where streams draining off the Old Red Sandstone of Blackdown vanish underground. Its passages are mostly vertical rifts that follow natural joints in the rock and have been widened by flowing water. The entrance chamber splits into two routes, which meet again above a deep pothole. Published sizes differ: Wikipedia lists about 45 m of depth and 188 m of passage, while the Mendip Cave Registry gives roughly 57 m and 183 m. In practice, expect several tens of metres of vertical drop and around 200 m of passage.

Where does the name come from?

The first digging took place in 1944, carried out by the University of Bristol Spelaeological Society. The cave was first known as Pearce's Pot, after Rodney Pearce, who took part in exploring it. The name later shifted to its present form.

Why do cavers care about it?

Further digging linked Rod's Pot to neighbouring Bath Swallet. In September 2007, a joint team from Wessex Cave Club and Cheddar Caving Club completed the through trip, which is regarded as one of the longer such trips on Mendip. The area falls within the Burrington Combe SSSI and the Mendip Hills AONB.

How do you get there?

Burrington Combe sits beside the B3134, a few kilometres from Priddy and about 25 km from Bristol. There is roadside parking, and a path across the hillside leads to the caves. Entry to Rod's Pot is free of charge, though free does not mean easy.

Can beginners go in?

No. The vertical sections and the pothole call for ropework skills, proper equipment and experience. The sensible approach is to go with a local caving club, check the forecast (heavy rain sends water down the swallets) and leave your plan with someone on the surface. Visitors without that background can still enjoy walking through Burrington Combe and the views over the surrounding hills.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Rod's Pot? On the slope above Burrington Combe in the Mendip Hills, Somerset, close to Priddy.

Is there an entry fee? No. Access is free, but the cave demands proper preparation.

How deep is it? Sources give between roughly 45 and 57 m.

Does it connect to another cave? Yes, to Bath Swallet. A Wessex Cave Club and Cheddar Caving Club group completed the connection in 2007.