Good photos Mike, missed these when you originally posted them. At the risk of sounding thick though, which one is Bell's Sump? It doesn't appear to be named on any of the number of plans I have. Or else I'm looking in entirely the wrong place!

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Furthermore have your lot dropped down from Middlecleugh North Vein into Caplecleugh via the ladderway just before the ventilation door? There was no way on at the bottom in 1992 according to the WCMRG notes but that was some time ago!

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We climbed down the ladders a couple years ago to the top of a stope (I think) but there were no bolts or other signs of recent visitors (as indeed there wasn't in the entire Middlecleugh Vein system which we had to dig at the entrance from Smallcleugh XV) . We did intend to go back but none of us have really been near Nent much since so it never happened.

Bell's is on your left, heading outbye on Horse Level from Gypsum Corner.

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I've been meaning to have a look at the Middlecleugh North Vein workings, after Chris posted pics of it a few years back, but have never got round it.

When you did it, did you notice any air drafts? When I had a look into it in around 2006/7, there was a draft through one of the tighter bits. We had to dig the 'entrance' out as well.

Bell's is the one with the stone wall that looks like it's blocked. As Nick says, on your left, on your way out at the start of SC XV from Gypsum Corner.

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I remember all sorts of leads in there that we never got around to following up, but no strong drafts stick in the memory.

Guessed it must be thereabouts from the comments in the WCMRG notes that led me onto MCNV but couldn't place it exactly.

The ground is fairly awful at the start of Middlecleugh Vein & I think we had to partially re-dig it when we returned only a month after our initial trip. Once past the loose flat out sections through the shale falls however its probably one of the most unspoilt sections of Nenthead. A good example of the benefits of leaving a section of mine inaccessible to all but the most determined I suppose.

The graffiti between the HL crawls & Gyspsum Corner has suffered from modern graffiti in the past yet not 100 yards away you find this lovely wall.
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I think the ladderway should connect to the similarly remote & unspoilt Caplecleugh North Vein workings. What a trip that would be.

Yes, I seem to recall the problem on our second visit was a sizeable flake of roof hanging off, that we spent about 10 minutes trying to dislodge from a distance, it was all pretty unpleasant.

But once back into solid ground theres some very interesting stuff around there.

Yes, I seem to recall the problem on our second visit was a sizeable flake of roof hanging off, that we spent about 10 minutes trying to dislodge from a distance, it was all pretty unpleasant.

Really selling it !

I did not like the ground when I first went there, but never got as far as you did.

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Throwing rocks at the roof whilst lying flat out. Was interesting!

But really, think if you went back you'd find it indistinguishable from the BH High Level. Though people obviously have differing thoughts upon that!

It wasn't all that bad.

No worse than some of the shaley bits in Caplecleugh and Brownley Hill that everyone passes without batting an eyelid.

I can assure you I am always very aware of shaley places like CC, especially when bits land on me.
Eyelid batting set to high 😉

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I can assure you I am always very aware of shaley places like CC, especially when bits land on me.
Eyelid batting set to high ;D

Yes, I wasn't suggesting anyone should be complacent about it, just that the non-optional routes tend to get viewed differently.

Bell's sump leads into Middleclleugh 1st. Sun Vein, and as far as I know was first looked at by myself and other members of W.C.M.R.G. The timber work down there was impressive, but highly suspect. The sump was descended through to Rampgill H.Level.
Middlecleugh North Vein can be reached from Smallcleugh HL. via the unstable level, as has already been posted. If you go to the end of it, then you reach the North Vein.
We descended one of these sumps via a stoped sub- level back to Capelcleugh.
You can reach other parts of North Vein, via Bog Shaft & seperately, from Cowhill Cross Vein, but there is also an uworked section of vein between these two points.